Diversity of morphological features in red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) genotypes can be associated with responses to sowing time and method. Two‐replicate field experiments were performed for 3 yr in the same locality in Poland (53°09′N, 17°35′ E) aimed at investigating (i) the combined effect of sowing time and method (pure stands in April, middle and end of July, and middle of August or within spring barley [Hordeum vulgare L.] in April) and variety (F. rubra subsp. rubra strong creeping, Festuca rubra L. subsp. litoralis (G. Mey.) Auquier slender creeping, and F. rubra subsp. commutata Markgr.‐Dann. chewing) on plant characteristics and seed yield (SY) in the first and second production years (PYs) and (ii) the correlations among morphological features and SY. In both PYs, the highest SY was obtained with the strong creeping and the lowest with the chewing variety. In the first PY, the highest SY was obtained with pure sowing from April to end of July, while sowing within barley reduced SY. Red fescue sown in August produced zero to two tillers during the establishment year, which caused a reduction in generative tiller density (GTD) and SY in the first PY. The strong and slender creeping varieties gave similar total SY from two PYs with all sowing times and methods. Chewing fescue gave higher SY when sown in pure stands from April to end of July, compared with sowing in August. The GTD and number of spikelets per panicle had the largest positive direct effect on SY in both PYs. Thousand seed weight had a positive, direct effect on SY only in the first PY.