Red clover is a short-lived perennial legume grown for hay, silage, pasture and green manure crop. Red clover is better adapted than alfalfa to soils that are somewhat poorly drained and slight acidic; however, greatest production occurs on well-drained soils with high water-holding capacity and pH above 6.0. Red clover is not as productive as alfalfa in the summer. Red clover is one of the easiest legumes to establish using no-till interseeding or frost-seeding techniques. Most of the improved varieties are medium types and have good levels of disease resistance to northern and southern anthracnose and powdery mildew. These and other diseases can reduce stands quickly.