A Complete Introduction to the Lesser Fullness of Grain
Most of the 24 solar terms can be understood from their names, but the Lesser Fullness of Grain can be a bit puzzling. What does Lesser Fullness of Grain mean? In fact, the name of Lesser Fullness of Grain is related to the growth of crops. In some southern regions, the name "Lesser Fullness of Grain" is also related to rain and irrigation. "Grain is planted at the start of summer and the Lesser Fullness of Grain," "Rushes head for the Lesser Fullness of Grain, and grains head for the autumn." The Lesser Fullness of Grain is the perfect season for transplanting rice.
The prelude to the "Three Summers" busy season
Astronomical experts say that the Lesser Fullness of Grain is the prelude to the harvest. The curtain for the busy season of summer harvest, summer planting, and summer management is raised at this time, making it another busy season for farmers in a year. The meaning of Lesser Fullness of Grain is that the grains of summer-ripening crops begin to fill out, but are not yet fully mature; they are just "lesser full," not "greater full." There is an old saying, "Heavy rain, great fullness; light rain, lesser fullness." The word "luò" (落) means rain. The more abundant the rain, the greater the harvest will be in the future.
Along the Yangtze River and in the Jiangnan region, the early rice has entered the late tillering stage or the initial jointing stage. It is necessary to drain the fields in time to control ineffective tillering and protect the panicles to increase grain yield and promote high yield. The mid-season rice should be planted as early as possible at this time to facilitate the accumulation of nutrients and subsequently increase the number of effective panicles. This period is also a rapid growth stage for cotton seedlings. It is important to thin, transplant, and replant the seedlings in time to promote early and healthy growth. In addition, in the cotton-growing areas along the river, there is more rainfall at this time, and the soil is heavy and has poor permeability. It is necessary to frequently cultivate and loosen the soil to promote strong roots and healthy seedlings.
In the north, the harvest is beginning to take shape, with only the final crucial step needed to complete it. As the saying goes, "He who travels a hundred miles is halfway there." The final critical stage often determines whether the smile on one's forehead is sunny and bright, and how much the sweat on one's cheeks is truly worth.
In the south of the country during the Lesser Fullness of Grain, it is a different world. While southern farmers are busy harvesting, threshing, and drying the summer-ripening crops on sunny days, they are also carefully tending to the vibrant expectations in the rice paddies. Drought without rain is anxiety-inducing, while continuous heavy rain is equally frustrating. The torrential rains during the Grain Rain in 2010 made the Lesser Fullness of Grain a bit frightening. Fortunately, when one place is in trouble, help comes from all around; fortunately, when people are united, Mount Tai can be moved; man can conquer nature. The Lesser Fullness of Grain is gradually moving towards perfection day by day.
Astronomical experts remind us that this solar term is characterized by abundant rain, sufficient sunlight, and suitable temperatures, which are beneficial for wheat filling. However, during the Lesser Fullness of Grain, people cannot simply wait for the harvest; they must also be vigilant against attacks of "hot dry wind," otherwise, the year's harvest will be threatened.