Sweet Clover, Lemon Yellow 'Lemon Yellow'

Useful and edible! This biennial crop grows quite tall (up to 2m!) and thoroughly loosens the soil with its extensive root system. The lemon-yellow flowers grow in elongated clusters and emit a very sweet fragrance. Being a legume, it can bind nitrogen from the air and store it in its roots. When mowed and tilled, this nitrogen becomes available to other plants. The root is eaten by, among others, the Kalmyks, the young shoots are a delicacy, especially when blanched (in spring), and the young leaves can be added to salads. Flowers and pods are edible (provided not overused) and aromatic. The plant also has many medicinal applications. Flowering period July-October.

To avoid depleting your valuable soil, it is wise to occasionally leave the land fallow. During such a period, green manure is ideal: it adds nutrients to the soil through often-present nitrogen fixation; it suppresses weed growth, promotes bacterial life, provides humus, and in some cases works against harmful nematodes.

Names:
Latin: Melilotus officinalis
Dutch: Honingklaver, Citroengele
English: Sweet Clover