Easter is one of the biggest religious celebrations in the Christian community. Through the centuries, many traditions have been carried down to symbolize a rebirth or renewal. The making of Easter baskets is one of those traditions. Traditionally, plastic grass was used in these baskets and for other Easter decorations. With the focus on going green, it would be better for the environment if you grew your own wheat grass for your Easter festivities. Your kids will get a kick out of it, and wheat grass adds something special to the baskets. Also, wheat grass is easy to grow and takes just a few weeks. This article teaches you how to grow wheat grass for Easter.
Preparation
Growing wheat grass is a fun project for the entire family. Make sure that you are well prepared before starting. You should also pay attention to the day on which Easter falls. You need to get started growing wheat grass at least 3 weeks before Easter.
Items Needed
Gather up all of your materials. You will need wheat grass berries (you can find them at a local health food store), water, plastic wrap, a small container (you can use a bowl or cut out the bottom of a milk carton), soil, scissors, a colander and newspaper. For each individual basket, you will only need about 1½ cups of wheat grass berries. So, depending on how many baskets you are making, buy enough of the berries.
Preparing the Seeds
First, rinse the seeds, using cold water. Then soak them in water for about 6 hours, or until they are sprouted. This may take up to 12 hours.
Planting the Seeds in Soil
After the wheat grass seeds have sprouted, line the bottom of the basket or container with 2 inches of soil. Drain the seeds in the colander. Take the drained seeds and evenly spread them over the soil. There needs to be a single layer of seeds, but also make sure that they cover all of the soil. Ensure that they are not overlapping. Cover the seeds with a light layer of soil. Use a spray bottle filled with water to lightly water the seeds.
As the Grass Grows
Put the basket or container in a warm area of the house that isn't in direct sunlight. The area should have a temperature of 65 to 75 degrees. Cover it with newspaper and leave it alone for now. Every morning, spray the seeds with water and recover with the newspaper. Do not use too much water, or else the seeds could mold. The newspaper can be removed once the leaves start to sprout. In about a week and a half, you should have about 8 inches of wheat grass to use in your Easter decorations.
