Easy How To Instructions
How To Grow Sprouts:
The process depends on the variety of the seeds and the equipment.
Equipment:
How to grow sprouts using a Vertical sprouter:
You can make your own vertical sprouter using a plastic colander or a natural bamboo basket. Make sure the openings are small to prevent the tiny seeds from leaking out. A greenhouse can be made from anything that will hold in moisture, heat, allow light to penetrate and air movement. Even a simple plastic bag will do.
House your colander or basket inside the “greenhouse” so it doesn’t touch the floor to allow for air circulation to help resist mold and fungus growth.
Note: I’ve tried to find a natural bamboo basket without any success. Hopefully, someone reading this will have a source they can share with us. Until I have the “sharing” part added to this page please fill out the contact me form and I’ll post it here.
How to grow sprouts using a colander
or natural bamboo basket:
- If using a colander or natural bamboo basket sterilize them by boiling in water for only 3 minutes.
- Rinse and then soak your seeds overnight in 16-32 oz jar of pure water.
- Pour seeds into bottom of sterilized colander or basket.
- Rinse vigorously with water for 30 seconds evenly over seeds with a sink sprayer, hold the basket at an angle for about 1 minute until it stops dripping – be careful the first few days to tip slowly and not steep of an angle so seeds don’t fall out. Placing on a dish rack works well.
- Place colander or basket into “greenhouse” tent – allowing plenty of room for air movement above and below seeds. Keep out of direct sunlight.
- Repeat step 4 (30 second rinse and drain) twice per day about 12 hours apart.
Amount of seed – 6″ basket – approximately 2-3 tbsp of seed – yields approximately a half pound of sprouts.
How to grow sprouts using Sprout Garden:
This is one of the most economical ways to get into sprouting. You put your seeds in, rinse and drain. Then each day spray twice per day.
I put mine inside the Sproutman’s® Soil or Soil-Free Wheatgrass Grower so it has a “greenhouse”. You should be able to find a seed starter greenhouse at your local home supply store.
Note: I bought the Sprout Garden online but just saw it at my local health food store.
How to grow sprouts using
The Freshlife Automatic Sprouter:
- Fill the bottom container with water
- Fill a tray with one layer of seeds*
- Put the tray in the top container
- Fill the unit with water daily
- On about day 5 sprouts are ready to harvest
- Wipe the containers out and start with step 1
*You can put up to four different varieties into the divided tray. Just make sure they will be harvested at the same time. Update on harvesting at same time – If you work along the ridged edge when pulling the sprouts out you can harvest them at different times. I added a timer to the machine so it only runs about every 4 hours. Otherwise, it seemed to me they were getting to much water. This is working great.
Harvesting:
Your sprouts are ready to harvest when the buds divide into a left and right petal and drops its hull. Between 5-6 days.
- Grab your sprouts by their tops and wiggle them free (the whole plant including roots). If using colander or natural bamboo basket be careful not to disturb the younger, immature sprouts growing underneath. They will be yellowish due to lack of light but will green up once exposed to more light.
- Whisk the roots through a bowl of water to dislodge the hulls or immerse in a bowl of pure water. I put a the sprouts in a colander with holes large enough for the hull to fall through but not the sprouts and then immerse into a bowl of water.
- Agitate the sprouts from side to side. The hulls will rise to the top or sink to the bottom. (I take the colander out of the water and put the sprouts into a separate colander to drain)
- Don’t worry about getting all the hulls – they add fiber.
- Enjoy!!
Benefits of growing sprouts:
- Spend less on groceries – I’m spending less on groceries since sprouts are replacing most of my vegetables.
- Quick and easy – throw some on a sandwich and you basically have a meal.
- Live enzymes – the health benefits of eating live enzymes is enormous.
- Nutrition – at least 10 times healthier than the organic full grown version. Yes times!!
- Available food supply – no matter what happens to the food supply I can always quickly grow some sprouts.
Time involved in learning how to grow sprouts:
It took me a few weeks to get a routine down to grow my sprouts.
For me the harvesting is what takes the most time – between 5-10 minutes per batch. On non-harvest days I’m spending about 5 minutes spraying and/or changing water. I am growing enough sprouts for 2 adults with a just a little time and effort.
Simple Vegetarian Recipes – Mimi shares some great information about spouts here.
