Got Sprouts?
By
Shirley Bullington
They're not only good for will have sprouts tall enough
you, but they taste good, too. to harvest.
Sprouts are also a great
source of vitamins, fiber, - Growing Sprouts in a Jar -
protein, anti-oxidants,
andenzymes. A sprout is 1. Soak the seeds, grains, or
produced when a seed starts beans in lukewarm water
growing into a vegetable. overnight in a wide-mouth
Sprouts can grow from the glass jar. Remove any that are
seeds of vegetables, from broken or damaged before you
grains such as buckwheat, and begin the sprouting process.
from beans. While Mung beans Sprouting increases the seed
are perhaps the most common volume. 4-tablespoons will be
source of sprouts, you can sufficient for a quart size
also obtain good results from container.
lentils, soybeans and
chickpeas just to name a few. 2. In the morning, pour off
the water in the jar and rinse
Sprouts can be grown almost the seeds/beans thoroughly.
anywhere and the best part is
you only need a few basic 3. Place a piece of
supplies to get started. By cheesecloth or muslin over the
following a few simple steps, mouth of the jar. Use a
you can receive a continual rubber band to hold the
supply of nutritious sprouts. material securely in place.
This makes rinsing easier.
While there are several
commercial products available 4. To keep the sprouts
to cultivate sprouts, here are constantly damp, repeat the
some of the easiest methods rinsing 2-3 times a day.
to help you get started. Remember to drain any excess
water because the sprouts
- Growing Sprouts in Flower should not stand in water.
Pots -
5. Keep the jar away from the
1. Start with a clean clay or light for the first few
plastic flower pot. Make sure days.
there is a hole in the bottom
of the pot to ensure good 6. When the seeds/beans begin
drainage. Then place a piece to sprout, usually about the
of cheesecloth or muslin in forth day move the jar into
the bottom of the pot over the the light to activate the
hole so that the seeds/beans chlorophyll and turn the
cannot fall out. sprouts green.
2. Next, soak the seeds or - Harvesting and Storing the
beans overnight and then put Sprouts -
them in the pot. Remove any
that are broken or damaged. Newly germinated grain, seed,
Cover the plant pot with a and sprouts, increase in food
dish. value in the very first
period of growth. Grains
3. Once a day, hold the pot should be harvested and eaten
under running water for a few from when they are six days
minutes. This is to soak the old until they are 4-5 inches
seeds/beans thoroughly. tall. To harvest, just take
your kitchen scissors and cut
4. Once the sprouts begin to what you need.
show, remove the dish and
cover the pot with a piece of Sprouts from beans, peas,
clear plastic wrap to let in etc., are ready earlier and
the light. Place the sprouting can be eaten when they are 3-6
pot near a window that allows days old, depending on the
daylight but is not in direct type of sprout. For spouts
sunlight. grown in no soil or in seed
trays, you can harvest the
- Growing the Sprouts in green grass when it starts
Trays - to grow. Sprouts, from grain
sown in jars, are ready sooner
1. Soak the seeds or beans and are edible even before
overnight. Remove any that are they turn green. Seeds sown in
broken or damaged before you soil take a little longer.
begin the sprouting process.
If necessary, wash the
2. Select a low, flat dish sprouts thoroughly to remove
like a pie plate or tray. the seed coat. Sprouts need to
You can purchase growing trays be stored in the refrigerator
wherever planting supplies once they are ready to eat.
are sold. Put the sprouts in tight
sealing bags, and they will
3. Next, spread out a 2-inch remain flavorful and crisp for
layer of soil and then one to two weeks. Rinsing the
sprinkle the soaked seeds or sprouts daily under cold
beans on top of the soil. water can extend their life.
4. Cover the seeds/beans with Sprouts may be frozen by
four layers of damp blanching them over steam for
newspaper. three minutes and then cooling
them in ice water. Drain them
5. Cover the top of the tray and pack into freezer
with clear plastic wrap. containers.
6. When the sprouts start to By growing your own sprouts,
lift the plastic cover, you will save yourself money
usually about three days because it is less expensive
remove the newspaper. to buy sprout seeds and grow
and harvest the sprouts
7. Place the tray in a window yourself than it is to buy the
so that the light can turn sprouts from a market.
the sprouts green. You will Sprouting at home takes only a
need a space to place the few minutes a day, and can
sprouting tray that receives produce a good part of your
daylight but is not in direct daily requirements of the
sunlight. nutrients you need from fresh
produce. The hassles are
8. Because the thin layer of minor, the costs are low, and
soil dries out quickly, water the freshness is wonderful.
twice each day.
9. After about 8-10 days, you
About the author:
Shirley Bullington operates http://www.forvegetables.comShe has studied nutrition and understands the importance of vegetables in the diet. Visit http://www.forvegetables.comoften for up to date information on vegetables.
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