The inspiration to reassess method and timing for establishing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is meteorological data documenting that current Polish winters are milder than several decades ago, when management recommendations were worked out for this crop. Additionally, prolonged periods of spring drought occur more frequently, posing significant challenges to the development of alfalfa seedlings under a companion crop. The hypothesis was made that as climatic conditions change, the traditional practice of spring sowing with a barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) companion crop may become higher risk, and direct sowing later in the season when rainfall is more dependable would provide advantages. From 2010 to 2014 three series of experiments were carried out over the establishment year and first production year. Establishment success and yield performance of alfalfa sown with a barley companion crop in April was compared to alfalfa direct sown in May, June, July and August. Plant density, overwinter survival, and diameter of the upper taproot from sowings performed in the period April to late July were similar. Plant density with August sowing was significantly higher, but taproot diameter was smaller than in plants sown earlier in spring or summer. Plants from all sowing treatments overwintered well, with the greatest stand loss of only 15% occurring with August sowing. In the first production year, mean dry matter yields were similar for alfalfa sown in the period from April to late July, averaging 11.7 Mg^.ha^-1. First production year yield associated with August sowing was significantly lower, at 8.88 Mg^.ha^-1. In the years and locations of this study, the alternative of direct sowing alfalfa up to late July resulted in similar establishment success to the traditional practice of sowing with a barley companion crop in early spring.

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