Oats
cover-crop
Spring-sown oats winter-kill at frost, leaving a weed-suppressing mulch that is easy to till. Fall-sown provide winter mulch and organic matter. Good nurse crop for establishing slower cover crops.
At a glance
- USDA Zones
- 3–9
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hrs)
- Water
- Low — drought-tolerant once established
- Soil
- Loam, sandy, clay
- pH
- Neutral
- Spacing
- 2 in. between plants
- Per square foot
- 36 plants per square
- Days to maturity
- About 60 days
Planting & harvest windows
Northern Hemisphere timing. Adjust ±4–6 weeks based on your last/first frost dates.
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant |
Plant Harvest
Recommended varieties
- Common Oatsseed
Standard spring-kill cover crop — versatile and inexpensive.
Add Oats to your raised bed — the planner handles spacing and companion warnings automatically.
Open the planner →