Experiment growing this staple food in containers or in the garden.
Enjoy the lovely plant and expect a small harvest.
Rice is an annual grass plant that thrives in Asia and parts of Africa.
Credit:LITTLE DINOSAUR / Getty Images
It willgrow in moist, boggy soil, but waterlogged soil is not essential.
The rice can tolerate wet conditions, while the weeds cannot.
In the home garden, grow rice in wet garden soil or containers.
The labor-intensive aspect of growing rice comes after harvest.
The grains must be threshed, de-hulled, and winnowed.
Finally, the grain is separated from the chaff in a process called winnowing to produce brown rice.
The best planting spot is consistently wet from the beginning of the growing season until late summer.
Seedlings emerge in five to 10 days.
Thin the seedlings to about 6 inches apart in rows 9 to 12 inches apart.
Light
Rice thrives in eight or more hours of direct sunlight daily.
Plant it infull sun, away from trees or buildings that cast shade.
Eight or more hours of bright sunlight are essential.
Soil and Water
Rice needs nitrogen-rich soil.
To boost soil nitrogen content, incorporate a 4- to 6-inch layer ofwell-decomposed compost into the soilbefore seeding.
Container-grown rice can be planted in a potting mix enriched with a 4- to 6-inch layer of well-decomposed compost.
Water the plants as needed to maintain wet soil, which decreases weed seed germination.
Temperature and Humidity
Rice grows best in areas with high summer temperatures and high humidity.
It doesnt tolerate frost and grows slowly in cool temperatures.
Generally, ricegrows best in Zone 7 and warmerand in areas that receive frequent rainfall or have high humidity.
Fertilizer
Harvesting
Rice is ready to harvest when the seed head is yellow and dry.
Preparing rice for consumption is a labor of love.
First, separate the individual grains from the stem.
Pull your hand along each individual stem to dislodge the dry grains.
Next, remove the papery husk from each grain.
After the husk is removed, a brown coating, called bran, is visible on the grain.
Rice at this point in the milling process is called brown rice and is edible.
Several more processes must be executed to remove the bran and create white rice.
Pests and Problems
Weeds are the biggest threat to young rice plants.
Protect mature seed heads by covering the plants with bird netting.
How to Propagate Rice
Rice is easy to grow from seeds saved from the previous years crop.
Store the dry grain in an airtight container until planting the following spring.
These smaller plants are less likely to bend and fall in storms.
Frequently Asked Questions
No.
Rice from the grocery store is highly processed and will not germinate.
Purchase rice seed from a trusted source.
There are a few online seed sources.
Yes, rice can grow indoors, but its unlikely it will mature completely to harvest a substantial crop.
For best results, grow rice outdoors.
