Learn to Grow Your Own Wheatgrass Juice
Growing you own fresh, organic wheatgrass at home is both easy and fun. The vitality derived from wheatgrass juice is remarkable, with 30mls (1 ounce) of freshly squeezed juice containing as much nutritional value as approximately 2 kilos (2 1/2 pounds) of fresh green vegetables.
What's So Special About Wheatgrass Juice?
Wheatgrass juice is a complete protein containing about 20 amino acids (the building blocks of protein), about 30 enzymes which are important for correct digestion and other bodily processes, and approximately 90 different minerals. Organic wheatgrass grown at home can provide you with your own daily source of fresh wheatgrass juice.
Wheatgrass Growing Tips
Step 1: Soaking the Seed
- Soak 1/3kg (12 ounce) organic wheat (or barley) grain for 6 hours (summer) or 12 to 24 hours (winter).
- If possible, it's best to drain seeds and then let stand for a few hours, or overnight and then plant seeds onto tray.
Step 2: Preparing the Tray
- Place butchers paper (bleach free paper) in the bottom of a wheatgrass planting tray (or similar seedling planting tray) so as to avoid particles of soil or other growing medium falling through. Do not use newspaper, as this will leach out printer's inks into the soil, and may be taken up by your tender little wheatgrass shoots.
- Place top quality organic soil or potting mix in tray to even depth of 25-50mm (1-2 inches).
- Add some compost or worm casings (good for soil enzymes).
- Add two level tablespoons per tray of crushed 'Volcanic Rock Soil Improver' to the soil, to add minerals and trace elements.
- Distribute sprouted seeds evenly over the soil making sure the seeds aren't smothered by each other, but also make sure seeds all meet with no big gaps of soil showing through.
Step 3: Watering
- Cover seeds with a hessian bag, old towel or thickish layers of wet paper towel. Do not use plastic as the grass will sweat and cause excess mould.
- Soak seeds and soil thoroughly with water.
- Place in a dark, shady place at 20-30°C (70-85°F) for 2-3 days.
- Uncover. Place in light until mature. Water daily.
- During cooler months, when the night temperature in consistently below 15°C (60°F), you'll find the grass will grow much faster inside your heated home.
Step 4: Harvesting and Juicing
- Harvest with a bread knife or scissors when mature. Harvest above the level of any mould.
- Only use a slow turning wheatgrass juicer for juicing. Blenders and other home juicers don't work as they simply chop and oxidize the grass and chopped grass cannot be digested.
- The grass will regrow and can be harvested again, however the second harvest is not as nutrient rich.
- Compost the mat of soil and grass, and start again. Add some worms to the pile!
- NB: 1 kg of soaked seed covers three large trays or 6 small trays. Plant out one tray every 4 to 5 days.
Trouble Shooting
Mould
Don't worry if some mould forms on the soil - it's inevitable in most sub-tropical coastal climates. The following may help in inhibit mould growth:
- Always select high quality, organic or biodynamic wheat grain seed
- Keep your wheatgrass trays in a well ventilated position
- Avoid soaking the seed for too long during hotter days
- Avoid over watering.
Poor Germination
Poor germination is often attributed to the seeds drying out directly after planting - use the covering methods described above in Step 3: Watering.
Vermin
Birds, rats and mice love wheatgrass so insure your trays are well protected and covered.
Notes:
- A 'standard' tray is around 51cm x 34cm (20 x 13 inch)
- For barley grass trays, simply replace the wheat grain with barley grain
- 1 kg of soaked seed covers three trays
- Plant out one tray every 4 to 5 days.
