Broadcast seeding, for spring germination, may be made until the end of January. When sown as a hay crop, red clover should be broadcast or drilled inch deep in a well-prepared seedbed. If red clover seed is broadcast, it should be covered by using a harrow. When used in pasture renovation, red clover is best established when the existing sod is closely grazed and disturbed by disking. Seed sown in early spring will result in a good stand of clover in permanent pastures.
Red clover requires a high level of fertility for greatest production and longevity.
Specific fertility recommendations for red clover based upon soil test data are provided in OSU Fertilizer Guide 17. If red clover is seeded in spring with a companion small grain, this crop should be removed as hay or silage to prevent serious competition. In pastures renovated in early spring, two hay crops may be harvested the first year. During the second year of production, harvest should be made between the prebloom and early bloom stage of maturity for highest forage quality. The regrowth may be made into hay or used as pasture.