Once you understand the basics of the process, you are ready to embark upon the adventures of growing. If you have been studying wheatgrass for a while, you will realize that there are several ways to cultivate the nutritious blades. Everyone involved in wheatgrass growing has an opinion on the best way to grow the grass. There are several choices available to you. After you have gone through the basic process a few times, you can experiment with different growing styles and determine which method is best for you. At this point, you should have already decided whether you will be working with an indoor kit, gathering supplies for indoor growing, or facing the challenge of an outdoor garden.
Soaking and Sprouting
Whatever your chosen growing method, the seeds will need to be soaked to prepare them for sprouting. This will soften the wheatberries and promote the sprouting process. Generally, the seeds should be washed before sprouting to rid them of any dirt or grime they might have accumulated. Once the seeds have been washed, they can be presoaked and sprouted. The amount of wheatberries to soak depends upon the size of the tray that you are using. You can loosely measure these seeds by placing them in the tray before washing to get a feel for the amount to use. In most cases, two cups of grain is enough for a 10x11-inch tray. The seeds should then be placed in a jar with pure water for about nine to 12 hours. During summer months or in hot climates, place the soaking jar in the refrigerator. Once the seeds are soaked, they should be completely rinsed and the jars should be placed in a location where they can drain. This is the germination period, which will last about two to three days. The seeds should be rinsed twice daily with fresh water and drained between rinses. Place jars on a 45-degree angle after rinsing to provide the best drainage. Draining should take place in the dark, because the seeds are sprouting. Not all seeds require darkness for germination, but darkness simulates an underground environment for many seeds. It also helps keep the seeds moist, which is a requirement for germination.
Setting up an indoor garden
Your indoor grow room should have access to light, water, and a good area for working. Shelves can be built or you can use existing shelves in a room. A window shelf, a wall that has shelves, or a bookcase can be used for storing the planted wheatgrass trays. A shelf by a window allows the plant to benefit from the indirect sunlight passing through the window. If you wish to build a growing system with several shelves, this is also possible. Shelves are convenient and can save space if you need to store multiple trays. Inexpensive racks can also be purchased at a hardware store. A table, however, can also be used if shelves or racks are not available. If you are interested in producing a continuous supply of wheatgrass, you will need to prepare a place that can hold at least three trays of grass at a time.
There is no need to invest in an extensive lighting system, but a simple grow light can enhance the growing process. No light is required in the first four days of growing after germination. Direct sunlight must be avoided after uncovering the trays; intense sunlight can scorch the grass, and it will not be able to recover. If you place the plants in an area that receives several hours of sunlight, make sure that the wheatgrass has sufficient water. If the blades look limp or the soil is dry, a watering session is in order. An open window can provide a nice breeze for the wheatgrass trays. Remember, airflow is important for preventing mold. An oscillating fan can also be used, but care must be taken that large gusts of air do not blow directly on the blades, as they can be damaged. The soil also must be monitored when using a fan so that it does not dry out.
If possible, indoor gardening should consist of more than just wheatgrass. Vegetables, especially leafy greens, are vital for human health and are easy to grow at home. When the greens are combined with fresh sprouts, they offer excellent nutrition to the diet. Growing greens at home is especially useful during the winter months when fresh store-bought produce is scarce or expensive.
Planting the Sprouts for Indoor Growing
Plant the seeds after they have germinated. While the seeds are germinating, you can prepare the soil for planting. Although there are many soil options, a mixture of 40 percent topsoil, 50 percent compost, and 10 percent peat moss is recommended by expert sprouter and grower Steve Meyerowitz.
After a two-day period of germination, the seeds are ready for planting. You will notice that the sprouted seeds have a small root emerging from the grain and several spidery roots extending from this main root.
There are a variety of ways to plant the sprouted wheatgrass seeds. Every grower has his or her preference, and you might need to experiment to see what works best for you. A general tip is to place 1 to 2 inches of soil in the bottom of the tray and spread the germinated seed evenly across the top of the soil. The seeds can touch each other, but should not be placed on top of one another. If you have used 2 cups of wheatberries this should be enough to build a 10x11-inch seedling tray. Some growers suggest covering the sprouts with a thin layer of soil to keep them moist, but this is not necessary.
Some growers also suggest placing a layer of strong, unbleached paper towel in the tray before spreading the soil in the bottom. This keeps the soil from falling through the drainage holes in the tray and the roots from growing through the drainage holes. This step is not necessary. The roots will not be damaged if they should grow through the drainage holes, and if the soil is compacted, it will not fall through. A second tray placed underneath the growing tray can also help with soil control. Remember, the planting tray should have drainage holes to prevent the tray from becoming too saturated with water, which could ruin the seeds. After you have spread the seeds, water the entire tray with a spray bottle of purified or filtered water. Take care to water only enough to moisten the soil. This is especially important if you are using a tray that has no drainage holes or a paper towel under the soil. Too much water can create mold. After watering the tray, cover it with a second tray and set it aside for two to three days in order to keep the wheatberries warm and moist while protecting them from light. Some growing instructions will recommend using a plastic bag or newspaper for covering the newly planted seeds as opposed to using a covering tray. Covering the seed with the newspaper is not advisable, as chemicals and toxins can leak onto the plant from the wet newsprint. Wet, soggy newspaper can also encourage mold. Even using a plastic bag as a cover can encourage mold. If you do not have a covering tray, try using brown wrapping paper to cover the seeds. If you do this, be sure to tuck the paper around the edges of the tray. The wheatgrass should be checked daily and watered during this time only if the soil is dry. Remember to mist the seeds lightly when evenly moistening the soil.
Maintaining the Sprouts for Indoor Growing
After two to three days of growing, the sprouted wheat should be about 2 inches in height. The trays should then be uncovered, watered, and placed in indirect sunlight. The seedlings will be pale yellow or white, because they have not yet been exposed to light. Monitor the amount of sunlight that the wheatgrass receives. Direct sunlight at this point will stunt the growth of the plant and dry out the soil quickly. Fourteen hours of indirect sunlight will produce a thriving grass crop, as long as other conditions, such as temperature and moisture, are favorable. Watering should now take place every day or every other day, depending on the temperature of your location. If you are growing in a hot climate, you might need to water more frequently. You can also add powdered kelp to the first or second watering to boost the mineral content of the water. The wheatgrass is ready for harvest after about six to 12 days, depending on the climate. Wheatgrass should be about 7 to 10 inches tall, and the blades should begin to develop second stems. This will look as if the blade is splitting into two pieces. It is important to harvest the wheatgrass at this time, because it is now entering the jointing stage. To get the most nutrients out of the wheatgrass, it must be cut and juiced before the jointing stage — when the grain begins to develop. The plant begins to mature at this point, and the energy of the plant will now be directed toward developing the grain.
About watering
It is important to use the highest quality water available to water your wheatgrass. A home purifier is recommended because it is the most convenient. You can also purchase distilled water or bottled water, but this is inconvenient and can be expensive. Adding liquid kelp or certain other minerals, such as plant teas, can boost the mineral content of the water, which is especially important if you are growing hydroponically, or without soil. Water temperature should also be monitored when working with the wheatgrass. Water that is too warm will encourage mold. Room temperature is best. For more information about plant teas, visit The Herb Companion website (www.herbcompanion.com/Gardening/Plants-Need-Tea-Too.aspx).
Most wheatgrass growers suggest keeping the soil moist by misting the soil twice a day — once in the morning and once in the evening. If you forget a misting session, the plants will continue to thrive as long as the soil does not dry out. To determine whether there is a greater water need, lift the wheatgrass from the tray. If the roots are damp, the plant is sufficiently watered. A sufficiently watered crop will also produce shimmering beads of water on the tips of the blades in the mornings. If the blades of wheatgrass look wilted or pale in color, they are not getting enough water. The blades of grass at this point should be deep green in color. Any sign of mold can be an indication of too much water. It can also be an indication of an unhealthy plant that probably will not make it to harvest. Your plant might have mold if you spot a white, cottony substance, blue-gray fuzz, or brown roots.
Working with Nature
If you are interested in taking your wheatgrass crop outdoors, you can easily do this in a few different ways. The easiest method is simply to transfer the planted trays to a greenhouse after uncovering them on the third or fourth day. The sprouts should be about 2 inches tall. You can also place your wheatgrass on your porch or other shaded garden area.
Growing in a greenhouse is a valuable space saver, especially if you are working with more than one tray. Set up the planting trays as mentioned earlier and monitor the plants until the time of harvest. Humidity, air circulation, and light are important things to remember when growing wheatgrass in a greenhouse. A greenhouse is a great way to grow plants in a controlled environment. The plants will thrive in the warm, humid sanctuary even when the outside atmosphere is experiencing less than favorable growing conditions. The greenhouse will offer protection from the elements, such as extreme temperatures and excessive rain, which can damage the wheatgrass. The greenhouse can also help keep the wheatgrass clean by keeping out insects, cats, and other predators. When growing wheatgrass in a greenhouse, your biggest concern is keeping the wheatgrass cool during hot summer months.
If you do not have a greenhouse, you can place the planted trays on a porch or patio or in a shady garden after the third or fourth day of growth. It is important that the chosen area have plenty of shade as the trays can absorb heat from a hot ground surface, causing damage to the wheatgrass roots. Wheatgrass can also be grown in an outdoor garden, but remember that you will not be as in control of the environment. The germinated seeds can be sown directly into the ground under a one-inch layer of soil. In this manner, it can be grown for juicing or ornamental purposes. Grass grown outside and exposed to the natural elements does not tend to grow mold. It must, however, be protected from the elements as well as birds, cats, and other predators.
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“Daisy Square.” Photo courtesy of
“Daisy Round” floral |
Time frame for planting
If you are interested in cultivating an outdoor wheatgrass garden, you should plant in the fall when the temperature is cool. You should also plant early enough so that the germinating seed will not be damaged by frost. If evenings are a little cool, the seedlings can be covered with plastic or burlap sacks. Because of the long outdoor growth period, you will harvest the grass in the spring when it is also cool. Once the wheat is planted in the fall, the blades will grow about 1 inch during the first month. The roots, however, will develop extensively in order to absorb an abundance of nutrients from the soil. These nutrients will sustain the practically dormant plant during the cold, winter months when growth is very slow. For about 200 days, the wheatgrass will grow, utilizing the energy from the sun on the warmer days of winter. When spring arrives, the grass blades are able to take full advantage of warmer weather and growth accelerates, as the blades are able to convert more sunlight into energy, developing a root system that absorbs minerals from the soil to nourish the blades. The longer the grass remains in the soil, the more nutrients the roots will absorb. The wheatgrass will also benefit from prolonged exposure to the sun. Be sure to harvest the wheat at the jointing stage, when the second blade appears. The grass should be about 7 to 10 inches in height.
Using existing soil
Nutrient-rich garden soil is one of the greatest benefits to planting wheatgrass in an outdoor garden. You can tell that the topsoil is fertile if earthworms appear when you till the soil. Earthworms are beneficial to garden soil. Their waste products add valuable nutrients, such as nitrogen, to the soil. Nitrogen is a major plant nutrient benefiting plant growth. Earthworms also keep the soil aerated, allowing air to circulate through the soil, and hydrated with their burrowing action. An increased amount of water and air contribute to the richness of the soil. To grow the best wheatgrass crop outdoors, the soil should be organically rich and free from pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. The soil should be a rich, dark color without too much clay or sand. You can enhance the soil by adding organic compost. This will ensure that it is organically rich. You can also use liquid kelp as an organic fertilizer for outdoor growing.
Watering
Watering your outdoor wheatgrass garden can be as simple as watering your lawn every day. Use a low-pressure nozzle when watering or an oscillating sprinkler. More water is required for an outdoor garden, especially on dry days, as the roots run about 12 inches under the ground. Watering should take place in the early morning so that the blades can absorb the water before it evaporates. If the grass is pale in color, water is needed. Of course, if you live in an area that gets plenty of rain, you will not need to water the wheatgrass every day. If the soil is moist, the wheatgrass can survive without daily watering. Watering during winter months is also unnecessary. Rainfall and snow are sufficient for watering the wheatgrass during periods when the heat from the sun is not so severe. Wheatgrass can thrive under heavy snowfall, but ice can pose a problem as it might damage the growing blades.
Weed control
As with all gardening that takes place outdoors, weeds can be an issue. They come in all sizes and forms and grow haphazardly. Controlling weeds in a wheatgrass garden can be especially challenging because of the initial difficulty of distinguishing between grass-like weeds and the wheatgrass. Once you do become familiar with the smooth, even-growing blades of the wheatgrass, this will not be a problem. It is important to eliminate the weeds, because they will compete with the wheatgrass for the nutrients in the soil. They can also carry pests and diseases that will ruin your crop. The following websites offer more information about pests and diseases of the garden:
• BBC — Gardening — Advice: Pest and Disease Identifier (www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/advice/pests_and_diseases): BBC is a world news site aimed to enrich people’s lives with programs that inform, educate, and entertain. The site offers a gardening pest and disease identifier that helps diagnose and treat problems in the garden. Their gardening forum is also available for advice and opinions.
• Planet Natural (www.planetnatural.com/site/garden-pests.html): This site helps you identify garden pests and shows you how to control them naturally.
• Denver County Extension Master Gardener: Insects and Pests (www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/Pests/pests.htm): This site covers insects and other pests in and around the home, plant diseases, and pesticides and controls.
Although some weeds are actually edible and beneficial, such as dandelions and Japanese knotweed, harvesting weeds with your wheatgrass at the end of the growing season is not an ideal plan of action.
The best way to prevent weeds is to make sure that your selected spot is weed-free before planting. If weeds do appear, you must remove them manually. Herbicides, or chemical weedkillers, should not be used on the wheatgrass to eliminate weeds. Natural weedkillers, such as those made with vinegar or lemon juice, are safe to use. The following websites offer helpful information concerning natural pest and weed control:
• Eartheasy (http://eartheasy.com/grow_nat_pest_cntrl.htm) offers advice for natural gardening and pest control.
• Organic Garden Pests (www.organicgardenpests.com) provides tips for organic pest control.
• No Dig Vegetable Garden (www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com/organic-garden-pest-control.html) offers information on natural gardening.
• The Organic Gardener (www.the-organic-gardener.com/organic-weed-control.html) provides information on organic weed control.
Harvesting Wheatgrass
It is important to harvest the wheatgrass when it has reached the jointing stage. At the jointing stage, the plant is most nutritious. This takes place between six to 12 days in warm weather for indoor-grown grass. The wheatgrass will be about 7 to 10 inches in height at the time of harvest. Wheatgrass might require a few additional days to mature if grown in cooler weather. If you are unsure about judging the time period for harvesting, go with the number of days the plant has been growing, which will be between six to 12 days in warm weather and up to 15 days in cooler weather. Also, look for signs, such as divided blades, that the wheatgrass is entering the jointing stage. The blades should be a rich, green color and stand upright. If the wheatgrass crop begins to lean over or blades turn yellow in color, you have missed the time to harvest. Yellowing can also be the result of inadequate watering, inadequate light, or overwatering. Once the grass has reached a height of about 7 inches, yellowing is most likely due to a depletion of the nutrients in the soil. Old or matured wheatgrass will not be beneficial to the body.
Technically, all the grass in a single tray should be ready to harvest at the same time. To harvest the wheatgrass, hold the blades with one hand while cutting as close to the soil as possible to capture the nutrients concentrated at the base of the plant. A clean pair of kitchen shears can be used to cut the grass, but a long, sharp knife works best. Grass harvested from outdoors should be rinsed and dried before juicing. The wheatgrass should be juiced and consumed right away. Unjuiced blades can be refrigerated for about two weeks.
What to do with the mats
Some individuals advocate growing a second batch of wheatgrass from the cut wheatgrass mats. The mats are the intertwined roots left once the wheatgrass has been harvested. The wheatgrass will grow again, but the nutritional level will not be the same as the original grass. Remember, all of the energy of the seed went into producing the original crop. The soil has also been depleted of nutrients. The grass that will grow from the harvested mats will be less nutritious than what has already been cut. It would be better to start the process again with new seeds and fresh soil. Outside growers need to replenish the soil with organic nutrients or consider crop rotation. Learn more about crop rotation at the Green Your blog (www.greenyour.com/home/lawn-garden/gardening/tips/practice-crop-rotation). The used mats can be added to a compost bin with other biodegradable scraps. They can also be used for chicken feed or as mulch around trees and garden plants.
How to compost the wheatgrass mats
Composting is a great way to recycle the used mats from the wheatgrass harvest. Composting is the biological breakdown of organic wastes by microorganisms and earthworms. The process creates a rich humus that can be used for other gardening purposes such as mulching. Composting is a way of restoring the balance of nature. Compost also helps improve and maintain the quality of the soil. The nutrients that the wheatgrass absorbed from the soil can be returned to the soil through the composting process. The composting matter, if properly done, will create a new soil that can support new plant life. This “new” soil, or the compost, can then be added to nutrient-lacking soil to make it usable.
You can buy a composting bin for about $50 to $300, depending on the complexity of the bin. Some come with multiple trays or devices for churning the compost. There are several types of containers for composting, but you can easily make a bin out of an empty barrel that has holes drilled all around it. Several websites and publications explain how to make a composting system at home, including the University of Missouri Extension (http://extension.missouri.edu/publications/displaypub.aspx?p=g6957). Some people simply build a compost pile in a corner of the yard, but it is hard to control the composting smell, as well as insects, with this method. Break up the used wheatgrass mats and place them at the bottom of the barrel. Other organic material, like kitchen scraps and pulp from the juicer and dry leaves, can also be added to the mix. Add a few earthworms and the compost mix is ready. The barrel should be covered and left to sit for two or three months. This can be done year round, but the composting process is faster in warmer weather. Stirring the mix once a week will hasten the composting process. After a two- or three-month period, peat moss can be added to the compost. Peat moss helps to aerate the compost and speeds up the composting time. Composted soil can be used in the garden to enhance the topsoil or used for potted houseplants. Some growers use the compost with the wheatgrass growing process, but others advise against it unless you can be certain that the compost is disease-free. This advice applies to any consumable plants that you might be growing. If the compost carries disease, the plants will be affected. You can determine whether your compost is safe to use in the following ways, as suggested by the University of Minnesota’s Sustainable Urban Landscape Information Series:
• Place a handful of the compost in a plastic bag and seal for 24 hours. If there is an offensive smell when the bag is opened, the compost should not be used.
• Determine whether the compost was kept at a minimum of 131 degrees Fahrenheit for 48 to 96 hours during the composting period.
• Obtain a soil test kit or have the soil tested by a laboratory. The following websites offer soil testing or information about soil testing:
- Organic Gardening (www.organicgardening.com/soiltest/1,7775,s1-0-4,00.html)
- Texas Plant and Soil Lab (www.texasplantandsoillab.com)
You can learn more about composting from Eartheasy at its website, http://eartheasy.com/grow_compost.html.
Buying Wheatgrass from Manufacturers
There are a number of wheatgrass products on the market today, including some previously mentioned powders, capsules, and tablets. If you are purchasing these products from a manufacturer, you should make certain that the products come from high-quality manufacturing to be most beneficial for the body. It is not enough just to grow organic wheatgrass on organic soil — the entire process of harvesting and preparing the product for human consumption is important. High-quality producers will monitor the produce at every phase of production and ensure it does not lose important enzymes. This is mainly a concern for field growers who manufacture wheatgrass powders, capsules, and tablets. The harvested grass must be dried in a low-temperature dehydrator to ensure the preservation of the enzymes. It is also important that the wheatgrass that is used is only harvested once. Some growers advocate regrowing the wheatgrass back to its full height after it has been harvested, but nutrients are depleted from the soil after the first growing. The grass should be quickly transported from the harvest field to the juicing, dehydration, or freeze-drying facility to prevent contamination. If the harvested wheatgrass is left in the field, it will become contaminated or bleached by the sun. There are usually no real contamination problems with indoor-grown grass if it is grown in a clean, safe environment.
When you are purchasing wheatgrass products, it is important to research and find the best products possible. Investigate the company to find out about their harvesting methods. Because you ultimately decide what to consume, researching food-producing companies can be beneficial for your health. It is important to know whether the grass was rinsed or washed from the fields and whether the grass was dried without heat and chemicals. Field-grown grass can collect dust and can possibly be exposed to animal wastes, so it is important to wash it before processing. Chemicals and heat can destroy the enzymes in wheatgrass. It is also important to know the methods of pest control. If you are purchasing a tray of wheatgrass, you should inspect it for mold, if possible. Ask growers how they deal with mold and other contaminates. Be aware of every step of the wheatgrass-growing process. Wheatgrass can also bruise very easily during transport. What is the handling procedure from the greenhouse to the juicer or from the field to the processing plant? Do not purchase trays of wheatgrass that carry bruised or damaged grass, as the nutritional value of the plant may also be affected. You should be able to visibly determine whether the blades are damaged. It might seem like a daunting and exhaustive task to try to answer all these questions. It is important, however, to obtain the very best product for your health.
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Case Study: Making It Work For You |
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Pam Free, president Grow Wheatgrass 5750 Via Real, 303 Carpinteria, CA 93013 Phone: 805-684 4071 Fax: 805-684 4071 |
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I started growing wheatgrass in 2001 when I wanted to become healthier. I realized that it is not as easy to grow as many people claimed so I developed my own system with a sprouter that I built myself. When it was successful, I was determined to sell it on the Internet. I am now selling the sprouters to people all over the United States and helping people grow wheatgrass in many different environments. Wheatgrass is a great product and works fantastically well for some people. For me, it detoxified my body after I found that I had mercury toxicity, which was affecting my health. Many of my customers told me of amazing results with cancer and in combating the sickness caused by conventional cancer therapy. It also gives me energy and a sense of taking care of myself. It is harder to eat junk when you are taking the trouble to grow wheatgrass for the sake of your health. Increased energy, increased stamina, increased mental power, and more aliveness are the benefits that I would attribute to using wheatgrass. |
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Ann Wigmore, who created the concept of juicing wheatgrass, recommended using 2 ounces of wheatgrass per day for healthy people and as much as possible for sick people. She also recommended wheatgrass juice during pregnancy. My daughter-in-law used it for greater health and well-being during pregnancy. I grow my own wheatgrass. It is fresher and cheaper, and growing wheatgrass yourself provides a more regular supply. The tools needed for growing include trays, a shelf unit to hold the trays, growing medium, and seeds. I grow the grass indoors in a sprouter. Growing outdoors is not practical for most people. The best time to harvest the grass is ten days after, before it begins to turn yellow — the sign of lost life force. You can count on 6 ounces of juice per tray. If this is your first time drinking wheatgrass, give the body some time to get used to it. Do not overdo it. This goes for growing as well. Give yourself time to get used to the process. Do not get frustrated from your beginning efforts. As far as the taste of wheatgrass is concerned, it is sweet but there is an aftertaste that I do not enjoy. You either like it or you hate it. Sucking on a lemon slice after downing the juice is helpful. Sometime people encounter problems with mold when growing wheatgrass. I sell a product called Citricide, made of grapefruit seeds, that helps to contain the mold and keep it under control. However, it is a force of nature and cannot be eradicated. People should definitely use wheatgrass. Leafy green food is necessary to be vibrantly healthy and rid the body of toxins. I told a customer in Hawaii that it would be difficult to grow there because of the humidity, but he persisted and was successful in averting a prostate operation with it. |
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