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  • From: "Elizabeth B." <bluebonnethillminiaturesranch@webtv.net>
  • To: seedkeepers@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Seed Keepers] Growing Rice
  • Date: Sun, 02 Mar 2008 00:55:26 GMT

I got my seeds from a friend and no idea where she got it from as the package doesn't say. I do know Bountiful Gardens (http://www.bountifulgardens.org) was selling Wells variety rice seeds but I don't see it on their website now. You might ask if they still have access to the seeds.

This website (http://www.kidsregen.org/howTo.php?section=inGarden&ID=4) has more information especially where harvesting is concerned. They also tell you how to grow rice in a bucket; as well as obtaining rice seeds from:

Kitazawa Seed Co.
Call (510) 595-1188 or email: kitaseed@pacbell.net

Garrett Farms
Call (979) 922-8405 or email: garrettfarms@usa.net

This was written on my seed packet:

Rice, Long Grain (Wells)
Soak seed for 24 hours; plant in flats of moist, mucky soil about a month before your last frost. Prepare raised beds with plenty of organic matter and cover with a thick organic mulch. Transplant 6 to 8 inches apart, pushing the mulch aside. Water daily, cut back once grain begins to harden. Harvest when the last few bottom grains are still doughy and top ones are all ripe.

Rice Growing Instructions
Written by: Dr. William H. Collins 

The following simple directions are intended to allow you to grow and harvest your own organic rice right in your own garden. You do not need ponds, "paddies" or waterproof containers to grow your crop as usually depicted in photos of many domestic rice growing areas. The water, believe it or not, is just a way of controlling fast growing, competitive grasses and other weeds. It is very easy to grow a great crop of rice just like you would any other grain or garden item

First and foremost, prepare your soil as you normally would for any other crop with plenty of good compost. The garden soil temperatures must be atleast 60 degrees F for transplanting, so plan your seed-starting accordingly.

Soak seed (paddy rice) 24-36 hours and then drain the seed for 18-24 hours before planting.

Plant the seeds about 1 cm deep (1/2 inch) deep and about 5 cm (2 inches) in flats or plug trays. DO NOT pack the media but water the seed in so there will be air for the germination process.

Transplant within 15 days after the first (primary) leaf emerges, spacing single plants 15 to 20 cm (6-9 inches) apart in beds OR 25 cm (10 inches) each way in rows. Be careful not to damage the root system by gently laying them in the soil and not just pushing them in which would delay transplant recovery and effect your overall yield Early transplanting will be the key to your success as this is when the plant has the most potential for producing more tillers.

Keep soil moist but not saturated and be sure to keep well weeded without damaging the shallow root system. Let soil dry completely occasionally allowing more air to the roots.

About 90 120 days depending on variety selection and your local conditions; rice will be ready to harvest. The grains heads or pinnacles will tip over and start to turn brown. When the rice plant is completely brown, about 7 to 14 days later, the rice is ready to harvest.






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