How to Grow Buckwheat Lettuce

Buckwheat lettuce is sprouted indoors like many other greens.

Buckwheat lettuce is grown from whole buckwheat with the hulls, but this is not your typical lettuce. The buckwheat seeds are not planted outside in the garden. Instead, they are sprouted indoors and ready to harvest in less than two weeks, when the tiny green leaves on top of reddish stems reach 2 to 4 inches in height. Growing greens like buckwheat lettuce doesn't require any specific sprouting supplies or kits unless desired.

Things You'll Need

• Buckwheat lettuce seeds in hull
• Bowl
• Spoon
• 2-inch tray
• Drainage tray
• Tray cover
• 3 cups vermiculite
• Non-chlorinated water
• Spray bottle
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Put the buckwheat lettuce seeds in the bowl. Cover the seeds with cool water that's 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix the seeds with a spoon to wet them thoroughly and let them soak for eight to 12 hours.

2. Drain the water from the bowl. Rinse the seeds with cool water, then drain again. Place the buckwheat seeds out of direct sunlight in a location with room temperatures about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a counter in the kitchen or dining room table.

3. Soak the seeds for another eight to 12 hours and repeat step 2. Do this step two more times or until you see small roots around a quarter inch long emerging from most of the buckwheat lettuce seeds.

4. Fill the tray with vermiculite and place it on top of the drainage tray. Add water until the vermiculite is completely damp. Spread the sprouting buckwheat seeds evenly on top of the vermiculite and cover the tray. Make a few holes in the cover for air circulation if the tray cover does not have holes.

5. Water the seeds in the morning until water drains into the drainage tray. Spray the sprouts in the evening. Repeat this step for three days.

6. Remove the cover and place the tray in a well-lit location but out of direct sunlight. Water the sprouts daily until water drains from the bottom.

7. Harvest the buckwheat lettuce when the sprouts are 2 to 4 inches tall. Cut the sprouts as close to the surface as you can.

Tips & Warnings

• Most of the trays used for planting seeds come with both covers and lids along with drainage trays. Or you can simply place a plate or similar item beneath to use as a drainage tray.

References

• Sprout People: Buckwheat Lettuce
• Hippocrates Health Institute: FAQ

Resources

• Family Health News: Growing Sprouts