Grow Your Own: Sprouts

Summer is over, and most of us have harvested all there was to harvest from our gardens. Of course we still need a steady supply of vitamins and minerals in our diet. Well, we have just the thing for you, because in this post we’re showing you how to grow your own super nutritious sprouts!

A sprout is a seed that has germinated and grown for about 4-7 days. Sprouts are low in calories and rich in fibre, enzymes, proteins, vitamins, antioxidants and other micro-nutrients.

There are as many different sprouts as there are edible plants. From sunflower sprouts, to bean sprouts, all plant-based foods start as sprouts and grow into their own mature plants from there.

How to Grow Sprouts

You can try to use store bought seeds or beans, like a pack of lentils for example. However, it’s recommended you buy seeds that are specifically used for growing or sprouting. This is preferred because germination can’t be guaranteed with regular beans or seeds from the supermarket, as they may have been treated not to germinate.

Sprouts are one of the easiest things you can grow indoor. They barely require any space, nor do you need any specialized equipment. Usually, you can harvest your sprouts within a week or less. All you need to get started is:

• Mason jar
• Elastic band
• Piece of breathable fabric (e.g. cheese cloth)
• Seeds

Enough talking, let’s get down to business! Follow these steps to grow your own sprouts at home:

1. Soak Your Sprout Seeds

Pour about 3 tablespoons of sprouting seeds into your mason jar. Pour in about 2 cups of water (preferably non-chlorinated) and swirl the seeds around. Now drain, and then add another 2-4 cups of water. Lastly, place the piece of cloth over the top of your mason jar and seal it using the elastic band. If you do this in the evening, you can proceed to step 2 the following morning.

2. Drain & Rinse Seeds

Drain out the water again. Repeat the above steps of rinsing, swirling and  draining. Place the jar in a bowl with the top face down at a slight angle so the excess water can still drain out into the bowl.

3. Continue Rinsing & Draining

All you have to do from now on is check on your sprouts twice a day. Again, rinse them with cool water, drain, and pop the jar back into the bowl.

4. Harvest & Storage

Are you satisfied with how much your sprouts have grown? Then you’re ready to harvest them! Most seeds will sprout within a day or two. The sprouts are edible at any stage, but most people prefer to let them grow to approximately 2 to 5 centimeters. Give them a final rinse and drain, and get them as dry as possible before storing them in your fridge. Storing them dry will stop the growth and slow down spoilage.

5. Eating

Sprouts are great in salads, or mixed with greens. You can make delicious sandwiches when you add some sprouts to it, and they can even be used in soups as a crunchy topping.