growing rice.

[applestar]

if you just leave the rice in water it will ferment, you need to change the water at least daily. preferably twice a day.

Gotcha! So just like with any other seeds. I've been doing this with peas and crucifers ths spring cause I'm afraid the warm spring could just as well bring on an early summer and I might be too late.

Normally, we have hard freezes until the last frost, then summer temperatures two weeks later. So pre-germinating seeds doesn't tend to help. If we have a long drawn out spring ths year, I'll get to try all kinds of techniques that I haven't been able to experiment with!

Last year, I didn't transplant (DS'd) and I couldn't get out there to monitor and maintain water levels at prescribed times so I basically left it up to Mother Nature and we tend to have drought. I also couldn't weed so they suffered in that respect, but I still harvested some Hmong Sticky rice in autumn. So yeah, they don't need to be as babied as some may lead you to believe.

I sprout seeds and grains just like Soil instructs. But I do it to eat not to grow. I've done things like wheat, rye, quinoa, barley, sunflower, mung beans, chickpeas etc.

...thinking about what I have in the pantry that might sprout...

[GardenGnome]

Ok poured half cup or less into a mason jar. I have holes in the lid to drain and wash it.
Well see how it goes.

[applestar]

I think my little experiments are starting to germinate.
These were bagged Korean organic sweet bown rice.

I found the thread in which I reported my first rice growing experience:
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12804

[applestar]

Yep. They were Photo taken ths morning.
I added water to rinse and separate for easy viewing. For germinating, I have been turning the jar over a paper towel lined saucer and using the jar as humidity cover, making sure paper towel stayed moist.

[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/c4ab5228.jpg[/img]

I sowed them in a container of seed starting soil mix after taking the pic.
I guess I'm growing these this year since my rice growing space is limited and I hadn't started any yet.

I guess they are extra nutritious if cooked at this stage too, right? Maybe I'll try that.

[soil]

yes they are very nutritious at this stage.

what I do at this point is take a shallow tray, about an inch deep. spread it with sand, screened crushed lavarock and a small amount of compost. I layer the rice sprouts on top, and then follow it with a small layer of sand/compost. keep moist.

[PunkRotten]

So you kept your rice under water constantly and they sprouted underwater?

[GardenGnome]

My rice did awhole lot of nothing guess ill have to try some other time.

[applestar]

So you kept your rice under water constantly and they sprouted underwater?

Nooo.... (Reading over my posts to see if I implied that somehow...)

I rinsed twice a day as recommended. I used filtered water and drained most of the water out of the jar (into a watering can ). Then put a clean folded paper towel across the mouth of the jar, covered with a teacup saucer, and holding on, turned the whole thing over. Initially, dry paper towel may not get enough moisture from the draining seeds and need a bit of water added.

When I rinsed the seeds, I also rinsed the paper towel and the saucer with tap water.

If I noticed that the paper towel had dried before it was time to rinse again, I just added a bit more water to the saucer to moisten it.

[GardenGnome]

Lol wait do you just keep them moist?
I have them underwater opps.

[applestar]

Soil -- that's interesting. How far apart do you scatter the seedlings? I'm surprised you use such a shallow tray -- even with 2-1/2" deep flat, rice seedling roots tend to mat together by the time they grow two true leaves.

I use extra sandy mixture as well.

[soil]

gardengnome you can soak them initially for 12 hours, but from then on you have to rinse at least once a day, the more the better. 5 times a day wouldn't be overkill but just a lot of work, I do it twice. also go buy some real quality rice, you don't need a lot. the bagged cheap stuff is iffy who knows what was done to it.

applestar yes its a shallow tray, separating the seedlings is very easy with just a shake underwater. transplant shock is not really that much of a problem, it is a grass after all. also with the SRI farming method and dry farming the seedlings go out much earlier than traditional paddy farming because well there's no water level for them to compete with. also what you see coming out is not the root, its the leaf shoot. I scatter them so the surface is lightly covered but I can still see the medium. pretty dense, think of eric's onion flats. then lightly cover some more with coarse light material. I used sifted compost.

[GardenGnome]

GThe rice seeds have started to grow.
[img]https://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj565/ericmgilson/2012-03-28_15-51-02_736.jpg[/img]
I have soil,pea size gravel,sand and dirt to work with and a cookie sheet.

[GardenGnome]

GThe rice seeds have started to grow.
[img]https://i1268.photobucket.com/albums/jj565/ericmgilson/2012-03-28_15-51-02_736.jpg[/img]
I have soil,pea size gravel,sand and dirt to work with and a cookie sheet.

[soil]

congrats, you have successfully done the first part, and imo the hardest part.

proceed to the next step. also a cookie sheet sounds kind of big, my tray is 5"x9" and that can produce 200 seedlings enough to plant quite a big area. so keep that in mind.

do you have soil sifting screens? I found you get the best growth with a soil that is sifted so each particle is the same size as the rice grains. use something like 1 part sand 1/2 part compost. you can also use something that will hold water like vermiculite or crushed lavarock.

ill be starting my rice soon, I got some black rice lined up.

[GardenGnome]

Well I do have a sledge hammer and a lavarock smashy smashy.

[soil]

be sure to screen that too.

[GardenGnome]

Hmmm I have a window screen or a cookie cooling sheet that has 1/2 squares.

[soil]

you don't have to it just helps I found out. Last year I put the sprouted seeds in something like 10 different mediums and a couple other methods. The screened compost/lavarock/sand method worked the best. A window screen will get out all the super fine dust which is good. once again good luck.

[GardenGnome]

Do I cover the rice with it then keep it alittle wet ?

[applestar]

For size close to rice grain, a colander might work....

Interesting detail, soil. I'll have to remember that.

[soil]

put say a 1/2 inch down, spread the rice seed, then lightly cover with additional sifted medium.

[soil]

hows everyone's rice going? ill be starting mine real soon.

[GardenGnome]

Got it in dirt and fish tank rocks keeping it mosit. What light or sun does it like?

[soil]

full light or sun.

[applestar]

I have usable seedlings started and hardening off, but the forecast is still calling for 30's so if I plant, I'll have to rig a hoop cover. I did want to try planting earlier this year to see if the rice could be harvest-ready during our usual summer drought, before fall rains start.

Also, you mentioning black rice has me thinking didn't I see them at the store the other day? But I haven't been able to get out there to check.

So I'm dithering while I wait for more favorable weather. (I *could* direct seed now though) I did prep my little paddy and flooded it once to see how it holds water. I'll probably let it fill or not according to rainfall and general watering patterns for dri-er cultivation again.

[soil]

its ok, last year I started way too early. it was a good learning experience sprouting rice and getting it to a plantable seedling. I would try planting some if your temps are not going below the 30s. last year my seedlings had to handle a 30 degree day or two in the greenhouse and they did fine. figuring they are extra it might be worth a shot.

black rice is kind of hard to find, specially some that can be sprouted. I ended up finding some high quality rice that was pretty pricey, but considering the fun ill get out of growing rice and the potential yield I'm not worried about the 9$ per lb I paid.

also I grow my rice without a flooded paddy, not sure on a paddy systems process.

[soil]

ive sprouted my rice, small fields of black rice here I come!

also was talking to a friend with a big pond, hes got one area where he can lower the pond level and there is a 1/4 acre of low water area. we might do a whole ton there for fun, the pond has fish and ducks so I doubt we will have to feed or anything.

[soil]

we have purple rice seedlings! about an inch tall. its kind of interesting all of the sprouts leaves have purple tips. ill be planting them real soon.

[rainbowgardener]

Don't grow rice, but I'm doing a few purple millet plants I started from seed. They are interesting too. Start out all green, then they get a thin purple stripe down the center of each leaf and then gradually "purple up" from there.