Wheatgrass Growing Products
Like many do-it-yourself-at-home projects, wheatgrass growing has a wide number of choices for the supplies that make it happen. Technology is improving all the time and wheatgrass is a legendary "Superfood", so the goal above all else is creating the most nutritious plant possible. Knowing a little about the essential products involved can open the door to successful growing on the scale you want. Does this Spark an idea?
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Seed
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High quality seed is extremely important for wheatgrass growing because every seed that does not germinate rots and creates mold. Also, the majority of wheatgrass seed sellers recommend organic seeds for their superior nutrition and purity. The standard wheatgrass seed is hard red wheat seed (Spring wheat), known for its greater variety of minerals.
Much of this seed, also called wheat berries, is grown in Washington state. It is hard to go wrong in choosing seed because over time the best varieties and quality seeds have saturated the market.
Soil & Fertilizer
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Wheatgrass can grow equally well with soil or without it. Some people enjoy growing with soil, others think it is a messy inconvenience. A recent development that works well as a soil substitute is a natural fiber mat made from organic coconut fiber and natural rubber. The mat gives the roots a surface to cling on to while nutrients flow over it in a liquid mix. It is a growing medium ideal for apartments or anywhere dirt can cause issues.
Many wheatgrass growers favor the fertilizer azomite, a rock dust mined in Utah. Boasting 67 trace minerals, this relatively inexpensive powder enhances root growth so important to wheatgrass health.
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Trays, Racks, Lights
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Wheatgrass usually grows in shallow black plastic trays. Some types have holes for drainage, others do not. Either style will work well. When using the solid bottom trays remember to water less as there is effectively no drainage. To increase yields use racks that can hold four or more trays, one on top of another.
This method has the advantage of using no additional horizontal space. The biggest technological advance for wheatgrass and all indoor growing has been the development of LED lighting systems. Now light sources are brighter, cooler and less expensive to operate. Of course putting the trays outside in the sun, or near a window will work well.
Custom
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With all the options out there you can customize a wheatgrass growing operation to any scale or budget. Many companies offer inexpensive kits which include everything necessary. The design of products used for home growing has come a long way both in style and effectiveness.
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References
Resources
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