Whether you use oats to benefit your farmland, or feed them to your farm animals, they can serve many different purposes.Growing oats is a relatively simple and straightforward process, even though oats need a certain soil condition and proper care in order to thrive.
Step 1: The location should have a pH between 6 and 7.
oats thrive in soil that has a pH that falls within this range.If you want to plant your oat seeds in the right area, you need to test the soil with a commercial pH probe or a pH test strip.Try a different location if the pH does not fall between 6 and 7.Adding limestone to the soil can raise the pH.Adding a nitrogen-richfertilizer to the soil can lower the pH.
Step 2: There are weeds in the area where you will be planting oats.
If oats are grown in a weed-infested environment they will have a hard time growing.If you want to plant oats, you need to loosen the soil around the weeds and pull them out one by one.The Japanese Farmer's Knife and the Cape Cod Weeder are some weeding tools that you can use.
Step 3: Don't leave the soil.
If the soil is free of weeds, you can break it up and prepare it for planting oats.Refer to the manufacturer's instructions if you want to push the tiller across the entire area.Push the tiller in lines that are in line with the others.If you don't own a tiller, you can rent one from a home improvement store or a lawn and garden equipment rental store.
Step 4: The seeds can be planted in the spring or fall.
It depends on what you plan to use the oats for.If you want a summer harvest, plant oats in the spring.If you want to get a winter-killed ground cover, you should plant your oats seeds in the early spring and green manure in fall.
Step 5: The oats are laid 4 inch (0.64 cm) apart in rows.
You should plant your seeds in rows.Drop a seed onto the top of the soil every 4 inch.Continue until you have filled the planting area completely.
Step 6: Push the seeds down as you walk over each row.
To smooth out the soil after you dropped all of your oats, rake over it.Walking across the seeds should allow them to be planted less than 1 inch below the surface.If your soil has a lot of clay, don't walk over it.When it's wet, don't walk over it.If your soil is wet, you can lay a wooden board over it and walk across it instead of walking directly on it.
Step 7: The soil should be kept moist.
Stick your fingers into the soil as often as possible to make sure it doesn't feel dry.To encourage them to thrive, water the oats when they feel dry.
Step 8: Once oats start growing, remove the area.
If you want your oats to thrive, you need to continue to weed the area before planting.Remove any weeds that have popped up when you water your oats.
Step 9: Once the seed heads are dry, you can harvest them.
As you watch the oats grow, gently touch a few of them to see if they are wet or dry.It is time to harvest the oats once they are dry.It takes about 6 months for oats to be ready for harvest.
Step 10: The grains from the stalks should be separated by cutting off the oat seed heads.
If you want to remove the seed heads from the rest of the plant, use garden shears or snap them off.Shake the bucket to open the seed heads.Pull the grains by hand.If you want to separate out the grains, you can put them in a pillowcase and beat them against a wall.
Step 11: Store oats in a dry area.
For as long as 3 months, place your grains in a container that is relatively cold and dry in your home.If you prefer a long term storage option, you can freeze them for up to 2 years.If you have farm animals, you can use the stalks for bedding in your barn stalls.