Chickling Vetch (Lathyrus sativus)

Warm Season

Chickling Vetch is an upright annual legume that fixes a large amount of nitrogen under drier conditions than clovers. It has excellent drought tolerance. Shade tolerance is not the best, so it needs to be grown in a more open canopy. It tolerates spring frosts well so it can be seeded early in the spring.

Seeds/pound: 2,500 Seeds/sq ft/pound of seed: 0.06

Uses:

  • Nitrogen builder
  • Erosion control
  • Weed suppression
  • Pollinator attracter
  • Green manure

Strengths:

  • Drought tolerance
  • Nitrogen fixation
  • Can be seeded early spring

Concerns:

If seed is consumed in high amounts, it may cause paralysis. It is not a concern if only part of a blend.

Grazing:

Can be grazed. Watch amount in the blend, or graze before it flowers.

Hay:

Can be hayed. Watch amount in the blend or cut before or as it starts flowering.

Mycorrhizal support? Yes