It's a SPROUT thing!

     I am always looking for new and exciting ways to add nutrition to our lives and what is more nutritious than sprouts!  Not to mention......this was a fun activity for me and the girls and so educational.  I have always considered creating sprouts and thus growing greens/grass but was just too scared.  Now, after being so successful this past month, I wish I would have done this a long time ago. 


     Sunflower greens are a tender baby vegetable, (basically a baby sunflower plant) high in chlorophyll, and a substitute for lettuce.  I add them to our salads, sandwiches and smoothies.  Sunflower greens have a slightly nutty taste. They are rich in chlorophyll, enzymes, vitamins, proteins, and the most important "nutrient", the life force.  Additionally, unlike most expensive freeze-dried supplements such as spirulina and algae, sunflower greens that you grow are alive up to the time you eat them (most freeze-dried items are dead).

Sprouting the Seeds

     First, you need seed, right?  There are two options:  ideally you would have a wonderful organically grown seed easily obtainable online or you can go to your local hardware store and buy bird seed (100% Black Oil Sunflower Seeds).  Guess which one I did?  My patience is slim to none and when I'm ready to do something it's now!  You need to place your seeds in a glass jar and cover with water.  Then place the jar in a dark warm cabinet for 24 hours.  After 24 hours, drain your seeds and spread them on a plate and then back to the darkness they go.  This is where they will stay for 2-3 days while the magic happens!  You will need to check on them twice a day and spritz with water so they do not dry out.  When there shoots are 1/2" - 1" long they are ready for planting.  *Note- The same process takes place to grow wheat grass except you use Hardy Winter Wheat Berries.  At this point the wheat berry sprouts can be eaten (they are quite tasty) or grown as wheat grass.

Planting and Growing

     Add at least 1" potting soil (I used an Organic Potting Mix) to your tray/pot.  Add the seeds to the dirt tamping them into place.  I then mist with water and cover with 1/2" of soil.  I then cover the sprouts for two days so they can develop good roots.  Check on them twice a day to give them a spritzing of water to keep them damp.

Uncover after 2 days and put them in a nice bright location with good air circulation.  Now you get to watch them grow!

Time to Harvest and do your Happy Dance!

     You will know when they are ready to harvest they will have a beautiful set of leaves.  Trim them back with scissors close to soil level before a second set of leaves appear.  If they haven't popped their hulls off gently remove before washing.  I store them in a container in the fridge and wash right before use so they don't sit with extra moisture and get soggy.  They will keep 7-10 days in the fridge.

Happy growing and eating.  Enjoy!