Crop directory
Alfalfa across all 50 states.
- Medicago sativa
- Forage
- Frost Hardy
- 60–90 days to maturity
- Soil-temp ≥ 45°F
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a forage crop with a frost hardy frost profile. Across all 50 states, 38 have alfalfa as a primary crop, 8 as secondary, 4 as limited, and 0 as trial-only.
Agronomy reference
Alfalfa agronomy.
Soil-temp minimum
45°F
Soil-temp optimum
50–75°F
Days to maturity
60–90
Water (in/wk)
0.7–1"
Soil pH
6.5–7.5
Nitrogen demand
low
Source: www.nrcs.usda.gov
Primary in 38 states
Commercially significant or common.
- AlaskaZone 4aSpring · May 18–June 15Fall · July 7–July 22
- ArkansasZone 7bSpring · March 29–April 26Fall · August 26–September 10
- ColoradoZone 5bSpring · May 3–May 31Fall · August 6–August 21
- ConnecticutZone 6bSpring · April 18–May 16Fall · August 16–August 31
- DelawareZone 7aSpring · April 8–May 6Fall · August 26–September 10
- IdahoZone 5bSpring · May 8–June 5Fall · July 27–August 11
- IllinoisZone 6aSpring · April 18–May 16Fall · August 16–August 31
- IndianaZone 6aSpring · April 24–May 22Fall · August 11–August 26
- IowaZone 5aSpring · April 28–May 26Fall · August 6–August 21
- KansasZone 6aSpring · April 18–May 16Fall · August 16–August 31
- KentuckyZone 6bSpring · April 13–May 11Fall · August 21–September 5
- MaineZone 5aSpring · May 8–June 5Fall · July 27–August 11
- MarylandZone 7aSpring · April 8–May 6Fall · August 26–September 10
- MassachusettsZone 6aSpring · April 24–May 22Fall · August 11–August 26
- MichiganZone 5bSpring · May 3–May 31Fall · August 6–August 21
- MinnesotaZone 4aSpring · May 8–June 5Fall · July 27–August 11
- MissouriZone 6bSpring · April 13–May 11Fall · August 21–September 5
- MontanaZone 4bSpring · May 13–June 10Fall · July 22–August 6
- NebraskaZone 5aSpring · April 28–May 26Fall · August 6–August 21
- NevadaZone 7aSpring · April 18–May 16Fall · August 16–August 31
- New HampshireZone 5bSpring · May 8–June 5Fall · August 2–August 17
- New JerseyZone 7aSpring · April 13–May 11Fall · August 26–September 10
- New MexicoZone 7aSpring · April 18–May 16Fall · August 16–August 31
- New YorkZone 5bSpring · May 3–May 31Fall · August 11–August 26
- North CarolinaZone 7bSpring · March 29–April 26Fall · August 31–September 15
- North DakotaZone 4aSpring · May 13–June 10Fall · July 22–August 6
- OhioZone 6aSpring · April 24–May 22Fall · August 11–August 26
- OklahomaZone 7aSpring · April 3–May 1Fall · August 26–September 10
- PennsylvaniaZone 6bSpring · April 18–May 16Fall · August 16–August 31
- Rhode IslandZone 7aSpring · April 13–May 11Fall · August 26–September 10
- South DakotaZone 4bSpring · May 8–June 5Fall · July 27–August 11
- TennesseeZone 7aSpring · April 3–May 1Fall · August 26–September 10
- UtahZone 6bSpring · April 24–May 22Fall · August 11–August 26
- VermontZone 5aSpring · May 8–June 5Fall · July 27–August 11
- VirginiaZone 7aSpring · April 8–May 6Fall · August 26–September 10
- West VirginiaZone 6bSpring · April 18–May 16Fall · August 16–August 31
- WisconsinZone 5aSpring · May 3–May 31Fall · August 6–August 21
- WyomingZone 4bSpring · May 18–June 15Fall · July 17–August 1
Secondary in 8 states
Grown but not at scale; often gardens, food plots, cover.
- AlabamaZone 8aSpring · March 18–April 15Fall · September 6–September 21
- ArizonaZone 8bSpring · March 8–April 5Fall · September 11–September 26
- GeorgiaZone 8aSpring · March 18–April 15Fall · September 6–September 21
- MississippiZone 8aSpring · March 18–April 15Fall · September 6–September 21
- OregonZone 8aSpring · April 13–May 11Fall · August 21–September 5
- South CarolinaZone 8aSpring · March 23–April 20Fall · September 6–September 21
- TexasZone 8bSpring · March 8–April 5Fall · September 16–October 1
- WashingtonZone 8aSpring · April 8–May 6Fall · August 26–September 10
Limited in 4 states
Marginal — only the warmest counties or season-extended setups.
Alfalfa planting in your county.
Bield: Farm ties weather and soil-temperature stations in your county to alfalfa planting thresholds — get notified when conditions clear your target.
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