When are early, middle, and late rice planted respectively? What is the best time to harvest?

Rice is the most important and longest-cultivated of all food grains. It originated in China, and rice was already being grown in China's Yangtze River basin seven thousand years ago. Because of different climates and environmentsrice in our country can be divided into three types: early, middle, and late rice. So when are they planted respectively? What time is best for harvesting? The details are organized for you as follows:

1. In the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, early rice is generally sown at the end of March and the beginning of April, and harvested in mid-to-late July;

2. Middle rice is generally sown from the beginning of April to the end of May, and harvested in mid-to-late September; late rice is generally sown in mid-to-late June, and harvested in early-to-mid October.

3. In the same area, after the early rice is planted, late rice can be planted right after, commonly known as double-cropping rice. Middle rice has a longer growth period, so it can only be planted once a year in the same area. Generally it must be finished before the Start of Autumn, and late rice is harvested from late October to November.

Accurately grasp the harvest time of rice, sow at the right time, and harvest at the right time. At the same time, also pay attention to the three periods that have the greatest impact on rice yield: the tillering stage, the young panicle differentiation stage, and the grain-filling and ripening stage. Managing rice reasonably during these three periods is the guarantee of stable and high rice yields.

What is the difference between early rice, middle rice, and late rice?

Distinguishing late rice from early rice: their main difference lies in the different climate and environment of the cultivation season, which has formed different adaptations to the cultivation season. 

During the growth season of late rice, the temperature goes from high to low, the day length goes from long to short, the light goes from strong to weak, and the wind and rain go from much to little, while early rice is exactly the opposite.

Early rice can be planted as late rice, which is called turning to autumn, and the growth period is shortened. If late rice is planted as early rice, the growth period is extended, which affects the planting of late rice, so it generally cannot be used.

In northern Zhejiang, there seem to be typhoons in July. For scheduling, you can refer to the following:

Early rice is sown before April 5, middle rice is better sown in mid-May. Late rice is around June 10.

Middle rice is one season, while early and late rice can be planted in two consecutive seasons.

Rice maturity goes through four stages: the milk-ripe stage, the dough-ripe stage, the fully ripe stage, and the dead-ripe stage.

The milk-ripe stage begins grain filling 3-5 days after rice flowering. It lasts about 7-10 days. By the end of the milk-ripe stage, the fresh weight reaches its maximum. During this period, pressing the grains in the middle of the rice panicle with your hand gives a feeling of hard matter.

The dough-ripe stage lasts about 7-9 days. During this period, the contents of the rice grains are thick and sticky, with no milky substance appearing, and the dry weight is close to maximum. The green color on the back of the rice grains begins to gradually disappear, and the husks turn somewhat yellow.

In the fully ripe stage, the rice husks turn yellow, the moisture in the grains decreases, the dry matter weight reaches a fixed value, and the grains become hard and not easily broken. This period is the best harvest time. It is about 45-50 days after rice heading, with a yellowing and full-ripening rate of more than 95%.