Our selection of cover crop and grain seeds includes many different plant species. Whether grown for soil improvement (hairy vetch, winter peas, rape), or to harvest for use as grain (rice, millet, quinoa, flax, chuffa),in the home garden they tend to be sown on a larger scale than many vegetable types. Some crops, like buckwheat or sesame, are used both ways!
COOK IT! Grain and Cover Crop Recipes HERE
Planting instructions for rice:
Timeline: Soak seed for ten days at room temperature. Discard floating seeds. Sow seeds in flats and grow in an unheated greenhouse for 4-6 weeks before the last frost. The seedlings should be kept out of frost and temperatures not exceed 80 degrees for a prolonged period of time. Do not let seedlings dry out. Transplant outside around frost, 8-12 inches apart. Make sure to harden off your plants for a few days before you transplant. Harvest when at least 2/3 of the seeds have fallen over and are golden brown. Dry the rice for 1-2 weeks.
Water Management: Upland and lowland rice prefer to grow in wet conditions until the plant ends flowering (~60 days after transplant). Lowland varieties do better in wet clay conditions. Upland varieties can tolerate sandier and drier soils better. Mulch always helps in drier conditions.
Fertility notes: Do not feed nitrogen to plants after or during flowering, and do not foliar spray the plants when their pollen is being released.
More information can be found here: Akaogi Rice Growing Manual.