Growing Healthy Collaborative Grant: From Farm to School to Home

Hi, I'm Sam, I enjoy writing about nutrition and health-related topics, especially alternative and plant-based remedies.

Wheatgrass is a healthy herb that is plentiful in vitamins and nutrients and is said to be an amazing blood purifier. Drinking a shot of wheatgrass juice in the morning will keep your day bright and healthy. Adding a shot or two to a smoothie provides an amazing health benefit.

No matter how you use it, the essential nutrients inside of wheatgrass can function as a great health supplement for your body. The only negative aspect of wheatgrass is the price; it can become a very expensive part of your regimen. So it's in your best interest to learn how to grow wheatgrass yourself.

Many health pros are now growing their own wheatgrass to ease the stress on their wallet. Many others would love to start but do not necessarily have the know-how. If done properly, growing your own wheatgrass can be easy and efficient. If done improperly, it can be more expensive than simply purchasing the herb.

There are many health benefits to wheatgrass and financial benefits to growing your own. The steps are relatively easy, it's just knowing exactly what to do that presents a challenge. Either way, if you decide to grow your own wheatgrass, you will find it a much more cost-efficient method of maintaining your health. This article will show you how.

Freshly cut wheatgrass is the best.

1. Buy Seeds or Kits and Trays

The most important aspect of growing wheatgrass—or any herb—is to purchase a good product. Do your research to find out which brands yield the best growth.

There are several companies that offer wheatgrass seeds and kits for you at decent prices. Knowing which ones are the best will allow you to get the most out of your purchase. Amazon and some other sites offer affordable seeds, wheatgrass kits, and trays for "do-it-yourself horticulture." I buy my own at a local garden shop in the Netherlands, so I can't really give advice about the US.

2. Gather Everything You Need

The next step is to gather your materials to make sure you have everything. You do not want to get halfway and realize you are missing something. If you purchased a kit, then all the materials should be inside. If not, then these are the items you need:

• Wheatgrass seeds
• Purified water
• Potting soil or compost (organic without pesticides)
• Strainer
• Spray bottle
• Tray with holes in the bottom (About 16x16 for 2 cups of seeds)
• Large-sized bowl with a lid or plastic wrap
• Paper towels (non-chemically treated)
• A newspaper or some other covering big enough to go over your tray

3. Rinse Wheatgrass Seeds

The next step is to gather your seeds and rinse. Place your desired amount into the strainer and rinse with a gentle pour of your water. Rinsing your seeds helps them change from a dormant stage to a flourishing one.

LVPY (amazon)

4. Germinate Wheatgrass Seeds

After your seeds are rinsed, it's time to germinate them. This way, you guarantee that each seed will grow before planting them. Other than waiting for your seeds to grow, this is the longest part. You will need to do a total of three different soakings for a total of 10 hours each.

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You want to fill up the bowl with approximately three times as much water as seeds. I prefer the Asian method of measuring where you stick your forefinger in and fill the seeds up to the first indention. Then you pour the water until it hits the third indention of your finger right at the knuckle. Cover and let soak for 10 hours, and repeat twice more for a total of three times. After that, your seeds should begin to sprout roots slightly—this means they are ready to grow.

5. Prepare Your Potting Planter

Towards your last soak of the seeds, you need to start preparing your potting planter. Lightly soak your paper towels and line the bottom of your pan. This serves a dual purpose, as it keeps your plant roots from straying out through the bottom holes and collects the nutrients that escape from your seeds and soil when watering.

That way, the nutrients remain for your seeds to use and grow beautifully. Next, moisten your potting soil or compost and spread liberally throughout the pan. Now you are ready to begin planting.

6. Spread Your Wheatgrass Seeds Evenly

Remove your germinated seeds from their last soak and sprinkle them lightly in you prefixed pan. Distribute them evenly so they are not bunched up together but are still side by side.

Grass grows thickly, so it's OK if they are in close proximity to each other. Just make sure none are on top of each other. A nice even layer of seeds will yield a nice even layer of wheatgrass. Press lightly into the soil without pushing them underneath it.

Spray lightly with your water bottle so every seed is coated. Spray your newspaper top and bottom and cover your seeds. This allows a flow of water to lightly mist the seeds throughout the day. Remember to keep your seeds lightly moistened, spraying in the morning and evening twice a day. Let sit covered for four days—continuing to water twice daily.

7. Remove the Covering and Water Them

Now that your seeds have firmly taken root over the four days, remove the covering. Water once daily and put them near sunlight, but not in direct sunlight. These are hard red seed plants, and they only need minimal light to grow. A little for photosynthesis, but not so much as to burn them up. This part of the growing process should take almost 9–10 days depending.

You will know it is time to harvest when the stalks split around 6–7 inches high. Cut with scissors at the root of the plant to harvest. Rinse your product off, and then blend for a healthy purifying shot of wheatgrass.

Remember, it takes a lot of wheatgrass to provide the amount of juice necessary to make a sufficient shot. Therefore, if you would like to incorporate this healthy herb into your diet, planting multiple pans is necessary. After each step—while you are waiting—you can start a fresh batch of wheatgrass. If you plan it properly, you will be able to keep a constant supply of wheatgrass for your diet and save a lot of money.

That's all you need to know about how to grow wheatgrass for yourself. I still experiment with different seeds, kits, and techniques, so I'll expand this article later on.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2019 Sam Shepards

Growing Healthy Collaborative Grant: From Farm to School to Home

Source: https://dengarden.com/gardening/How-to-Grow-Wheatgrass-at-Home

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