Rice
Also known as: Upland rice · Paddy rice · Oryza sativa
When & where
Germination
Spacing & depth
How to plant
Presoak seed 24–48 hrs. Start indoors on heat. Transplant into a shallow flooded bed (2–4 in of water) for paddy rice, or into constantly moist rich soil for upland types like 'Duborskian'. Maintain water until seed heads fill, then drain to dry the crop for harvest. Cut whole panicles when grain is hard and straw-tan.
Pre-sow treatment
Soak seed 24–48 hours in warm water; drain and let sprout briefly before sowing.
Grower's tip
Upland 'Duborskian' from Russia ripens in cooler zones (as far north as zone 5). Home threshing: rub panicles between gloved hands; hull with a mortar or hand mill — the tough hull won't come off with wind alone.
Soil preferences
Firm, well-drained loam.
6.0–7.0
A modest nitrogen source in spring for wheat/rye; teff and rice prefer more.
Watering
1 in per week during establishment. Most small grains are drought-tolerant once headed out.
Overhead is fine. Rice paddies are the exception — constant flood.
Overwatered: lodging (flopped stems), rust. Underwatered: short heads, shriveled grain.
Prefers top-watering — Top-water (overhead or rain) — grains are wind-pollinated and tolerate wet foliage. Water deeply and infrequently.
Temperature tolerance
60–80°F (15–27°C)
40–65°F (4–18°C)
Winter grains (winter wheat, rye, spelt) overwinter through hard freezes. Spring grains and teff are frost-tender.
Container growing
Not recommended in containers
Grains need broadcast area — even a 10x10 ft patch yields a meaningful loaf's worth of flour.
Detailed harvesting
Cut whole stalks with a sickle or hedge shears when heads are straw-dry and grain dents but doesn't smash. Shock or hang to cure 1–2 weeks.
Post-harvest storage & preservation
Thresh in a pillowcase or against a screen; winnow chaff in front of a fan. Store cool and dry in sealed jars. Freeze 3 days to kill any weevils.
Culinary, medicinal & other uses
Bake, brew, mill for flour, sprout, or add to grain bowls. Straw is mulch or bedding.
Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.
Seed saving
Most grains self-pollinate before the head fully emerges.
20 ft between varieties is enough for most.
The grain IS the seed — save cleaned kernels from your best-headed plants for next year.
Your zone's planting calendar
Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for rice in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.
From your kitchen — grow rice from what you already have
Save whole ripe heads — grains are just grasses gone to seed.
- 1Harvest heads when they're straw-tan and the grain is hard (bite test: dents, doesn't smash).
- 2Cut whole stalks with 6 in of straw and shock or hang to cure 1–2 weeks.
- 3Thresh by rubbing heads inside a pillowcase or against a screen.
- 4Winnow by pouring in front of a fan; store cool and dry.
Storage: 2–4 years — grain seed loses vigor faster than most.
My Rice notes
Rice seeds on hand
Track packets and loose seeds you already have. Private to your account.
Par level — leave at 0 for no alert. Anything below par shows on Seed Starting and your shopping list.
Order more seeds
Running low? Reorder from one of these seed stores.
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