Hudson Valley Seed Co.

Oats Cover Crop Seed

Name: Oats Cover Crop Seed
Rating: 4.60 (5 reviews)

Avena sativa

Certified Organic

Sow oats to smother weeds and grow your own mulch.

Oats are quick growing annual winter-kill cover crops that have many beneficial benefits. The roots create a mat of organic matter, which helps prevent soil erosion, and the top becomes the cleanest straw when grown in the fall. Sow thickly for the most effective mulch. Sow in the late summer in any space you do not plan on planting in until spring. The timing works well behind summer brassicas, lettuces, and beets and behind alliums. A highly recommended fall cover crop!
Oats are very effective in the spring as well but need to be incorporated to kill the plant in the summer. Mow plant and incorporate with hand tools about 6 inches deep on a small scale, or use mechanical cultivation to incorporate on a larger scale.

Garden Pack: 1/2 pound, sows roughly 125 square feet

Homestead Pack: 1 pound, sows roughly 250-300 square feet

Farm Pack: 5 pounds, sows roughly 1,500 square feet

This seed product is not included in our free shipping offer.

Unit	Price	Availability
1/2 Pound	$5.39	In Stock
1 Pound	$8.79	In Stock
5 Pounds	$19.99	In Stock

Price as selected: $0.00

Ships within 2-3 business days

Growing instructions

Sow oats in the spring, mid-summer or late summer! Oats need to be buried for best germination.
To broadcast: Prepare bed space by working soil well and raking the surface flat. Broadcast seeds evenly at 1 pound per 250 square feet. Using a rake or hoe, work oats in to a depth of 1/2-1" deep. Water in well.
To sow in rows: Sow as you would a direct sow crop, using a seeder or by making furrows. Sow about 1" deep, in rows spaced 8" apart.
Keep area well watered until oats sprout and put on a bit of growth.
Oats will winter kill. In the spring, when you are ready to plant into the bed, transplant through the oats, or incorporate the roots and plant matter well with a hoe or with mechanical tillage.

Product Details

Days to Maturity	60 days
Days to Germination	5 to 10 days
Height at Maturity	12 to 18 inches
Sun Conditions	Partial Sun (4-6 hours Sun), Full Sun (8+ Hours Sun)
Planting Depth	1"
Row Spacing	4 inches
Plant Spacing	2 inches

5 stars: 3 (60%)
4 stars: 2 (40%)
3 stars: 0 (0%)
2 stars: 0 (0%)
1 star: 0 (0%)

Very quick to germinate!

Using this oat seed as a winter cover crop for my small northeastern suburban garden after learning about soil conservation. It sprouted quickly and evenly. Expecting to have healthy soil next season!

Surely these oats and buying oats in 5lb. bags is expensive. But the germination was great and so is the growth.

We are using the oats here as a fall cover crop after growing sunflowers.

This picture was taken in southern Wis. Oct 21 of seed planted Oct 6, so two weeks from planting to picture taking.

Super easy to sow and fast growing. First time using this cover crop in my raised beds

Like it’s great !