Is it possible to grow rice in Portland area? - Ask Extension
Hi, I want to try growing some heirloom variety of wheat and rice on my own property. I have 9 acres of land in Milwaukie and 2 wells on my site. But ...
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Is it possible to grow rice in Portland area? #874365
Asked June 24, 2024, 1:43 AM EDT
Hi, I want to try growing some heirloom variety of wheat and rice on my own property. I have 9 acres of land in Milwaukie and 2 wells on my site. But I never grew rice or wheat before. Could you firstly let me know if it’s possible and then share with me some possible resource? Thank you
Clackamas County Oregon
Expert Response
Attached is a technical report on wild rice from Oregon State University that will provide insight on conditions for growing wild rice in Oregon.
Look up your soil type using the Soil Web App. Rice is being grown on clay soils in the south Willamette Valley. Here's an article from the Oregonian Newspaper from 2012. https://www.oregonlive.com/foodday/2012/01/willamette_valley_clay_soil_is.html
Rice is a subtropical and tropical plant and can be easily damaged by low temperatures at any stage of growth from germination to maturity. That makes it challenging to grow Rice in Portland area growing season. The only reference I found of rice production in Willamette Valley is of Wild Rice varieties. Wild rice is harvested green unlike the cultivated rice which needs field drying. Any naturally low/wet areas with our local heavy clay soils will be well suited for wild rice production.
Look up your soil type using the Soil Web App. Rice is being grown on clay soils in the south Willamette Valley. Here's an article from the Oregonian Newspaper from 2012. https://www.oregonlive.com/foodday/2012/01/willamette_valley_clay_soil_is.html
Rice is a subtropical and tropical plant and can be easily damaged by low temperatures at any stage of growth from germination to maturity. That makes it challenging to grow Rice in Portland area growing season. The only reference I found of rice production in Willamette Valley is of Wild Rice varieties. Wild rice is harvested green unlike the cultivated rice which needs field drying. Any naturally low/wet areas with our local heavy clay soils will be well suited for wild rice production.
