Sprouting Methods
Sprouts are a delicious addition to salads, sandwiches and stir-fried vegetable dishes. While you can purchase small boxes of sprouts from the grocery store, growing your own is inexpensive and easy to do. You only need a few basic items to work with and the seeds for alfalfa, wheat or beans of many different types. Mung beans are typically used for Asian and vegetable dishes, but you can sprout dozens of kinds of beans or other vegetables. Try your hand at it, and in just a few days you will have fresh, organically grown, highly nutritious food. Does this Spark an idea?
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Equipment
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What to grow your sprouts in can range from a basic jar covered in cheesecloth or a lid with holes, to very elaborate and fancy sprouting devices with multiple layers for different kinds of seeds. Some of these come in kits with seed packets to get you started. One of the easiest things to use is the jar. You may opt for a simple plastic sprouter, which is a large, round container with holes on the bottom that gets covered by a lid with holes and a separator for different seed types. Some people choose to leave the lids off. If you want to grow sprouts commercially, you'll need to investigate the many tools available to find those that will suit your needs.
Soaking
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Virtually all types of sprouters will require the initial soaking of the seeds you want to sprout. Fill a container with water to cover the seeds and let them sit overnight or for several hours. Different seeds may require different soaking times. Remember, seeds are dry but have the life potency within them, and soaking is the initial stage for awakening the cellular structures required for the emergence of the plant. Drain all the water off the seeds after the proper soaking time and place the seeds into the sprouter of choice.
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Growing Period
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Simple sprouters will sometimes use paper towels or a thin cloth that is kept moist during the growing period. If you use a jar, just add water daily and drain it off, letting the seeds lie on their sides. The plastic sprouter works in a similar manner -- just add water and drain. Store the seeds in a dark pantry or cabinet, or in an area that doesn't get any light. It's ideal not to cut off any air source entirely, so open the cabinet periodically to let air in and out. Keep the seeds there for several days, rinsing daily. In a commercial growing operation, the sprouters may have timing devices and automated watering times.
Harvesting
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After several days -- three to seven, depending on the type of seed you are using -- the sprouts will have begun growing and will be of a fairly uniform length. Set them in the sun to allow them to absorb chlorophyll and green up a bit. That's where the nutrients will be when you're ready to eat them. Beans may only have white shoots and it's up to you to grow them beyond the usual couple of inches in length. They may begin to turn brownish on the ends, which can indicate drying out, so don't wait too long. Keep your sprouts moistened and drained until they've all reached the point of harvest, then store in the refrigerator while you grow more.
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References
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