Growing guide · Field crops

Grass ley and red clover

Phleum pratense, Trifolium pratense ym.

Finland's largest field crop: 787,300 ha of forage leys (2025). Clover fixes nitrogen.

Key figures

Item	Value	Source
Sowing / planting	spring, often under a cover crop; early August is too late for red clover	^[2][5]
Sowing depth	surface to max 1–2 cm	^[3][4]
Seed rate / spacing	about 30 kg/ha seed mix	^[3]
pH	at least 6 (especially clover)	^[2]
Harvest	2–3 cuts; target at least 9,000 kg DM/ha	^[2]

The full guide (care, pests, beginner and professional tips) is currently in Finnish. The figures above are the same and come from the sources below.

These are general guidelines. Always check the variety, seed packet or fertiliser instructions and current regulations.