How to Grow Oats: A Detailed Guide to Planting Methods and Key Techniques

Oats are a low-sugar, high-nutrition food. Regular consumption can promote gastrointestinal motility and benefit the spleen and heart, making them very popular. They are currently grown in most regions, so how do you grow oats?

1. Soil selection and land preparation

Oats are highly adaptable and not demanding about soil. They can generally grow in soil that is deep, flat, loose and fertile. However, oats should not be grown continuously on the same land, otherwise pests and diseases become more serious and are not conducive to cultivation. After selecting the soil, plow it deeply to help preserve soil moisture, thereby increasing the survival rate of sowing.

2. Seed selection and treatment

Choose excellent varieties with strong adaptability, high disease resistance and higher yields, then select plump, large seeds for sowing and remove small or insect-damaged ones. Before sowing, first spread the seeds in the sun for 2-3 days, which can kill some pathogens and increase the germination rate.

3. Sowing

(1) Sowing time: The best sowing time is in March-April, around Qingming Festival, when the temperature and rainfall are both favorable for seed germination.

(2) Sowing method: Pay attention to sowing density when sowing. Too high a sowing density will lead to too many seedlings competing for nutrients, which is not conducive to growth and development and causes reduced yield. When sowing, manual or mechanical furrowing can be used for drilling, the sowing should be uniform, and after sowing, harrow the land promptly.

4. Field management

(1) Cultivation and weeding: When the seedlings grow to 8-10cm, carry out one cultivation and weeding to increase soil aeration, and use fertilizer and water to promote root growth. The second time is when they grow to the first node, weed once more and loosen the soil.

(2) Appropriate water and fertilizer: Water and topdress in a timely manner according to the growth of the oats. Each watering should soak through, and fertilization should follow the standard. It should not be excessive or too concentrated, so as to avoid harming the plants.