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Expert tips for having an abundant (and delicious) oat harvest
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Oats can be used to make food for yourself or for livestock, and are one of the easiest grains to grow. In this article, we’ll teach you everything you need to know to grow oats, including when and how to plant them, how to care for them while they grow, and how to harvest and store them. Plus, learn the difference between hulled and hulless oats and how to troubleshoot common problems when growing oats.
How to Plant & Harvest Oats: Quick Overview
Till a plot of well-draining soil in a sunny area and sow oat seeds 1 ⁄ 4 inch (0.64 cm) apart in evenly spaced rows. Water them regularly for about 12 weeks, then harvest when the seed heads are hard and dry. Cut the seed heads from the stalks, then separate the grain with your fingers.
Steps
Section 1 of 5:
Planting and Growing Oats
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Plant the seeds during spring or fall. When you choose to plant your seeds depends on what you plan to use the oats for. If you're growing oats for food, plant them in the spring so you have a summer harvest. If you're growing oats for ground cover, plant your seeds in the early spring for green manure or in the fall if you’re hoping to get a winter-killed ground cover. [1] X Research source
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Till a plot in a sunny area with well-draining soil. If you only have a small garden plot, it’s still possible to grow oats. Remove all weeds from the area, and use a tiller or cultivator to till the soil and prepare it for planting . Oats prefer full sun and flourish in soil that has a pH between 4.5 and 6, so it helps to test the soil with a commercial pH probe or pH test strip before tilling. [2] X Research source
- Raise the soil’s pH by adding limestone to it, or lower the pH by adding a fertilizer that contains ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, or urea. [3] X Research source
- Oats have a difficult time growing if they’re in a weed-infested area, so use a weeding tool (like a Cape Cod Weeder ) to loosen the soil around weeds and then pull them out of the ground one by one.
- When tilling, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions and push the tiller in parallel lines across the entire area you plan to use for planting. Then, push the tiller in lines that are perpendicular to the others. If you don’t have a tiller , rent one from a home improvement store or a lawn and garden equipment rental store.
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Lay the oat seeds 1 ⁄ 4 inch (0.64 cm) apart in evenly-spaced rows. Each row of dirt should be about 3 inches (7.6 cm) wide with a 7.5–12 inches (19–30 cm) gap between the rows. Within each row, drop a seed onto the top of the soil every 1 ⁄ 4 inch (0.64 cm). Continue doing this until you’ve filled the planting area completely. [4] X Research source
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Rake 1 inch (2.5 cm) of dirt over the seeds. Lightly rake dirt over the seeds so birds or other pests don’t get to them before they can germinate. If you don’t have a rake on hand, try walking over each row of seeds to push them down. [5] X Research source
- If your soil has a high clay content, avoid walking over it, as it could become too compacted. Don’t walk over the soil when it’s wet, either.
- If your soil is wet or easily compacted, place a wooden board over it and walk across the board instead.
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Keep the soil continuously moist. Oats require more moisture than most other grains. Stick your fingers about 1 inch (2.5 cm) or so into the soil as often as possible to make sure that it doesn’t feel dry. When it does feel dry, water the oats to encourage them to thrive. [6] X Research source
- In general, watering is all you’ll need to do to care for the oats while they grow. They don’t typically need fertilizer.
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Weed the area once your oats start growing. In general, oats start to sprout within a few weeks and continue to grow for 80-110 days depending on the growing conditions. When you water your oats, check the area for weeds and remove any that have popped up. This will ensure that your oats continue to thrive and grow properly until it’s time to harvest. [7] X Research source
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Section 2 of 5:
Harvesting the Oats
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Harvest the oats when the seed heads are hard and dry. This is typically about 12 weeks after planting. Gently touch the seed heads to see if they’re damp or dry. Once they’re dry to the touch, cut them off of the rest of the plant with garden shears , or simply snap them off with your hands. If you find they aren’t as dry as they should be after you’ve removed them, store them in a warm, dry area for a few days or weeks to cure. [8] X Research source
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Winnow the oats. Winnowing refers to separating the grain from the seed heads. Once the seed heads are dry, place them into a bucket and shake it to crack them open. Then, pull the grains out by hand and discard the seed heads. Put the grain in another bucket or container so you don’t lose any. [9] X Research source
- There are a number of other ways to thresh the grains, including putting them in a pillowcase and beating them against a wall, or tossing the seed heads up in the wind.
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Store the oats in a cool, dry area for up to 3 months. Threshed oats will stay fresh in an airtight container kept away from heat and moisture. Alternatively, freeze them for up to 2 years for a long-term storage option. [10] X Research source
- If you have farm animals, put the discarded stalks in your barn stalls and use them for bedding.
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Community Q&A
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QuestionWhat is the crop yield of oats?NinoxTop AnswererOat usually produce 300 g per square meter (9 oz per square yard), but it depends on the variety and the growth conditions.
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QuestionWhere can I get oat seeds?Community AnswerYou could order them online or buy them from your local garden store.
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QuestionCan you grow them from packaged oatmeal bought at a store?Community AnswerNo, this won't work as most of the oats will have the husk removed by machine. It might work if they still have the husk, so you could try to sprout a few test oats before planting the whole packet but don't be surprised if this fails to work.
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Things You'll Need
- Commercial probe or pH testing strips
- Weeding tools
- Tiller or cultivator
- Garden shears (optional)
- Bucket or pillowcase
- Airtight container
Tips
- In general, oats grow best in temperate climates, but many varieties have adapted to grow in all kinds of areas.Thanks
- Store cooked oats in the refrigerator for 4-6 days.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://covercrop.org/cover_crops/oats/
- ↑ https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/champion_of_cover_crops_oats
- ↑ https://vric.ucdavis.edu/pdf/Soil/ChangingpHinSoil.pdf
- ↑ https://poga.ca/production-resources/oat-growers-manual/seeding/#:~:text=Oat%20is%20usually%20seeded%20with,yields%20within%20these%20row%20spacings .
- ↑ https://georgiaforages.caes.uga.edu/species-and-varieties/cool-season/oat.html
- ↑ https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/oats-cover-crop
- ↑ https://covercrop.org/cover_crops/oats/
- ↑ https://www.resilientseeds.com/uploads/7/1/8/6/7186781/oats.pdf
- ↑ https://www.resilientseeds.com/uploads/7/1/8/6/7186781/oats.pdf
- ↑ https://howtogroweverything.com/how-to-grow-oats-a-comprehensive-guide/
- ↑ https://corn.agronomy.wisc.edu/Crops/Oat/Default.aspx
- ↑ https://corn.agronomy.wisc.edu/Crops/Oat/Default.aspx
- ↑ https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/oats-cover-crop
- ↑ https://howtogroweverything.com/how-to-grow-oats-a-comprehensive-guide/
- ↑ https://howtogroweverything.com/how-to-grow-oats-a-comprehensive-guide/
- ↑ https://www.resilientseeds.com/uploads/7/1/8/6/7186781/oats.pdf
- ↑ https://www.theclintoncourier.net/2019/12/13/the-process-of-how-oatmeal-is-made/
- ↑ https://www.hutton.ac.uk/sites/default/files/files/publications/Oat-Growth-Guide.pdf
- ↑ https://www.katheats.com/can-you-grow-oats-at-home
About This Article
Article Summary
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The best way to grow oats is to find an area where the soil has a pH between 6 and 7. In early spring or fall, weed and till the planting area. Then, lay the oat seeds 1/4 inches apart in rows. Rake soil over the seeds and keep the soil moist. Pull any weeds that pop up as the oats grow. To learn about harvesting your oats, scroll down!
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