The easiest way to grow wheatgrass indoors, is to purchase a wheatgrass growing kit. These kits contain everything you need to get started. They include the seeds (often called wheatgrass berries), an instructions booklet, and the seed trays and growing medium. The tray and growing medium are sometimes one and the same thing, a flat block that you can grow the seeds in.
Like most things these days, you can generally purchase these kits online. If you have access to Amazon deliveries, that could be a good place to start. If you prefer to see what you are getting before you order, then your local health food store or garden centre could be of help.
Wheatgrass needs to be pressed or squeezed to extract the juice. Your average juicer that is designed to pulp beetroot and carrots is not suitable for wheatgrass. You need a juicer that is right for green leafy vegetables like spinach and lettuce. A hand juicer looks a bit like the old fashioned mincers. You know, the kind that was out in the 1950s to mince the meat that was left over from Sunday, to make Shepherds Pie on Monday.
These days, of course, you would expect a better design using modern materials. You can buy one for around - or try and borrow an original from grandma. Electric juicers for leafy greens are also available.
Wheatgrass seeds will sprout in a dish of water like the mustard and cress we used to grow on blotting paper. But remember that good soil always produces good fruit (another lesson from grandma!). So if you want good quality wheatgrass, use a good organic compost as a growing medium.
Here are the 10 steps:-
1. Soak the seeds in water for a day or two helps to soften and sprout them. Some enthusiasts will wait for sprouting before going to the following steps.
2. Place a layer of soil in the bottom of the tray about an inch (2.4 cms) should do it.
3. Cover the surface of the soil with the sprouting seeds. You want the wheatgrass to grow nice and thick.
4. Now lightly cover the sprouting seeds with a thin layer of soil. This will help keep the seeds moist - you don't want them to dry out.
5. Place the tray in a warm dark place for a couple of days to encourage the seeds to grow. You can cover the tray but don't let the seeds dry out.
6. Place the tray outside in a sunny spot in the garden when the shoots are about an inch (2.4 cms) , or, if you want to keep the tray indoors, the a sunny window sill is ideal.
7. Your wheatgrass will grow rapidly to about 8 - 10 inches (20 - 24 cms) in 7 to 10 days if the conditions are good and should look nice and green.
8. Get some scissors and cut the wheatgrass at the bottom of the stem as near to the surface as possible. Like all fresh home-grown produce, it is best to use immediately although your cut wheatgrass will keep for up to seven days unwashed.
9. Place in your wheatgrass juicer and do the business.
10. Drink the green liquid straight from being pressed, or mix with your favourite juice.
Develop a system for a continuous supply of wheatgrass. You will find what quantities will suit the needs of your family best as you develop your growing skills.
Remember that wheatgrass juice can bring tremendous health benefits to you and your family. So it is important to press in (no pun intended). Wheatgrass is a natural source of vitamins and minerals and is an excellent source of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, sulphur, cobalt, and zinc. So it is a great way to get most of the nutrients your body needs and is so easy to digest.
Children love to see things grow, so get them involved. They are more likely to try it and stay with it if they have had a hand in the growing process. You may find that you are a lot more relaxed about them eating their vegetables if you know they are getting their nutrients the juice way. And who knows, the next move is to grow those vegetables at home!
