Growing Sprouts Year-Round
Growing sprouts from seeds is something we can all do— regardless of space, time or gardening experience. Sprouts are highly nutritious and packed with vitamins, minerals, and so much more! They can be easily germinated on your kitchen counter. They will be ready to eat in just a few days, and you can grow them all year round! You don’t have to have a green thumb to grow sprouts; you just have to add a small habit to your daily schedule and grab a couple of supplies to get started.
What Are Sprouts?
A sprout is exactly what it sounds like—a germinated seed. It’s a seed that’s been soaked and allowed to sprout, but instead of growing into a full plant, it’s harvested and eaten during the early sprouting stage.
The Benefits of Growing Sprouts
Sprouts Grow Fast
Since we’re harvesting the plants at their earliest growth stage, there’s no need to wait for them to develop roots, flowers, or fruit. You can enjoy your first batch of sprouts in just a few days.
Sprouts Don’t Require Much Space
You can grow enough sprouts to toss in your salads and sandwiches in a small space, such as next to your kitchen sink.
Sprouts are Super Nutritious
When you eat sprouts, you get the seed’s initial nutrition. All those vitamins and minerals that would have eventually spread to dozens of leaves, stems, and fruit can be enjoyed in just one bite. The exact nutrients you’ll get will depend on the type of sprout you’re eating.
Sprouts Can be Grown Year-Round
You can start growing sprouts when ever you like. It doesn’t matter if the ground is frozen or a storm is coming. Sprouts are not affected by the weather outside, only by the environment you create for them inside. That means you can enjoy the garden-fresh flavour all year long, no matter where you live.
Most Common Sprouting Seeds
While you can technically sprout just about any seed, nut or bean/legume, the most common seeds to sprout and eat are:
Some seeds can be dangerous to sprout and eat raw, such as kidney beans and tomato seeds, which are two examples of seeds that produce toxins when sprouted. Always stick to using designated sprouting seeds, such as Mumm’s Sprouts, available at Feeds’n Needs.
What You Need to Grow Sprouts
1. A wide-mouthed jar
2. A bowl or drain rack that allows you to invert the jar at an angle.
3. A sprouting lid, or some screen or netting with a rubber band.
5. Freshwater. If you would drink the water then it’s fine to use!
6. Seeds with good germination, preferably grown for human consumption.
Step-by-Step How to Grow Sprouts
Soaking
Put 1-2 tbsp of small seed, or ¼ – ½ cup of large seed in the jar. Rinse with water and drain. Add water to the jar and let the seeds soak in the jar for approximately 2 hours (broccoli family), 6 hours (small seeds) or 12 hours (bigger grains or beans) in enough water to allow them to swell completely. Affix your sprouting lid or screen and rubber band. After soaking, pour out the water through the screen.
Sprouting
Place the jar away from direct sunlight upside down and on an angle to allow the excess water to drain out and air to circulate. Rinse twice daily.
Harvesting
If you sprouted beans or grains for 2 days, they are now ready to eat without a final rinse, and leftovers can be stored in the fridge. After 4-5 days of sprouting, leafy sprouts should be rinsed as usual, grown for half a day, and stored in the refrigerator.
Storing
Well-drained sprouts should be kept in the fridge for up to 10 days. Optional: put folded paper towel on top of the sprouts in the jar. Put the lid on and refrigerate turned upside down to remove excess moisture.
Ways to Use Sprouts
Sprouts are a fantastic and healthy addition to salads, sandwiches, soups, stir-fries, and smoothies. Try adding alfalfa sprouts to sandwiches with deli meat, fresh tomatoes, and avocado for a nutritious boost. For a spicy kick, toss some radish sprouts into your next salad. You can also use sprouted beans instead of regular soaked beans in bean salads for extra nutrition, or even make sprouted bean chilli! Add bean sprouts to stir-fries for a crunchy, nutritious twist. The possibilities are endless, and you can easily swap sprouts for their full-grown or seed counterparts in nearly any recipe. Growing sprouts is a great way to grow food indoors year-round and opens up endless opportunities to experiment with healthy, homemade dishes.
Happy sprout growing!
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