How to Plant Barley Seeds
Barley is a type of grain-producing grass. Like wheat grass, barley grass is often grown indoors for direct consumption. Individuals may eat it for various potential health benefits due to the enzymes, vitamins and protein in barley grass. Barley grass is relatively low-maintenance and can be grown by novice gardeners in their kitchen. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Seed tray
- Potting soil
- Peat moss
- Bowl or pan
- Barley grass seeds
- Plastic spray bottle
- Fluorescent shop light (optional)
Instructions
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Fill a standard plastic seed tray, available at most nurseries and garden stores, with a mixture of potting soil and peat moss. Use two parts potting soil and one part peat moss. For best results, use a tray that is a minimum of two inches deep.
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2
Fill a shallow bowl, pan or similar dish with water. Place the barley seeds in the water. For planting, 25 barley seeds for every 12 square inches of seed tray space is sufficient.
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3
Wait for the barley grass seeds to sprout, which should occur within 24 hours.
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4
Scatter the sprouted barley seeds on top of the potting soil mixture in your seed tray. Cover lightly with additional potting soil mixture.
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5
Fill a plastic spray bottle with water and spray the surface of the seed tray until the soil and peat moss mixture feels damp to the touch.
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Place the tray in partial sunlight near a window. Keep the tray in the sunlight for six to eight hours per day. If you do not have sunlight available due to weather or a lack of windows, a standard fluorescent shop light will suffice. Hang the light eight inches above the top of the tray. Raise the light as the barley grass grows, maintaining an eight inch separation between the grass and the light bulb.
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Tips & Warnings
For home consumption like juicing, barley grass is ready for harvest when it has reached a height of six to eight inches.
