- Choose well-drained sites with sandy, sandy loam or clay loam soils.
- Fertilize and lime according to soil test. Lablab will tolerate soil pH levels ranging from 5 to 7.5. Some iron deficiency chlorosis will be noted in soils with pH > 7.5.
- Inoculate seed using cowpea inoculant.
- Plant 30 to 50 lbs of ‘Rio Verde’ seed per acre on prepared seedbed. Use a drill to place seed about 1 to 1.5 inches deep.
- An alternative planting method is to broadcast seed on disked seedbed and follow with a light disking to cover. Use care to not cover the seed more than about 1.5 inches deep.
- ‘Rio Verde’ can be planted in Texas from May through July, according to soil moisture. Early fall (Sept.) plantings may also be used if soil moisture is adequate.
- ‘Rio Verde’ will start flowering in early Sept. but will be productive until frost. Research is in progress on the reseeding potential of this new forage legume.