You can grow wheatgrass at home if you have wheat seeds, potting mix and a container that drains well. Although there are many different types of growing mediums available, If you want your grass to grow more quickly, you can speed up the germination process by using certain products. There are some choices you’ll have to make before getting started.
Wheatgrass Seed
Most kinds of common wheat can be used for growing wheatgrass, but hard winter wheat varieties are usually used. To form seed heads, winter wheat requires a period of vernalization, but not to develop the grass itself.
When you are buying seed to grow wheatgrass, it is usually best to purchase seed that is specifically meant for growing wheatgrass. This type of seed often has high germination rates. I recommend that you buy larger bags of seed so that you have enough to work with. Organic non-GMO hard red wheatgrass seed is a great option for hard winter wheat and is very affordable.
Planting Trays
There are a few different types of containers you can use to grow wheatgrass indoors. You don’t need to use deep containers, as the plant doesn’t need a lot of space for its root system. You can use shallow dishes with a few holes in them, plastic or terracotta plant trays.
I prefer trays that are about 10 inches by 20 inches and have drainage holes. I think they provide a good amount of grass for the amount of effort required. Simply water the tray and you’re good to grow.
It is important to use trays that have a drainage system. If you choose a different container, make sure it has good drainage. This protects your young grass from being drowned or developing mold problems.
Soil or Soil Alternative: Which To Use?
Good potting soil that is sterile works just fine, and most people have some in their shed. The fertilizer contains nutrients that will be beneficial to your grass. However, some people prefer to use the entire young plant, including the roots. That necessitates a lot of extra washing. Your young grasses don’t need extra fertilizers for nutrition.
Although there are many types of soil available that will reduce the amount of dirt that needs to be rinsed away,
Coconut coir can absorb and hold a significant amount of water while still allowing your plants to have adequate drainage. A good alternative to a soilless potting mix is one that combines coconut coir’s moisture retention with perlite and additional nutrients. You don’t need to add perlite or other additives to coconut coir, but you may need to supplement it with kelp fertilizer.
A good seed-starting medium can be created by combining vermiculite and kelp fertilizer. Vermiculite does not have many plant nutrients, but kelp will supply everything needed for good growth.
There are also various natural fabrics that can be used for growing all types of sprouts, microgreens, and grasses. Some examples of sustainable materials that can be used in construction are TerraFibre (made from industrial hemp fiber), Biostrate (a natural fiber felt), or Micro-Mats (felted wood fibers). Tencel fabric is also a good option. To grow a healthy and vigorous crop, kelp fertilizer may be required for natural fabrics.
If you’re looking to give your grasses the most nutrition, potting mix is the way to go. Second best is coconut coir, followed by vermiculite. However, natural fabrics can reduce the spread of fungal infections. There are many different options available that can accomplish the same task, it just depends on your preference.
Other Required Equipment
You’ve got wheatgrass seed, a grow tray with drainage, and a growing medium. What else is necessary?
I would suggest investing in a package of durable spray bottles. As your wheatgrass grows, you will need to mist it regularly to keep it hydrated. If you have more than one water bottle available, you can always have one with regular water and another with a mix of kelp fertilizer and water in case you need to promote growth.
Winter is the best time to start growing your plants indoors. A seedling heat mat will help to maintain the temperature of your growing medium, so your plants can germinate properly. Although starting your wheatgrass indoors is possible, the temperature of your house will not have an impact.
How To Grow Wheat Grass
Wheatgrass is an inexpensive and easy plant to grow at home. It also has one of the fastest turnovers. Mint will take approximately 90 days to grow indoors before it is ready to harvest, whereas wheatgrass only takes 10 days to grow.
- Prepare Your Supplies
Start by making sure the containers you’ve set aside for sprouting and growing your wheat seeds are spotless. wash your supplies in a bleach solution to kill any bacteria or other contaminants. When wheatgrass is used as a food product, it is important to make sure that the plant is free from impurities. This is because impurities can be ingested through the growing process.
- Measure Out Your Seeds
There is no one definitive way to measure how much wheatgrass you will need to fill your growing container. You will need enough seeds so that when they are placed in the container, they are touching but not overlapping.
Don’t fill your container all the way up as your wheatgrass seeds will expand in the next steps before planting them.
One cup of wheatgrass seeds yields around 10 ounces of wheatgrass juice. This is more than enough to enjoy the health benefits of this superfood.
- Rinse Your Seeds
To grow wheatgrass at home, you need to start by preparing the seed. The first step in preparing your seeds is rinsing.
To properly rinse your seeds, soak them in water for 8 to 12 hours.
This process will need to be repeated two or three more times before you move on to the next step. Here’s what you need to do:
. To grow wheatgrass, add wheatgrass seeds to a jar or bowl of water.
To grow wheatgrass, start by filling a glass jar or bowl with clean filtered water and adding wheatgrass seeds. The biggest threat to your plants at this early stage is mold growth. To protect your seeds, mix one teaspoon of baking soda with a half-liter of water and spray them with the mixture.
Cover seeds with newspaper or paper towel
Cover your seeds with a newspaper or paper towel, mist them with water from a spray bottle, and put them in a dark place to encourage germination. The following text is advising the reader to mist the tops of the seeds with a spray bottle before placing a lid on top. If you’re not using a ventilated cover, you want to make sure the container is sealed in order to restrict airflow and prevent mold growth.
Soak for 8-12 hours
Soak your seeds in water for 8 to 12 hours, then rinse them and start again.
The sprouts should appear within a few days, looking like white hairs poking out of the seed. Once you find these sprouts, you will know that your seeds are strong and can be planted.
- Soak Your Seeds
After rinsing the wheatgrass seeds, you may want to give them a final soak to make sure they have all sprouted and are ready to plant. Use your best judgment to determine if this step is necessary. If the majority of your seeds have already sprouted, you can skip this step to prevent your plants from being over-rooted.
-To soak your seeds, add them to a clean glass jar or bowl of water at a ratio of 1:3 (1 part seeds to 3 parts water). After rinsing your seeds, cover the container and allow them to sit for 8 to 12 more hours.
- Plant Your Wheatgrass Sprouts
There are two ways to grow your wheatgrass sprouts: either with soil or without it. Pick which one is suited for you.
Planting wheatgrass using soil
Got your container and soil ready? Here’s the step-by-step guide on how to grow wheatgrass using soil:
Spread soil in the container
Spread out 1 inch deep of potting soil along the bottom of a planting tray with drainage holes or a container lined with gravel to allow for water runoff.
Mist the soil
Spray the soil with water until it is moist, but be careful not to overwater it. If you see water pooling, you’ve gone too far. Keep the soil damp without adding too much water.
Spread sprouted wheatgrass
Spread your sprouted wheatgrass out evenly over the top of your soil or potting mix, making sure not to overlap too much. Place your seeds on the top layer of the soil and lightly press them in without covering them.
Cover sprouts with a paper towel, newspaper, or lid
Place a moistened paper towel, newspaper, or lid over the sprouts that allows a bit of airflow while providing darkness. If you’re using a lid, you’ll want to spray the tops of your seeds with water before covering them.
Place in an area with plenty of indirect sunlight
Choose a spot for your tray that gets a lot of indirect light, but isn’t in direct sunlight.
Water the seeds with a spray bottle once or twice a day, taking off the covering when the seedlings have grown to 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm).
Harvest your wheatgrass
Usually, wheatgrass is ready to be harvested around day ten, when it reaches five or six inches tall. If your plant has separated into two parts and begun to grow a second plant from the first, you can use it to produce a new batch.
Harvest your wheatgrass when it is the desired length, as it will quickly lose quality if it grows too much. If your wheatgrass is long and beginning to turn from a healthy green to pale yellow, it may need to be trimmed.
Wheatgrass Care Tips
Light
The wheatgrass needs to be kept in the dark, at least at first. This simulates the darkness below the soil’s surface. After 3-5 days, you can remove that cover. At that point, your grass should be about tall enough to measure an inch. The plant looks pale because it hasn’t had regular access to light.
You should place your uncovered tray near a window that gets bright, indirect light. It will begin to green up. It’s okay if the plant gets direct sunlight for a short amount of time. The goal is to encourage that brilliant green hue. I find that my plant does well in indirect bright light or under a grow light.
After a few more days, you can move your plant to a location where it gets direct sunlight for most of the day. At that point, your plant might need more water, so check your growing medium regularly to ensure it has enough water.
Temperature
You should aim for temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees when starting your crop. The best way to start growing this plant is to do so indoors, as you can more easily control the temperature and humidity levels.
Your grass can handle lower or hotter temperatures once it has grown to 1/4 to 1/2 inch tall, as long as its roots are healthy. Although it can still produce a crop in lower temperature ranges, the ideal temperature range for the best crop is between 60 and 75 degrees.
If the temperature is over 80 degrees, be sure that any covered wheatgrass trays have adequate ventilation to prevent mold or fungal growth.
Watering
To water your plants, lightly mist them with water from a spray bottle twice a day. To start, you just need to keep the sprouts wet enough so their roots can grow into the soil or planting medium. This can be a difficult balance to strike, and is the number one reason people give up on houseplants You should keep the potting medium moist, but not wet, once the roots are down. This can be difficult to balance, and is the number one reason people give up on houseplants. This keeps your sprouts moist and creates vibrantly-green growth.
If your tray is in the full sun, check your growing medium regularly to make sure it is not drying out. The plant may require more than two watering per day at that stage. If the soil or medium isn’t very moist, you can spray it with water more often.
Coir, growing mats, and potting mix should never be sopping wet. Too much water can cause your wheatgrass to drown.
Fertilizing Wheatgrass
If you are looking to promote the growth of your wheatgrass, adding some diluted liquid kelp to the water you use for watering can help. This isn’t meant to be used every time you water, but it can help spur growth.
Harvesting
This is the stage at which the grass blades have fully developed and are joined together at the base. The best time to harvest wheatgrass is when it is at the jointing stage, which is when the grass blades have developed and are joined at the base. At this stage, the leaf is starting to split or form a new leaf. This is generally when it’s 7-8″ in height. Even though it’s only 6″ tall, you can still harvest it.
The best way to harvest the grass is to cut it off with a sharp pair of clean scissors just above the root joint or any seed remnants. A super-sharp knife will also work well as long as it cleanly slices through the grass without pulling it out.
You can usually grow multiple crops from the same batch of seeds without any noticeable changes in flavor. Make sure to add a little bit of kelp fertilizer to the liquid after harvesting to help encourage new growth. A given tray of crops usually yields two to three harvests before it needs to be replanted.
To get the best results, you should harvest your crops just before you use them.
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