MAINTAINING “Also, estimate seedling mortality, and then know how big that seed size is. Description of the plant Oats, like wheat, are an annual grass and belong to the Gramineae family, genus Avena. You can find this variety in the following Seed Packs: Click the packs below to see some of our other wonderful products. Oats are also widely used there as a thickener in soups, as barley or rice might be used in other countries. Oats can also be left standing until completely ripe and then combined with a grain head. The crop is valued for the vitamins, fats, and high quality starch contained in its grain. Historical harvest methods involved cutting with a scythe or sickle, and threshing under the feet of cattle. Agronomy graduate student David Weisberger presented at the small grains short course about his research interviewing various producers from around the state. Oats may also be consumed raw, and cookies with raw oats are becoming popular. Oats have been eaten for centuries and have traditionally thrived in the cool climates of Scotland, Tied in a muslin bag, oat straw was used to soften bath-water. Be sure to check out our newest seed packs, available now from Heirloom Organics. But with seeding small grains or cover crops, we talk about bushels or lbs per acre. South Plains should try to plant early during this window ... consideringspringoats05_9.pdf Check before purchasing the seeds since varieties are adapted to either spring or fall planting. Oats have numerous uses in food; most commonly, they are rolled or crushed into oatmeal, or ground into fine oat flour. Coverage should be less in medium to heavy textured soils than in light or sandy soils. Oats will produce more forage than other cereals and has a higher winter growth rate than pastures. Allow the separated seeds to dry a few more days before packing. If you're growing oats for food, plant them in the spring so you have a summer harvest. 2 … If the area you live in gets plenty of rain, however, you may not need to water your oats at all. Deer generally prefer oats, but wheat is more cold tolerant and drought hardy. The Super Food Garden is the most nutrient dense garden you can build and everything you need is right here in one pack. He looked at three populations: 22 plants/sq ft, 29 plants/sq ft, and 36 plants/sq ft. In the North, a cold hardy variety of oats should be planted in August in conjunction with other cool-season forages that will be available in case oats are winter killed. Oat has long been considered a useful, medicinal, and dietary plant. Best sowing times are from late February when soil temperatures are between 15 and 25 degrees, with consistent soil moisture. Check out this video clip from ISU agronomy professor Matt Liebman’s presentation at the small grains short course in January. While these aren’t the only concerns, they are three of the most important things to consider at planting time. So, why plant just oats? Because oats are more sensitive to herbicide damage than corn or soybeans, Matt says you need to make sure you consider your previous herbicide program when planting oats to a new field: For more information about small grains, and to access all the presentations from the small grains short course, visit practicalfarmers.org/small-grains . Note the differences, and consider what this might mean for yield potential. In addition to being a favored spring-planted companion or cover crop for forage seedings, they have historically been harvested as a cash grain crop. Oats are an annual plant, and can be planted either in autumn (for late summer harvest) or in the spring (for early autumn harvest). On these two farms, he found no difference in yield among the three populations. For best results, wait to plant until excessively hot, droughty summer weather has passed. They are quick to establish, produce wide leaves, till well and resist lodging when planted. September 1 - October 1: 3. Learning to save seeds is easy and fun with these books. He explains some of the management considerations at planting time: With corn and soybean production, it’s common to think about both desired plant population and seeding rate in terms of seeds and plants per acre (or square foot). For wheat or oats, plant 60 to 90 lbs/A if planted into a well prepared seedbed. Think about how well they grow in Scotland and Ireland, both of which have oatmeal named for them. Oats also make excellent forage for livestock. It is one of the oldest and most popular cereal plants, introduced into cultivation in the 2nd millennium BC. Young oats can be turned under anytime. See all of our brand-new seed pack offerings in our store. Generally, fall-grown oats will reach the minimum DM concentration suitable for direct ensiling (> 30%) while still standing, but this also is dependent on both cultivar and planting date. Can't wait to get to that Spring gardening? Oats Plus Planting Dates. These rhizomes have a scale-like appearance when young, and can be seen as pale yellow, sharp, stiff, protrusions near the base of the plant. Oatmeal is chiefly eaten as porridge, but may also be used in a variety of baked goods, such as oatcakes, oatmeal cookies, and oat bread. Oat extract can also be used to soothe skin conditions, e.g. “Calculate seeding rates to take into consideration the germination of your oats,” she says. For proper emergence and a vigorous stand, plant seed at a depth of 1 to 2 inches. He will have additional data on this research project after the 2016 season. He wanted to see if there was an optimal economical seeding rate, and he conducted research on the farms of Aaron Lehman and Doug Alert, both PFI members. Modern harvest technique is a matter of available equipment, local tradition, and priorities. Heirloom seeds are the gardeners choice for seed-saving from year-to-year. Uniform depth allows all plants to emerge at the same time, so that when it comes time to harvest, the plants are at the same maturity. For oats, plant population is important, too. Oatmeal stout is one variety brewed using a percentage of oats for the wort. Adjust the seeding rate upward for broadcast planting. Before you harvest, consider which varieties you might want to save seeds from so that your harvesting practice includes plants chosen for seed saving. The Three Sisters Garden was the first example of companion planting in Native American culture. Whitetail deer are the most attracted to oats during their growing phase, which is during the first two months from when they were planted. • Wheat and Oats Another good option is to plant a mixture of wheat and oats, each at 30 lbs/acre. Oats are also occasionally used in several different drinks. Depending on the variety wild oats seedlings should be planted 25 to 30cm apart (small) or 45 to 60cm apart (larger varieties of oat). Did you know that most grains can be sprouted for high-nutrient super-foods? A cold, sweet drink made of ground oats and milk is a popular refreshment throughout Latin America. The compost or manure should help the oats retain moisture, but it will be necessary to water them periodically whenever the soil begins to dry out. This will allow enough time for optimal growth. Planting dates for Whitetail Oats Plus ™ Use the map below as a guideline for when to plant Whitetail Oats in your area. 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