Growing your own sprouts is a great way to add fresh greens to your diet. You can’t get any fresher than sprouts that you grow yourself which means the sprouts are going to be packed full of fresh enzymes and nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and phytochemicals. A great thing about sprouts is that everyone can grow sprouts any time of the year so if you don’t have room for a garden or if you have limited container gardening space, you can always grow sprouts right in your own kitchen. Here is how to grow your own sprouts in 6 easy steps.
What You Need To Grow Your Own Sprouts
Sprouts are easy to grow, inexpensive and just take a few days. You can often buy sprouting seeds at your local health food store or you can search for them online with the keyword “sprouting seeds”. There are lots of varieties to try and each one tastes different so it will be fun for you to try them out and you can even create your own mixes when you discover what you like best. Some of my favorite sprouts to grow are alfalfa, broccoli, clover, radish, fenugreek, and watercress. You will also need to have a quart size canning jar on hand and a screen cover for the lid which can usually be purchased where sprouting seeds are sold. Or you can use my affiliate amazon link below.
How To Grow Your Own Sprouts In 6 Steps
- Pour 3 tablespoons of your selected sprouting seeds into the bottom of your quart sized canning jar.
- Rinse– Add 3 cups of filtered, cool water (60-70 degrees works well) and screw the screened lid onto the jar and then swirl the seeds around for a minute or two.
- Drain– Allow all of the water to drain out through the screen.
- Soak– Add 3 cups of filtered, cool water and let sit for 6-12 hours on the countertop.
- Now your sprout seeds are ready to be drained, rinsed, and drained again using the methods mentioned above. You should do this 2-3 times a day for 3-5 days until you are happy with the size and greenness of your sprouts.
- After each drain, rinse, drain procedure, which should only take about 3 minutes, you will need to store your bottle upside down at an angle. I use the dish rack for this but you could also use a bowl.
Notes:
It is important to rinse thoroughly and to drain thoroughly. Don’t put sprouts in prolonged direct sunlight as you may cause them to dry up. Indirect sunlight will still allow them to green.
When And How To Harvest Sprouts
When you sprouts have reached the desired the size and greenness, you can rinse them, eat them and store any extras in the refrigerator. Drain well first and place a paper towel below the sprouts to help keep them from sitting in water. Sprouts should last for about 5 days in the refrigerator.
An added benefit besides the health benefits of growing your own sprouts is that children get to witness first hand the beauty of a tiny seed beginning to grow into a plant and it grows out of soil so they can really watch it happen! In a few days when the sprouts are ready, your children can also help harvest their own meal as you add the sprouts to sandwiches or salads.
There are lots of sprout recipes you may want to try. What is one of your favorite ways to eat sprouts? Have you ever tried growing them before or do you think you will now? My favorite sprouts to grow are alfalfa sprouts and broccoli sprouts because they are done in about 3 days and they taste good with so many dishes. What are your favorite sprouts to grow?
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