The most important and difficult part of producing a large crop is getting a stand. Enough soil moisture to sprout the seed and establish the seedlings is the greatest factor in obtaining a stand. When established, common crimson clover usually produces a good crop.

Seedings may be made alone or combined with winter grains, ryegrass, or grass sod. It is possible also to seed between the rows of cultivated crops, but it is difficult to make an ideal seedbed. Furthermore, the crop plants in the row shade the clover seedlings and use some of the available moisture. If the row crop is planted in wider rows and seeded more thinly, the clover will become better established. When planted between the rows of other crops, the seed is usually broadcast on the surface and covered by cultivating or harrowing. Drilling the seed after the soil surface has been stirred usually gives more complete stands than broadcasting, and it may be done with a small one-horse drill. The seed should not be planted more than one-half to three-fourths of an inch deep, respectively, in clay and sandy soils.

Crimson clover is often seeded following a grain crop. This is a surer method of establishing a stand than planting between the rows of cultivated crops, provided the seedbed is well prepared. After the grain crop is harvested the soil is plowed or disked and allowed to settle. This is followed by light harrowing or disking to kill weed seedlings. Before the clover is seeded the sod should be firmly packed, because a loose cloddy seedbed will not produce good stands. The seed may be either drilled or broadcast, but drilling will give more uniform stands.