Oats, Jerry (Avena sativa) seed, organic
$3.95 – $40.00
Family: Grass (Poaceae)
Annual or overwintering annual hardy to zone 7 to 12
Jerry Oats (Avena sativa) may be sown fall or spring. Produces lots of biomass for building soil. This is a good kind for production of milky oats herb. Traditional usage (TWM): Sedative, anxiolytic, anticholesteremic. Sow 3 lbs per 1,000 square feet; 60 lbs per acre. Grows to 5 feet tall. Packet contains 5g (~165 seeds)
Seeds Certified Organically Grown
Missy (verified owner) –
Hey Richo, can I sow now to harvest in milky stage in spring? I’m in zone 8b/East Texas.
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Richo Cech –
Hi Missy,
Yes, precisely, we planted last year in a zone 8 on 11_17_24 and harvested on 6_8_25. I really suggest reading “Growing Plant Medicine Vol 1” for specific info on growing oats for milky oats production. Richo
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Jillian Arbour –
How late is too late to plant in the spring? Is the end of may too late?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Jillian,
Yes, now is the time to plant buckwheat or red clover, not oats.
Richo
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Question
Laura –
If I plant Milky Oat seed in the. Est week or two outside Portland, is it too late?
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Richo Cech –
hi laura, not too late, that is what’s known as a spring planting of oats. the term “milky” just refers to the timing of harvest, not the variety. richo
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Jared –
How many days to harvest? What’s the recommended spacing for a small garden bed?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Jared, Spring planted oats reach maturity in 100 to 120 days (see page 337 of “Growing Plant Medicine Vol 1”). My thought is that it’s too late to plant spring oats right now. Better to plant buckwheat or red clover at this time of year. Fall planted oats are best for zone 7 and up, planted 6 to 10 weeks before hard frost. Planted too early, and they never ammount to much. Too late, and they might winter kill. As for spacing, the seeds are traditionally broadcast, not planted individually. And you want to make sure they are raked in and tamped, otherwise the birds will eat them. A small garden bed? Broadcast a packet’s worth. Richo
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curtis –
I’m in zone 6a, central Indiana, and I’m wondering if it would work to plant oats now? Should I wait a little later and try for the fall or just wait until next spring?
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Question
Sophie –
How many seeds are in a packet?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Sophie, Thanks for writing, A Packet of oats contains 5g (~165 seeds). All the best, richo
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Question
Alyson –
Are the avena sativa seed dried green or are they dried at maturity?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Alyson, the oats that you have left this comment under are fully mature and meant for planting. Green oats (milky oats) are found under the dried herbs heading. richo
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jannachampagne –
Please advise the duration from planting seed to harvest?
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Richo Cech –
Hello Janna, OK, I accessed my records from one growing season and found that oats were planted on 11_28_2021 and harvested for milky oats tops on 6_2_22, for all practical purposes a 6-month induction period. Harvest of finished oat seed would take another month or so. richo
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jannachampagne –
Thank you 🙏
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Piolin (verified owner) –
Hi, I’m in zone 6B, when is the best time to plant the oat, fall or spring? Thanks.
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Richo Cech –
Hi Piolin, Thanks for writing. Oats overwinters reliably in a zone 7 and up. You’re in a zone 6b so you should probably plant it in the spring. richo
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A.L. –
Thanks so much richo – appreciate your advice!
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A.L. –
Do you have a recommendation of when to plant these during the Fall in zone 8B for harvest during the milky oat stage?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Al, thanks for writing. it wouldn’t be much different from what we do here in southern oregon==we plant with the first fall rains which equals out to about sep 15. it is good to get the stand established before the onset of very cold weather, but the grass will continue to grow slowly through the winter. milky oats harvest is in spring to early summer. richo
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Richo Cech –
hi lisa, you’re in a zone 7 so you can sow the oats in the fall and reap the benefits in the spring. meanwhile if you need milky oats for tea or tincture we have that too. r
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Question
Amanda (verified owner) –
Do you simply scatter this on the ground like grass seed or do you need to cover it with soil?
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Richo Cech –
hi amanda, make a seedbed, rake in the seed and tamp. if the seed isn’t covered, the birds will eat it. r
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Kate –
Hello, would this be the same grass as is used for cat grass?
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Richo Cech –
hi kate, i think so. richo
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brianproessler –
Hello, I’m interested in growing oats to have oatstraw for making tea. Would this be a good for this? If so, when would I harvest for oatstraw? I’m in zone 5a. Thank you.
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Richo Cech –
Hello Brian,
Yes, this is a good organic oatseed. I grew 0.9 acres of it this year with excellent results. Generally herbalists these days strip the immature seeded tops for making into tea. If you’re after the straw instead of the tops, then I would harvest when still green so there is some goodness in it. Oats can be fall or spring planted so the maturity would be dependent on that. Spring-sown oats take about 70 days to maturity. Richo
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Marion (verified owner) –
My oats are starting to set seed and I’m noticing some brown powdery stuff coming out of the shaft along with the a few of the seed heads. Any idea what this could be? I’m located in North AL zone 7b and I suspect that it could be a result of the climate I’m in, we get a lot of fungal issues because of the humidity. Just wanting to double check that it’s not toxic since I’ll be drying the tops for use in teas in the future.
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Richo Cech –
hi marion, that doesn’t sound like something you want to make tea of. choose only whole, perfect seedheads. you can look up “ergot” online and make sure its not that–your description doesn’t seem to fit, but do check. richo
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Bea –
So unless I plant these and harvested them in the milky stage they wouldn’t be ideal for drinking? They are actually the brown seeds…
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Richo Cech –
yes, correct.
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Bea –
Are these seeds green in color? How do they differ from the ones that are brown?
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Richo Cech –
Hello Bea, What we’re selling here is mature organic oat seed that has not been hulled and is ready to plant. Herbalists harvest the resulting plants early, when they are green and full of milk, in order to produce “milky oats” dried herb or fresh plant tincture. Richo
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Question
Newbie –
Hi. This may be a silly question but can you eat these? Everything I’ve seen lists these as an animal food. Also, does this produce an actual oat like I could make oatmeal? Or is it for making milky tea? And, I’ve heard this is good to plant beside peas to use as a trellis for the peas? Is that correct ? Thank you!!
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Richo Cech –
Hi Newbie,
Peas will climb up oats. THese oats are the same as what you eat as oat meal except they have not been rolled. THese make good milky oats for tea or tincturing. I have a whole field of peas and oats right now–it was my garden last year and will be again.
Richo
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Lynda –
Could you please tell me if the deer would enjoy this. I want to plant a garden for them to enjoy but have no idea what to plant. Thank you so much!
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Richo Cech –
Hi Lynda, The deer enjoy broadleaved plants like chicory, dandelion and plantain. They will leap tall buildings at a single bound to get to broccoli. Richo
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Lynda Tomlinson –
Thank you so much!!! I love them so much and want to take care to feed them what is good for them. I know now what I am going to plant! Much Heartfelt Gratitude Richie
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Carolyn –
Hello,
Please forgive my ignorance but oats have gotten a bad rap lately. Are these seeds/oats very different than unrolled oats I could purchase from the market?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Corolyy, yes, they are different because these are viable seeds intended for planting and what you purchase from the market is intended for food use. As for a bad rap, this is part of the general proliferation of misinformation meant to disempower the peeps and create mental blockage to self-sufficiency. I’m running into it daily on my various platforms. Oats are a valuable anticholesteremic. And, there’s nothing better for the gut–full of soluble fiber that feeds our immunity (prebiotic). Use the recipe in “Making Plant Medicine” for best results. Meanwhile I look out my window, we’re having our first good winter storm and rainfall, and a pasture that was rocky and weedy that we tilled and planted to oats is now a gentle blanket of cushy green… richo
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Carolyn –
Thank you for this vital information and response. I greatly appreciate it!!
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Kelley –
Are these Cayuse? I’m looking for seeds to use some for milky oats, oat straw(will harvest before seed head forms) and some for chicken feed
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Richo Cech –
Hi Kelley, These are organically certified Jerry Oats, not Cayuse Oats. Both are cultivated strains, both suitable for oat straw, milky oats and chicken feed. Oats are best planted in fall or early spring,
Richo
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Question
Nick Notaro –
I am looking for a variety of avena sativa that contains the most avenacosides A and B, avenanthramides, and other nutrients, where does the cayuse rank in this category and which variety of avena sativa would supply this? Also what is cayuse? Is it a variety or something else? Also are there more nutrients present in the grass before the oat seeds form (pre milky stage) or during the milky stage. My goal is to grow and harvest the young grass for the most nutrient density. How do I get the most bioavailability out of the oat grass? I heard fermentation is the best method, do you know how I could do this? I plan to low temp dry the grass and powder it and add it to water. Do you have any advice for the best way to air dry and store the grass to preserve and prevent mold formation once cut and “processed.” Does the cayuse oat grass prevent crown rust or other infections? Any and all information you have would be greatly appreciated.
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Richo Cech –
Hi Nick,
Cayuse is a variety. The species name “sativa” means “cultivated.” The bigger extraction companies have reviewed the different cultivars (varieties) and determined that Cayuse is the best–thats why we grow and sell this type. In terms of extraction, my advice is to harvest fruits during milky stage and make a tincture. You can also dry the milky oat fruits and make a tea. This is the most nutrient-dense part harvested at the most active time. You can find exacting directions in my book “making plant medicine.”
Richo
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Kevin Weinberg –
Hi Richo, thanks for all you do! We’re trying to grow milky oats en masse in Indiana and the Cayuse variety doesn’t appear (affordably) accessible outside of PNW and California. Do you have any more information about that study? Or any suggestions on 2nd choice varieties?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Kevin, I’m sorry I don’t understand this comment. We have organic cayuse oats available and feel they are a good choice for growers throughout the USA. They are the variety of choice for producing the milky oats herb or tincture. This was what we always used at Herb Pharm during my 11-year tenure there as production manager. Richo
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