Oat Life Cycle
Oats are a species of erect annual grasses of the genus Avena. There are a variety of cultivated and wild species. The life cycle of an oat plant is similar to that of any other annual grass, including germination, growth, flowering, pollination and seed-setting.
Germination
Oat seeds germinate in spring, with a second less fecund germination in fall. Depending on temperatures, germination can take one to three weeks. Warmer temperatures encourage faster germination. Optimum germination temperature ranges from 16 to 22 degrees Celsius.
- Oats are a species of erect annual grasses of the genus Avena.
- The life cycle of an oat plant is similar to that of any other annual grass, including germination, growth, flowering, pollination and seed-setting.
Growth
Immediately following germination, root and shoot growth is slow. Two weeks after germination, growth accelerates. The plant's shoot is called a "tiller," a term which also describes the act of growing a shoot. Oat plants take one month to fully tiller.
Flowering
Oats flower in early July, and last for up to six weeks. Each of the plant's spikelets produce three to seven small flowers.
Seeding
Seeds can ripen progressively from the top of the plant to the bottom, or simultaneously. Upon ripening, seeds split open, or shatter.
- Immediately following germination, root and shoot growth is slow.
- Upon ripening, seeds split open, or shatter.
Harvesting and Propagation
Wild oats drop their seeds in mid-August, which germinate the next season, or remain dormant until advantageous environmental conditions arise. If a cultivated variety, seeds are harvested prior to seed shedding, and the life cycle interrupted
References
Writer Bio
Darci Pauser began writing in 2001. Her work has been featured in publications such as the "UC Berkeley Undergraduate Journal," Indybay and the West Texas Weekly. Pauser holds a certificate in sustainable agriculture from California's Green String Institute and a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley.