Re: Japanese Balcony Rice Paddy (Part 6) Grains developing
September
The plant on the near left was a cutting from my indoor tank and it was interesting to see the difference in development under different conditions.
Top view of the same plant just emerging from the water.
And the same plant (right) in the indoor tank with LED lighting and CO2.
With CO2 it grows long thin feathery leaves and gains 5cm+ per week. As such it gets cut and replanted before it has a chance to put out shoots. Outside with no CO2 it grew really slowly and I didn't cut it once in 4 months. The leaves are stubbier and it puts out lots of shoots.
A view of the whole aquarium with rice leaves starting to yellow, which indicates harvest time is approaching.
I asked a local farmer when he was going to harvest and he said in about 3 weeks time. As my seedlings went in a week earlier, I guess mine could be ready in about two weeks.
The ears of rice starting to bend over under the weight of the grains.
No match for the pros! A local paddy field at the same time as my rice in the previous picture.
Clearly a lot more grains on each plant than on mine.
Similar emersed plants to the one I added seen here in a real paddy field.
... and one similar to the other emersed plant that I added can be seen in the foreground of this shot. The arrow head on this variety is more elongated than the one I bought.