I thought I'd write a little about sprouts and how to grow them. They are so cheap and easy to grow, plus you don't have to worry about the weather as they can easily be grown indoors. A definite plus if you live in the UK!
Sprouting is a wonderful way of getting highly nutritious, enzyme rich
food as fresh as possible. You can grow sprouts on your windowsill.
It's easy to do and only costs a few pennies for a lot of delicious
sprouts.
There
are several ways of growing sprouts. They can be simply grown in a jar
on your windowsill, in sprouting bags or you can buy trays to spread
the seeds on. There are also some quite elaborate automatic systems
that water the sprouts for you.
Examples of sprouts grown this way are
alfalfa, quinoa, clover, broccoli, lentils, mung beans, chick peas and grains such as
wheat and buckwheat.
Some seeds can be sown in trays of soil. This allows them to grow
into larger sprouts called indoor greens. Examples of sprouts grown
this way are sunflower greens, pea greens and buckwheat
lettuce.
Jar / Bag Method
To sprout seeds in a jar you need to have a jar with a mesh lid, or
you can cover the top of an open jar with a piece of muslin held in
place with a rubber band. Once the seeds are sprouting they will need
plenty of room to grow, so use a large jar.
Put a small amount of seeds in the bottom of the jar. For small
seeds such as alfalfa, you only need about a tablespoon. This will grow
to a large amount of sprouts that will fill your jar. Honestly! For
larger seeds such as mung beans put in about half a cup of seeds.
Now put some water in the jar. For small seeds you only need to put
water up to an inch above the seeds. For larger seeds that swell more,
such as chick peas, you need to three quarters fill the jar with water.
Now leave to soak overnight.
The following day, drain and rinse your sprouts. Remember to rinse
them at least once a day. More if the weather is hot. In a few days
your sprouts will be ready. If you are sprouting seeds that produce
green sprouts, such as alfalfa, clover and broccoli, put them on the
windowsill once they are sprouting. The light will then make the little
leaves turn green.
If you are using a sprouting bag, soak the seeds in a jar or bowl first, then transfer them to a bag and leave hanging in a place where the water can drain out into something like a bowl, or the sink. Again, water at least daily and more in hot weather.
Indoor Greens
These are sprouts you grow past the initial jar stage, plant in compost, and then harvest when they are baby green plants.
Soak the seeds in a jar overnight. Then leave until they have started to sprout a little.
Next, spread them on a seed tray of organic compost and water
thoroughly. Once the seeds have started to sprout, leave the tray on a
windowsill and water regularly. Don't let the compost dry out. After
approximately seven to ten days, you will have a supply of lovely green
sprouts. These are a wonderful addition to salads.
A Word About Water
Your sprouts will grow best in the purest water. It is worth investing in a water filter or a filtration
system. Remember, whatever goes into your sprouts, goes into you.
What Can I Sprout?
Here are some of the seeds commonly sprouted.
Alfalfa, , broccoli, clover, fenugreek, cress, radish, onion, mung
beans, aduki beans, lentils, chick peas, peas, sunflower seeds, pumpkin
seeds
Buckwheat, quinoa, wheat, spelt, barley
Sprouting Resources
SEEDS
Aconbury Sprouts
Keimling
Fresh Network
SPROUTERS
Fresh Network
Energise For Life
Keimling
BOOKS
Sprouts: The Miracle Food by Steve Meyerowitz
Wheatgrass: Natures Finest Medicine by Steve Meyerowitz
Living Foods for Radiant Health by Elaine Bruce
