How to Grow Wheatgrass

How to Grow Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass is one of the most coveted juicing ingredients for overall health. Also referred to as ‘liquid sunshine and ‘the nectar of the gods because of its superior blood purifying ability, wheatgrass is one juicing ingredient you don’t want to be without. The best way to ensure a steady and fresh supply of this green superfood is to grow your own. Follow these simple tips on how to grow wheatgrass for a fresh supply that’s always at your fingertips.

Wheatgrass can be grown indoors or outdoors or a combination of both. The grass is grown in a tray that can be moved as needed to receive adequate light and air circulation. It can be grown with or without soil; this article will cover how to grow wheatgrass using soil.

Pre-Sprouting

Start with fresh, organic wheatgrass seeds and pre-sprout them for best results—pre-sprout means sprout seeds without soil.

  • Estimate the number of seeds it will take to cover the selected tray with a single layer of seeds.
  • Place seeds in a bowl, rinse with cool water and drain. Fill the bowl with clean, cool water and let seeds soak at room temperature for 8 hours.
  • Drain the water off the seeds, refill the bowl with fresh cool water and allow the seeds to soak for another 8 hours at room temperature. Repeat this rinsing/soaking process for the third time.
  • After draining the seeds for the third time, inspect them for signs of sprouting. If sprouts are visible, then the wheatgrass seeds are ready to be planted.

Setting up the Tray

Any size tray will work as long as it has sufficient drainage holes in the bottom.

  • Place a double layer of unbleached paper towel at the bottom of the tray to prevent the roots from growing through the drainage holes and soil from leaching out.
  • Place 1 1/2 – 2 inches of organic potting soil in the tray and evenly moisten it by spritzing it with water from a spray bottle.

Sowing the Seeds: Gently place sprouted seeds in a single layer across the top of the moist potting soil. Be careful not to dislodge the tiny sprouts protruding from the seeds. When the soil top is covered with seeds, lightly press seeds into the soil with fingertips.

Normally wheatgrass is grown in the dark. It does not like to be in the sun and will not grow when placed in direct sunlight.

Sprouting Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass is sprouted under dark conditions until the grass is 1 inch in height.

  • Place a single layer of newspaper (black and white print only) over top of the seed tray. Mist newspaper with water to help keep the soil moist during the germination process. Raise newspaper and mist soil with water twice a day, re-moisten newspaper daily also.
  • After the grass has reached 1 inch in height, remove the newspaper. Lightly water in the morning and evening to keep the soil moist and prevent young shoots from dying of dehydration. Avoid over-watering, as this may cause mould to develop.

Harvesting

When wheatgrass has reached 6 inches tall (in about ten days), it’s harvest time!

  • Use sharp scissors and cut the desired amount just above the soil surface. Cut just before you’re ready to juice it.
  • If mould is present in the tray, it’s harmless, and the wheatgrass is still good. Cut above the mould.
  • Continue to water as normal, and a second, perhaps even third, grass crop will grow (do this only if mould is not present). However, the ensuing crops will be tough and not as tall. Repeat all the above how-to steps to grow a fresh batch of wheatgrass.
  • For a continuous supply, use two growing trays and plant them ten days apart.

Mould Prevention: Mold can be prevented by spacing the seeds a little farther apart at planting time so that the growing wheatgrass will have plenty of air circulation.
Place the growing tray in a room with a ceiling fan or on a covered porch with a blowing breeze that will help prevent mould growth.

Wheatgrass Benefits

Wheatgrass juice is loved by so many juicers and health gurus, as it provides a host of health benefits! Not all claims are scientifically proven yet, but it certainly contains a value for many people.

  • Wheatgrass is made up of 70% chlorophyll.
  • Chlorophyll is used as a blood purifier, aids circulation, digestion, detoxification, fights cancer, and plenty more.
  • Nutritionally rich in vitamins and minerals.
  • It may help to reduce body odour (chlorophyll).

Try our Varieties of Grasses

We sell hard red spring wheatgrassancient grain wheatgrass, and barley grass seeds. All of these grasses are highly nutritious and easy to grow.

We’d Love to Hear from You.

Have any questions or tips on sprouting wheatgrass? Let us know in the comment section below.

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