How Do You Grow Whole Grain Rice?
Native to India and Southeast Asia, the rice plant, G. Oryza sativa, is simply a marsh grass. As the long, slim shafts grow, seeds for reproducing new grass develop. These seeds are the rice grains that we consume. If you think that growing rice is only for large paddies in faraway lands, think again. You can easily grow your own long-grain rice, even if you only have enough room for some large containers. The secret is “wet and warm.” These unusual plants can germinate and emerge through soil or water, but not both. Seeds rest on top of the soil, where a thin layer of oxygen under the water enables them to sprout. Then their little roots find the soil, and rice plants begin to grow. The water provides the additional benefit of a measure of natural weed control for the developing plants. Plant your rice from February through June, when sustainable water temperatures are above 60 degrees F. Fill your growing container with six inches of potting or garden soil and level it. Add two inche
