Radish Vs. Oat Seeds

Farmers plant radishes for vegetable production, cover crops and livestock forage.

Both radishes and oats perform well when planted in the cool weather of spring or fall. Gardeners typically grow annual radishes and winter, biennial radishes as a root vegetable. Daikon radishes may also be grown as a forage crop for livestock. Farmers grow oat crops to provide forage for livestock and edible grains for human consumption. The differences between radish and oat seed determine when and how each crop is planted.

Seed Description

The dark brown to black radish seed forms into a small tear-drop shape when fully mature. Barely reaching 1/3 of an inch in size, the seed is dwarfed by the larger oat seed. The oat seed grows within a husk covered with fine, silky hairs, according to Purdue University. The 1/2 inch long seed features a thin, spindle shape.

Seed Weight

Gardeners and farmers use the seed weight to calculate the amount of seed needed to plant a growing area. Radish seed is measured at 32,000 to 64,000 seeds per lb. When planted as a row crop, Ohio State University recommends a seeding rate between 12 to 18 lb. of seed per acre. In contrast, it takes only approximately 11,100 oat seeds to equal 1 lb. North Dakota State University recommends an oat seeding rate of 38 to 62 lbs. per acre for both grain production and forage.

Germination

The ideal soil temperature for radish germination falls between 45 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Texas A&M. North Carolina State University reports that larger radish seed germinates the earliest. Radish seed should be planted approximately 1/2 an inch deep and will begin emerging in approximately 7 days, depending on the variety planted. For optimum oat seed germination, Washington State University recommends moist soil with a temperature range of 37 to 41 degrees. The ideal planting depth for oats is between 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 inches with plants emerging within 7 days. Planting deeper than 3 inches can reduce germination rates.

Seed Viability

Radish seed remains viable, or able to germinate, for up to five years. Oat seeds share a similar viability. When stored properly, the University of California reports that "oat seed remain viable for a relatively long time."

References

• University of Illinois Extension: Radish
• North Dakota State University; Oat Production in North Dakota; Joel Ransom, et al.; June 2007
• Maryland Cooperative Extension; Forage Radish - New Multi-purpose Cover Crop for the Mid Atlantic; Ray Weil, et al.
• Purdue University; "Food and Feed Crops of the United States"; J.R. Magness, et al.; 1971
• Oregon State University: Radish
• Ohio State University; Radishes, Turnips and Rutabagas; 2010
• Texas A&M: Radish
• North Carolina State University; Radish; Douglas C. Sanders; March 1998
• Washington State University; Oat Hay and Straw; Steve Fransen, et al.; May 2005
• University of California: Oat

Resources

• Alabama Cooperative Extension: Production Guide for Oats
• Cornell University: Forage Radish