How to Grow Rice
Growing rice is serious business for many countries. A staple food in many nations all throughout the world, rice is a major figure in many households and families. “Planting rice is never fun,” as one old song says, but you can try your hand at it by growing rice in your own backyard in a pail.
Tools
Clean plastic buckets with no holes
Water
Potting soil
Organic long-grain brown rice
Procedure
Rice is a perennial plant, but it grows annually in tropical countries. Since rice prefers heat, it’s recommended to grow them during the summer season. If this is not possible, you can use grow lights instead.
rice planting
Get clean plastic buckets with no holes or cracks in them. This is especially important because the rice will need to grow in swamp-like conditions for an extended period of time.
Buy organic long-grain brown rice wherever available. Organic rice means it didn’t go through chemical processes, and will still be able to grow. You can also opt to buy the rice grains from your gardening store instead, if you’re feeling unsure.
Fill the buckets with six inches of potting soil.
Add water in the bucket until the water reaches around two inches above the soil. Remember, lots of water is needed to duplicate the swampy growing conditions of rice.
Throw a small handful of rice grains in the soil, just so they that are above the soil and under the water.
Put the buckets where they can get exposed to the optimum amount of sun everyday.
Maintain the two inch water level until the rice begins to grow.
Once the rice stalks have shot up around five to six inches, increase the water level up to four inches from the soil level. After that, you don’t have to maintain the water level anymore, just let the rice grow and the water level decrease.
The rice should be ready for harvest around the fourth month since you planted them. You can tell by their distinct yellow-gold color, and when the stalks have bent slightly down due to their ripening pods.
Cut the rice from their stalks by cutting them from the base.
After harvesting your rice, its time to learn how to cook rice.