Start Growing Super Sprouts!
What is a Sprout?
A sprout is a baby plant. Any seed that you intentionally “sprout” but eat before planting is appropriately called a sprout. When you eat sprouts, you eat the whole thing, which is why they are usually grown in a jar or tray, and not in soil.
Is a Sprout a Micro-Green?
They are similar, but a little different. If you plant the seeds and eat the first or second set of leaves when they are still tiny (but usually not the roots) that’s a “micro green”. You may have seen those at a market or on the menu of a higher-end restaurant. They are usually a little older than a sprout and are grown in lighted conditions so the leaves turn green.
Why Would I Grow Sprouts?
They are incredibly nutrient dense. Plants have to pack a lot of vitamins and minerals into their seeds, because the seed needs to send roots down to get water or minerals and leaves up to grow big enough to get sunlight before it can have it’s first “meal”. So, the seed itself and the sprout that grows out of it are packed full of nutrients.
They are also extremely easy to grow. Seeds want to sprout, it’s pretty much their only purpose in life. I grew some sprouts from mung bean seeds (which were sold specifically for sprouting) that were at least 3 years old. They had been sitting, forgotten, on the back shelf in my pantry (not a recommended seed storage method!). But once I soaked them overnight, they came back to life – literally. In 7-10 days they will go from seeds to 3-4 inch long sprouts, enough to top a salad or fill out a stir-fry.
What do I Need To Get Started?
Did I mention they are extremely easy to grow? Here’s all you need:
- Seeds – you can buy specific “sprouting seeds”, but pretty much any seed will work. Bigger seeds tend to make bigger sprouts. Beans or peas make large sprouts that hold up better if you’re going to cook them in a stir fry or soup.
- Container – a canning jar works great, or if you’re going for a larger harvest, you can buy or make trays for sprouting.
- Mesh Strainer – you need to rinse the sprouts twice a day to keep them wet and make sure they don’t grow any mold. If you’re using a canning jar, you can just add water and hold a mesh strainer over the top to drain it out. They also sell “sprouting lids” that screw onto the top of some jars. Sprouting trays also usually come with some sort of mesh or straining ability, depending on the brand.
What Are The Steps to Growing My Own Sprouts?
- Get some sprout seeds (or you can try dry beans you already have, as long as they’re not split).
- Soak for 8-12 hours (I usually do overnight).
- Store in clear container with a mesh, paper towel, or cloth lid and rinse twice a day with un-chlorinated water (if you have chlorine in your tap water, you can filter it, or just let it sit out for a few hours to let the chlorine evaporate). Chlorinated tap water might work too, but it might affect the flavor of the sprouts.
- Wait and watch until you decide your sprouts are big enough to eat.
- Enjoy! Then sprout some more!
It really is that simple. The sprouts do all the work. I keep the jar on my kitchen windowsill so I see them often and hopefully remember to rinse them twice a day.
They don’t really need light to grow, but a clear container makes it easy to see if they are getting big enough or growing any mold or something you don’t want to eat.
Want more tips and tricks about starting seeds? Check out my FREE Super Seedlings Guide today!
