Rice varieties for Alberta

Growing rice in Alberta is an emerging area of interest, with experimental projects underway to identify varieties best suited to the region’s cool temperatures and short growing season. While rice is typically associated with warmer climates, a few types can perform well in Alberta under the right conditions.

Best Rice Varieties for Alberta

• Upland and Short-Season Varieties: Researchers in southern Alberta are focusing on upland rice, which doesn’t require flooded paddies and is more adaptable to dryland or garden conditions^[1][2][3][4].
• Photoperiod-Insensitive and Early-Maturing Varieties: Success in Alberta depends on rice varieties that flower regardless of day length and mature quickly, generally within 90–120 days. This trait prevents plants from running out of time before frost arrives^[5][6][7].
• Recommended Varieties for Cold and Short Seasons:
• Duborskian Rice: Short-grain, upland type from northern climates, matures in about 90–110 days, ideal for containers and gardens in Alberta^[6][7][8].
• Loto Upland Rice: Another early, upland variety adapted for cold, temperate regions^[8].
• Zerawchanica Rice: Short-grain, aromatic, and matures in 100–120 days; thrives in dry soil and full sun^[9].
• Kyzyl Shala, Sputnik: Additional upland rice varieties, also bred for northern gardens^[8].
• Yukihikari: A short-grain, glutinous variety from Hokkaido, Japan, noted for early maturity (less than 120 days) and cold tolerance^[7].
• Other Cold-Tolerant Varieties: Some research references cold-resistant types from mountainous Himalayan and Chinese regions, such as Himali, Kanchan, Khumal-2, and Manjushree 2^[5][10][11].

Additional Tips

• Rice cultivars from northern Japan, Russia, Ukraine, and select temperate regions are more apt to succeed than tropical varieties.
• Alberta trials emphasize direct seeding or transplanting by mid-May to maximize the warm-weather window for growth^[1].
• Start with smaller garden or container plantings for experimentation as research in the region is ongoing and yields can vary.

Summary Table of Suitable Rice Varieties

Variety	Origin/Type	Days to Maturity	Notes
Duborskian	Ukraine/Upland	90–110	Short, cool-climate adapted[6][7][8]
Loto	Upland	~100–120	Cold-temperate, early[8]
Yukihikari	Japan/Glutinous	<120	Cold hardy, early[7]
Zerawchanica	Aromatic	100–120	Suits dry soil, Alberta-ready[9]
Sputnik, Kyzyl Shala	Upland	~100–115	Experimental for cold regions[8]

In summary: Focus on upland, cold-tolerant, early-maturing rice varieties for Alberta, especially Duborskian, Loto, Yukihikari, and similar types developed for short, cool growing seasons. Ongoing research in Alberta continues to evaluate their performance, so stay attentive to new findings from local agricultural groups^{[1][3][5][6][8]}.

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• https://www.farmingsmarter.com/upland-rice   
• https://www.seed.ab.ca/testing-the-possibility-of-growing-rice-in-alberta/ 
• https://www.ulethbridge.ca/communications/could-rice-be-next-crop-southern-alberta  
• https://www.producer.com/news/can-upland-rice-make-it-on-the-prairies/ 
• https://www.albertafarmexpress.ca/news/rice-could-grow-nice-in-southern-alberta/   
• https://modernfarmer.com/2018/09/cropped-how-to-grow-heirloom-rice/    
• http://www.ricenortheasternus.org/education/     
• https://greatlakesstapleseeds.com/collections/rice-cultivars-for-cold-temperate-northern-gardens       
• https://gardenfaeriebotanicals.ca/product/zerawchanica-rice-seeds/  
• https://ijarbs.com/pdfcopy/2022/nov2022/ijarbs6.pdf 
• https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/24/16873