Stay tuned in as we gear up to launch on 2025 seed catalogue on Tuesday, January 7th! 75 new varieties. Over 600 total varieties. Sourced from over 50 different small scale seed savers from across the country. Plant a seed, grow the revolution!

'Kyzyl Shala' Upland Rice
'Kyzyl Shala' Upland Rice
'Kyzyl Shala' Upland Rice
'Kyzyl Shala' Upland Rice
'Kyzyl Shala' Upland Rice

'Kyzyl Shala' Upland Rice

Regular price $4.50 Sale

Oryza sativa

Origin: Uzbekistan

Improvement status: Landrace

Seeds per packet: ~70

Germination tested 11/2023: 94%

Life cycle: Annual

'Kyzyl Shala' is an extremely early-ripening short-grained upland (dryland) rice from Uzbekistan. It has been reported to begin flowering just 62 days after transplanting and can be harvested as early as 90 days after transplanting. In addition to being very early, this is a lovely with purplish tan hulls and light-brown bran. This variety has long awns (spikes), which help prevent predation by birds and mammals (especially deer). The awns come in a range of colors, testifying to the diversity of this landrace variety. According to the USDA, it has mild tolerance of saline soils. We haven't had a chance to experiment with it culinarily yet, but by the looks of it we imagine it could make a fine risotto or sushi roll. We'll let you know once we do!

This variety was collected in Uzbekistan by the famous Vavilov Institute during Soviet days, and donated to the USDA around 1980. Our original seed stock came from John Scherck at Sherck Seeds, and this year's crop was grown by Jason Andrzejewski of Columbus, Michigan.

GROWING TIPS: Start in flats a couple weeks before last frost (in Minnesota for upland rice this means April 20th, give or take). Plant out once all danger of frost has passed. Plants should be a foot apart for maximum tillering (stalk production).