Rice can be grown on both a large and a small scale.
Jasmine rice is an aromatic, medium-grain rice commonly grown in Thailand, but also adapted to grow in other similarly warm and moist environments. Growing Jasmine rice on a large scale to produce hundreds or thousands of pounds of commercially sold rice takes place in very large fields that are often flooded with water. However, growing rice in a backyard or small plot is also feasible. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Preparing the Plot
1. Choose and measure the plot based on space availability and access to lots of sun and water. Select land with full sunlight and at least three to four months of temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and where water stands after rainfall.
2. Till the soil with spades, rakes and shovels.
3. Nutrient-rich soil helps rice plants grow strong.
Remove weeds. Add fertilizer or compost (naturally nutrient-rich soil) and level the plot. Leveling is important, as any standing water and moisture needs to reach all rice plants equally. Eliminating weeds is necessary because the weeds compete with the rice plants for space and nutrients, according to a November 2009 article in Mother Earth News.
Planting/Harvesting
4. One rice grain will grow into a larger rice plant.
Soak the rice grains you will plant in water for 12 to 36 hours before planting. This practice is called priming.
5. Dig a small hole a few inches into the ground soil. Place one grain of Jasmine rice seed in the hole. Plant the seeds in rows, which will help make weeding easier as the plants grow. You will need one to two ounces of seeds per 100 square feet of planting.
6. After planting your seeds, cover them with soil and pack the soil down lightly. Cover with mulch. Water daily and keep the ground moist at all times.
7. Commerical rice farmers keep rice plants submerged in eight inches of water or more as the plants grow.
If you choose, flood your Jasmine rice plot. An article in Mother Earth News states that commercial rice farmers keep their plots submerged in rice paddies at all times. However, one inch of water in a home-growing setting should be sufficient. Build up the sides of the plot with additional soil (two to six inches high) to keep water in. Line the built-up sides with plastic. These sides should help keep the flood water from seeping out.
8. Drain any water in the plot and pull the plants out when they grow to about 15 inches in height. This growth can take 90 to 180 days.
9. Separate the Jasmine rice (still inside the hull) from the stem by hand or with a machine.
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