Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the patio, or anywhere else, oats are a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing oats.
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Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Do Oats Belong To?
Oats (Avena sativa) belong to the Poaceae family, also known as the grass family.
Some of their relatives include wheat, bamboo, and lemongrass.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Oats?
The minimum container depth recommended for oats is 12 inches.
Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Oats?
Some of oats' best companions are as follows:
- Peas
- Beans like green beans
- Clover
- Wheat
- Alfalfa
- Sorghum
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Oats?
Oats are not compatible with every plant. Some things to avoid planting with oatsare as follows:
- Turmeric
- Ginger
What Soil Conditions Do Oats Need?
Oats prefer well-draining soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.
How Long Do Oats Take to Germinate?
Oats take 1-5 days to germinate at a temperature of 35-70°F.
How Much Sun Do Oats Need?
Oats need full sun.
Sun recommendations can vary by region, and oats grown in hot areas or in warmer conditions than the ideal temperature range noted below may need some shade.
How Much Water Do Oats Need?
Oats need 1 inch of water per week.
This should be divided into 2 weekly watering sessions in most climates and conditions.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Oats?
Oats grow fastest in temperatures of 50-80°F.
This is their ideal temperature range. Although they will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, the growth could be slower or even stunted.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by variety. Some oat varieties are bred for longer harvests and others for warmer climates.
How Tall Do Oats Get?
The average height of oats is 2-6 feet.
Are Oats Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Oats are annual, meaning that they start and end their lives in the same year.
How Do Oats Reproduce?
Oat plants reproduce by seed (oat). The oats we eat are the seeds of the plant.
How Many Oats Are Produced Per Plant?
For oats, how many are produced per plant (also called the yield) largely depends on the type, variety, and growing conditions.
Generally, each oat seed produces 3-5 stalks. Each stalk produces 20-50 oats.
Can Oats Be Ingested?
Oat seeds (oats) and stems (oatstraw) are edible.
Oats and oatstraw have nervine and immunomodulant properties and can be used in herbal preparations. The most common non-culinary preparations are tea and tinctures. An herb:solvent weight ratio of 1:2 at 75% alcohol is suggested for an oat tincture.
Oats are sometimes referred to as "milky oats" in herbal literature because they contain the most potent constituents and nutrients when harvested at the milky stage.
Celiacs and others with gluten sensitivities should be aware that oatstraw, which is the stem or stalk of the plant, and oat seeds (oats) do not naturally contain gluten. However, both are easily contaminated not only in processing but also via cross-pollination with wheat, barley, and other gluten-containing grasses. Those who are allergic or sensitive to gluten may choose to grow their oats far from any of such grasses or in a protected environment such as a greenhouse.
There are no known safety concerns associated with ingesting oats or oatstraw for the general public.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
When you have a bumper crop of oats rolling in, you may not have enough time for long, complicated recipes or many-step preservation procedures. Check out my article on quick, simple uses for oats here!
Oats are featured in these Plant to Plate articles: