Oats

[Benelli]

I plan on resurrecting an old plot that needs some TLC, last planted with rye about 3 or 4 years ago in the fall. Hard to reach plot so it has gotten less attention than most. No soil test info, but it has done well with rye in the past.

My plan was to disk it up and throw in some oats and 20-10-10 this fall (disked last weekend, plan to plant over labor day). The area is kind of a turkey hangout in the spring so I’d like to add a little more enticement for those critters. I’ll probably keep this plot in oats for some time if they do well.

Called a local grain elevator about seed…I thought “oats were oats” but apparently there are a few different kinds. Does anyone have an idea about what type or variety of oats would do best for a fall planting?? Thanks in advance for any input.

[multibeard]

I am not sure but will oats winter over. Seems to me that they will freeze out.

[wild bill]

same as above the oats will die off usually at first frost. as bad as it may be i actually use a competitor brand of seed. i have had good results with the buck forage oats. the deer love them but as far as the turkeys go i dont know. i do know that we see turkeys in our clover and alfalfa up north all the time.

[Benelli]

Hmmm….I know oats will die off at frost, but I read a planting guide that sez plant in Sept to Oct. I guess I was under the impression that there is a variety that goes to seed very quickly and the seed would be available for forage for the critters in the spring even after sitting under a blanket of snow over the winter. I figured that the old oats would be a good early spring food source before the clover, etc. starts to green-up. Maybe I should re-think my plan???

[orion]

Try wheat it will not die off in the winter and will produce a lot of seed come next summer and early fall. My six acres of wheat is full of turkeys right now.