The following simple directions are intended to allow you to grow and harvest your own organic rice right in your own garden. You do not need ponds, "paddies" or waterproof containers to grow your crop as usually depicted in photos of many domestic rice growning areas. The water believe it or not is just a way of controlling fast growing competitive grasses and other weeds. It is very easy to grow a great crop of rice just like you would any other grain or garden item. First and foremost prepare your soil as you normally would for any other crop with plenty of good compost.
Soak seed (paddy rice) 24 to 36 hours and then drain the seed for 18 to 24 hours before planting.
Plant the seeds about 1 cm deep (½ inch) deep and about 5 cm apart (2 inches) in flats or plug trays. Do not pack the media but water the seed in so there will be air for the germination process.
Transplant within 15 days after the first (primary) leaf emerges spacing single plants 15 to 20 centimeters (6 to 8 inches) apart in beds or 25 centimeters (10 inches) each way in rows. Be careful not to damage the root system by gently laying them in the soil and not just pushing them in which would delay transplant recovery and effect your overall yield. Early transplanting will be the key to your success this is when the plant has the most potential for producing more tillers.
Keep soil moist but not saturated and be sure to keep well weeded without damaging the shallow root system. Let soil surface dry completely occasionally allowing more air to the roots.
About 90 to 120 days depending on variety selection and your local conditions rice will be reasy to harvest. The grains heads or panicles will tip over and start to turn brown. When the rice plant is completely brown about 7 to 14 days later the rice is ready to harvest.