Medicago sativa

Il nome botanico dell'erba medica (lucerna) — una leguminosa perenne dalla radice profonda e azotofissatrice, coltivata per i germogli croccanti, come foraggera e come sovescio.
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Medicago sativa — alfalfa (lucerne)

Medicago sativa is the botanical name for alfalfa, also known as lucerne — a deep-rooted perennial legume in the pea family (Fabaceae) grown both for nutritious sprouts and as a soil-enriching forage and green-manure crop. It is the species behind our alfalfa range within the wider vegetable collection.

History & origin

Alfalfa is one of the oldest cultivated forage crops, native to central and western Asia and grown for thousands of years. It spread early to the Mediterranean — ancient writers record it being introduced to Greece — and from there across Europe and, much later, around the world as a premier feed for livestock.

Its names hint at that journey: the word alfalfa comes through Spanish from Arabic, while sativa simply means "cultivated." In Britain and much of Europe it is traditionally known as lucerne, long valued as one of the most productive and protein-rich forage legumes a farmer can grow.

Botanical characteristics

Medicago sativa is a clover-like perennial with trifoliate leaves, clusters of small purple to violet pea-flowers, and distinctive coiled, spiral seed pods. Its defining feature lies underground: a remarkably deep taproot that can reach several metres, drawing up water and nutrients and, with the help of root-nodule bacteria, fixing atmospheric nitrogen to enrich the soil. That same vigour makes it both a long-lived hay crop and an excellent green manure.

Growing Medicago sativa from seed

As a green manure, sow the fine seed onto cleared, warm ground in the growing season, let it establish, then cut and dig it in before flowering to release its nitrogen into the soil. The same seed sprouts readily indoors for crisp salad shoots in a matter of days. Our vegetable growing guide covers the basics, and the vegetable sowing calendar helps with timing.

Ready to grow it? Browse the range or read up first.

Related categories: Alfalfa · Cover Crops · Microgreens & Sprouts · Legumes · All Vegetables

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Qual è la differenza tra alfalfa e erba medica?
Nessuna — sono due nomi per la stessa pianta, Medicago sativa. Erba medica è il nome tradizionale in Italia e in gran parte d'Europa; alfalfa è più diffuso altrove. Perché Medicago sativa fa bene al terreno?
La sua radice a fittone molto profonda rompe il terreno compattato e attinge nutrienti dagli strati profondi, mentre i batteri dei noduli radicali fissano l'azoto dall'aria arricchendo il suolo. A quale famiglia appartiene l'erba medica?
È una leguminosa, della famiglia delle Fabaceae, motivo per cui produce fiori viola simili a quelli dei piselli e fissa l'azoto a livello radicale. Lo stesso seme può essere germogliato e seminato all'aperto?
Sì — il seme fine germoglia in pochi giorni al chiuso per ottenere germogli da insalata, mentre lo stesso seme seminato all'aperto diventa un produttivo sovescio o coltura foraggera.