When Do Rice Crops in Sichuan Mature? A Detailed Guide to Maturity Times

Sichuan's rice is very famous, because China is a major growing country, and the Sichuan region has unique geographical advantages for cultivation. So when do rice crops in Sichuan mature?

1. When Do Rice Crops in Sichuan Mature

The maturity time of rice in Sichuan is mostly concentrated in late August to September each autumn. Because the rice-growing regions and ambient temperatures differ, the maturity time also varies.

2. Introduction to the Main Categories of Rice

1. Indica rice and japonica rice

Indica rice is a medium-stickiness rice, grown relatively widely in tropical regions, and can mature multiple times a year. After hulling, it becomes indica rice, which is slender in appearance and low in transparency. It is usually used for radish cake, rice noodles, and fried rice.

Japonica rice is grown in temperate and cold zones and can mature only once a year. After hulling, it becomes japonica rice, which is round, short, and transparent in appearance. Its cooking characteristics fall between those of glutinous rice and indica rice. It is used as ordinary table rice.

2. Early, middle, and late rice

The fundamental difference between early, middle, and late rice lies in their different responses to light. Early and middle rice are not sensitive to light and can mature normally when planted in any season of the year, while late rice is very sensitive to short-day conditions and strictly requires short-day conditions to pass through the photoperiod stage, head, and set grain.

3. Non-glutinous rice and glutinous rice

Glutinous rice has the highest stickiness and is further divided into japonica glutinous rice and indica glutinous rice. After cooking, the rice is softer and stickier. Japonica glutinous rice is usually used for brewing wine and rice cakes, while indica glutinous rice is used for eight-treasure porridge and zongzi.

Non-glutinous rice is our most common staple food, while glutinous rice is used for making pastries or brewing wine; the main difference between the two lies in the strength of the grain's stickiness. Glutinous rice has strong stickiness, while non-glutinous rice has weak stickiness.

4. Upland rice and paddy rice

Upland rice can also be called dryland rice. It is actually largely similar to the main varieties of paddy rice, and likewise has the two subspecies indica and japonica. Some paddy rice can be planted directly in dry land but with lower yield, and can also be planted in paddy fields.