how do i grow alphalfa sprouts at home for salads?

Question

i want to learn how to grow sprouts. all ideas will be helpful

Answer 1

HOW TO GROW SPROUTS


STEP 1: Clean a quart jar.
STEP 2: Wash untreated seed with water.
STEP 3: Place 2 tbsp. small seeds or 1/2 c. large beans or grains in the quart jar.
STEP 4: Cover the seeds with water three to four times their volume.
STEP 5: Soak the seeds for 2 to 8 hours. Soak smaller seeds for a shorter time; larger seeds, longer.
STEP 6: Place a piece of cheesecloth over the jar opening and secure it with a rubber band or the jar ring.
STEP 7: Drain the seeds, and rinse well with lukewarm water.
STEP 8: Place the jar at an angle for 30 minutes to let the water drain out completely. Excess water causes souring.
STEP 9: Roll the jar to let seeds coat the sides.
STEP 10: Store the jar in a warm (about 70 degrees F), dark place.
STEP 11: Rinse the seeds with lukewarm water two to four times a day.
STEP 12: Drain well and return to the warm, dark place.
STEP 13: Wash sprouts in cool water and drain.
STEP 14: Harvest sprouts anytime after the shoots appear, up until the secondary leaves appear.
STEP 15: Store in the refrigerator.

Tips & Warnings

Sprouting times are approximately two to three days for wheat, all beans, rye, oats, rice, sunflower, lentil and buckwheat; four to five days for alfalfa, radish, clover and cabbage.
Sprouts stay fresh up to a week and then can be dehydrated.
Tomato and potato are not edible as sprouts.
Keeping seeds or sprouts too wet will cause spoilage.


Some of the Kinds of Seeds/Beans You Can Sprout

The following list gives some of the popularly sprouted seeds/beans. It is not all inclusive as you can sprout almost any kind of seed. Remember that seeds soak up 2-3 times their dry volume in water and sprouts need at least six times the volume occupied by the seeds. So be sure that your container is large enough, and start with a minimal amount of seed in a container like a jar, until you determine the correct quantity that will grow to the sprout size you like, without being difficult to remove.

Your local garden shop or health food store will carry a line of seeds for sprouting. When purchasing seeds for sprouting, be certain that the seeds are intended for food and not for planting. This precaution is necessary because some seeds meant for planting have been treated with fungicides or insecticides to protect the young seedlings when planted in a field or garden.

Alfalfa - should be soaked for 6-12 hours. The seeds can be planted in the pots or jars and also in the flats with soil. 1-part seed gives 10-parts sprouts in approximately 5-6 days. Sprouts can be eaten after 3 days. When the root is 1-2 inches long, it will begin to develop tiny green leaves. At this stage, it needs to be eaten immediately so the plant will not switch to photosynthesis that exhausts the stored food in the seed.

Peas - when soaked in a glass jar, will grow sprouts in about 3 days. When the roots are 2-inches long, they are ready to eat. 1-part peas gives 2-parts sprouts.

Lentils - can be grown in either a glass jar or a plant pot and need to be soaked for 12-hours. The sprouts are ready in 3-4 days. Lentil sprouts are ready to be eaten when the root is 1-inch long. 1-part lentils gives 6-parts sprouts.

Barley, Oats, and Rye - should be soaked for 12-hours and then can either be grown as “grass” to harvest, or sprouts ready to eat after 3-4 days. The ideal length for eating is about 1/2-inch. 1-part seed gives 2-parts sprouts.

Soybeans - can be grown in a glass jar or a pot. They need to be soaked for 12-hours and sprouts are usually ready after 3-5 days. They are ready to eat when the root is 2-inches long. 1-part beans gives 4-parts sprouts.

Answer 2

I think MommaMia2 covered it all!

From my experience the soy beans have a hard time of sprouting and usually become rotten/spoil before you can eat them!

I like to put at least 3 hours of light on my sprouts for a little green chlorophyll action in the sprout before putting them in the refrigerator.

When you get really serious, I purchased the EasyGreenSprouter for making sprouts for my family of six, and wheatgrass can also be grown for juicing. It has held up for a year now, and I can purchase organic seeds from them.

Answer 3

First poster has all the info you need. However, I wanted to point out that cut up (NEW!) pantyhose works great for the top of the jar too (instead of cheesecloth). I also find mine grow fine in the light (would they still turn green if they're in the dark??) but I've never tried it in the dark - I put my jar in the windowsill-, so maybe she's right. :)