Long Grain Rice Seeds – Untreated, Unhulled Paddy Rice

Grow Your Own Long Grain Rice

Long grain rice seeds (Oryza sativa) offer a hands-on way to grow a familiar grain from planting to harvest. This untreated, unhulled paddy rice is described as a semi-dwarf type with strong stems and a long, warm growing season.

Try a small planting in a sunny garden or a suitable water-holding container, and watch the green stalks develop grain heads that turn straw-colored as they mature. It also makes an engaging supervised growing project.

Plant Highlights

• Botanical name: Oryza sativa.
• Type: Long grain rice; semi-dwarf growth habit.
• Seed form: Unhulled paddy rice, sold for planting.
• Seed treatment: Listed as untreated.
• Maturity: Approximately 160 days; actual timing depends on growing conditions.
• Height: Approximately 36–41 inches, based on the existing growing information.
• Light: Full sun.
• Planting season: Late spring to early summer when soil is warm.

Warmth and Site Selection

Rice needs a long period of warm, sunny weather. The listed soil temperature for germination is 80–90°F. Choose planting dates that allow enough warm weather for the approximately 160-day crop to mature.

Prepare well-tilled soil and plan how you will maintain moisture and manage water levels before sowing.

Direct Seeding

Place seeds approximately 1/2 inch deep and 2 inches apart in prepared soil. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged during early establishment. Thin to approximately 4 inches apart at the two-leaf stage.

The existing guidance allows shallow flooding to a depth of 2–3 inches once plants reach the four-leaf stage. Keep leaves above the water and monitor growth.

Water Seeding

Prepare the seedbed and flood it with approximately 2–3 inches of water. Place seeds about 2 inches apart on the submerged soil surface. Once seedlings extend above the water, thin to approximately 4 inches apart.

Maintain the shallow flooded growing conditions described in the planting guidance. When most grain heads begin to nod, drain the planting for approximately the final two weeks before maturity.

Growing Rice in Containers

Use a clean container suitable for growing food crops that can hold water. Do not reuse detergent or chemical containers. Add approximately 6 inches of soil or growing medium and water to about 2 inches above the soil surface.

Sow onto the submerged soil, leaving room to thin the seedlings. Position the container in full sun and a warm location. Maintain a shallow water level while keeping the growing leaves above water; adjust as plants develop rather than submerging young seedlings.

Allow standing water to recede as the grain approaches maturity. Manage standing water responsibly and prevent mosquito breeding using locally recommended methods suitable for edible-crop containers.

Harvesting

Look for straw-colored stalks and mature grain heads rather than relying only on a calendar date. Cut the mature stalks and dry them in a warm, dry, well-ventilated place. The grain must be threshed and dehulled before cooking; use appropriate grain-handling and storage practices.

These seeds are sold for planting, not as ready-to-eat rice.

Available Seed Packs

Choose 500 seeds, 1 oz, 1/4 lb, or 1 lb. The existing seed information lists approximately 16,000–18,000 seeds per pound; counts in weight-based packs can vary.