Wheatgrass potting soil PLEASE HELP!

[Minnie]

I have almost everything I need to start growing my wheatgrass. I started soaking my seeds. ;)

I am having a hard time finding bulk organic potting soil without animal manure. Bulk is more economical for me. I figured out the price per the little bags and it's way too much of a cost for me. I talked to this dirt guy about organic peat moss and he said that all the professional greenhouse people buy just straight peat moss and was trying to talk me into straight peat moss and not to worry about adding anything. I was thinking about adding `natural' perlite. I understand there is no such thing as `organic' perlite since it is a rock and not alive. Is that right? I also found bulk organic top soil with sandy loam, redwood compost, and mushroom compost. I was told it was very heavy, but of course mixed it would be lighter, but would it be light enough? The wheatgrass book suggested 40% top soil and also 50% peat moss and 10% vermiculite or perlite. The dirt guy said that it must be an old book because vermiculite is not good. Is that true? Anyway should I go with 100% peat moss or add a little perlite and should I also add some top soil as mentioned above? Please be specific, if you can, with your help....pretty please. :p

Also I plan to use kelp. ;)

Thanks in advance. :D

Minnie :)

[JinxieKat]

I'm actually trying to grow some wheatgrass right now hydroponicly (? spelling, in other words, with water only) and so far so good! If it turns out well I'll share it on here as it has been super easy to do so far. Wish I could help you out with the soil, but I've never done it that way. I do know that I've read in a couple of places that some people don't bother with soil at all, they just use the batting that you get at a fabric store to fill quilts with. You may want to try that instead.


Jinx

[Shivananda]

Hi Minnie,

I'm a very experienced gardener, both indoors and out, and I'm a major advocate for home sprouting. I've researched this topic to death, and experimented like crazy, and found that the following is what seems state of the art advice about the best medium to grow wheatgrass in...

1. What the wheatgrass berry needs to turn into tall, luscious green grass for juicing is water, air, light, a small touch of nitrogen fertilizer, and something to root into for physical support.

2. Compost and potting soil have lots of other things in them that the grass, at this early stage, simply has no ability to take up... like minerals So those are just wasted, for this purpose. Plus soil has something you don't want... microorganisms which can attack the grass or make it toxic.

So the best solution is a classic hydroponic one, to use a neutral base for rooting into and holding water, and a trace of kelp fertilizer added to the water to provide nitrogen and to slightly acidify the water, which helps curtail mold growth. (A drop or two of grapefruit seed oil can help in extreme cases of mold).

So which neutral base to use? I'm told Ann Wigmore used finely milled organic Canadian sphagnum moss to grow her own wheatgrass in. But several experienced growers advised me that a 50/50 mix of vermiculite and moss holds the water better, and I've found that to be true. So that's what I use.

Vermiculite is an inexpensive soil amendment, widely accepted in organic growing practices, widely used to lighten up soil for houseplants, and is simply a rock that has been puffed up by heat and which then becomes very porous. So is it raw? No, but it's not NOT raw either. It's never been alive, any more than the air or the water have. It's just a mineral. So it's nothing to be afraid of.

And it works great and is very cheap when you buy bulk... I dunno, maybe 50 cents a flat? So that and 25 cents worth of red winter wheat, if you water well and give it enough light, etc., should make you a flat of good yummy wheatgrass that would cost $16 - 18 at a store.

[Shivananda]

I do know that I've read in a couple of places that some people don't bother with soil at all, they just use the batting that you get at a fabric store to fill quilts with. You may want to try that instead. Jinx Hi Jinx,
Water alone doesn't seem to work so well, because what you really want, once the sprouting has started, is to give the wheatberries plenty of air, but keep them damp, not wet.

And I wouldn't use batting because you don't know what's in it... and since it probably came from China, that might be anything! But there IS a planting mat that commercial wheatgrass groweres around here have started to use that is made of matted, dried seaweed. A large scale local purveyer does that, and he skips the treys and just delivers his flats in plastic bags. Seems to work well. But it's maybe twice the cost of vermiculite and peat moss.

[JinxieKat]

Hmm.. I didn't think of the quality of the batting, so much to learn! The whole wheat grass growing thing is new to me. I accidently sprouted some of my wheat berries too long this past weekend in my mesh strainer. The not so little roots were sticking out of the bottom of the strainer just looking for water. I've set the strainer into a ceramic bowl and filled it will water and some dulse flakes just so the roots hit the water. My grass is growing quite nicely now! Not exactly traditional hydroponic, but it seems to be working.

Jinx

[lily]

I'm new to this too and just wanted to share with you the joy of waking up each day and seeing the shoots getting taller and taller. I never thought the sight of grass growing would give me such a thrill!

I just followed the instructions that came with my seed -- soaked it for 6-12 hours (nearer 6 in my case) then put it densely on top of half an inch of well-wetted 'all-purpose compost' that I got at the local hardware shop, covered it with another very thin layer, watered it and waited. In 3-4 days the little shoots started to come through and now, about 10 days later, my first batch is almost ready to harvest.

The thing that helped mine along was putting them, at my husband's suggestion, into an old electric propogator -- well, this is cold old England -- the trays in the propogator have raced the ones that are just on the windowsill by several days. But I'm sure this is totally non-essential.

These words in the instructions that came with my seed encouraged me:'It truly doesn't take a lot of time and effort to grow [true]. It isn't like real gardening where you have to watch our for diseases and insects. Mould is your only foe and a little mould won't ruin your harvest. You can cut down on mould by not wetting the green shoots. When you water it, try to pour it down the side of your tray so you only wet the soil (if you do get mould, just cut above it). always wash your wheatgrass before you juice it -- this seems to help with juicing also.'

I had originally planned to make (ie get my dear husband to make for me) an automatic watering system and so I could grow it hydroponically, but the seed arrived before i could get him motivated (!) so I just got started anyway. Maybe he'll help me with hydroponic system when I've proved to him this isn't 'just another of your mad crazes' (!)

x lily

[ljcoolj]

I am constantly growing wheatgrass. The only thing I've ever used is straight vermiculite and it works great! I've thought about mixing it with something but why bother with a good thing...ya know?

[sweepea32]

Hi all,

This might be a siily question, but I honestly don't know the answer.

I am growing my 1st batch of wheatgrass.
Can I re-use my potting soil a few times after I harvest the grass?
Can I just plant more wheatberry sprouts in it?


Also please keep posting if there is a way to do it hydro-ponically(sp?) or any other ideas.

I have a single auger juicer (Solostar) and am hoping it will be a success in my juicing of the grass-anyone know?

thanks,
Mary

[Dandelion Girl]

Minnie,

I have had people tell me that about vermiculite too. There was a problem about 15 years ago with ONE vermiculite mine because it was too close to a different kind of mine. That mine no longer produces vermiculite and all vermiculite now is tested to make sure it is alright. I think the people that tell you that know about the old problem but are not up to date that the vermiculite sold now is safe and it works really well. I use it and am very happy with it.

Shiva, thank you for the information on the best way to grow wheatgrass. That is very helpful.

Pam

[Shivananda]

Can I re-use my potting soil a few times after I harvest the grass?

I wouldn't, because controlling mold is the biggest single issue with wheatgrass growing, and it builds in the soil and contaminates each new batch. Just add it to your compost pile and use a fresh batch... it's cheap in bulk... maybe 50 cents a flat?

>>Also please keep posting if there is a way to do it hydro-ponically(sp?) or any other ideas.

Like I said earlier, you need to give the roots someting to dig into, but felted seaweed seems to work for the purpose in hydro systems.

>>I have a single auger juicer (Solostar) and am hoping it will be a success in my juicing of the grass-anyone know?

Absolutely. That's practically identical to the Samson and the Omega other users have posted about. Mine works like a champ.

TIP:
One tip that may not be obvious, however... run the squeezed pulp back through the machine a second time to get the maximum of juice out. (This applies to most machines. )

[Sheryl]

If you live near the ocean add 10% sea water to the water you water your wheatgrass with. Extensive studies have shown HUGE increases in minerals with anything watered this way, and it's low enough not to impact the salinity of the soil. You're putting back what is washed out and into the sea by rain and modern agriculture. You can read more at: Ocean Grown (http://www.oceangrown.com/faqs.htm)

We've been doing this the last few months, and noticed stronger greener grass and NO MOULD!!! this is amazing because with the humidity lately we had lots of mould. It's the same batch of seed too (we buy25 kg sacks) so it's not the seed. The only change is the sea water.

Also with most juicers you will VOID the warranty if you put wheatgrass pulp through twice. Check your warranty carefully before doing this. In Australia it definitely voids the warranty of the Samson single auger juicer. The pressure in the casing of already juiced wheatgrass is very high and creates alot of pressure and can crack the casing.

Cheers,
Sheryl

[LearningTogether]

We don't use peat moss because of environmental concern. Do you have a compost bin. Perhaps that could be added to your soil to enrich it?

[lily]

Ann Wigmore says to put the old compost -- which will have become a 'mat' of roots and the stumps of the grass when you've cut it -- into a compost bin or heap -- that way you do use it again eventually after it's been recycled as compost.

She also suggests watering the wheatgraass with some powdered kelp dissolved in the water, which Shivananda also mentioned, for extra minerals including iodine, in the wheatgrass.

I'm going to cut my first wheatgrass tomorrow! Yipeee!

lily

[Devi]

there IS a planting mat that commercial wheatgrass groweres around here have started to use that is made of matted, dried seaweed. A large scale local purveyer does that, and he skips the treys and just delivers his flats in plastic bags. Seems to work well. But it's maybe twice the cost of vermiculite and peat moss.

This is wonderful information! Could you please let me know what city you are speaking of and perchance, a business name and/or address to facilitate the purchase of said mats? Thanks so much for sharing so much!
Devi

[levamssg]

Has anyone ever just let the wheatgrass continue to sprout in a bowl/collander, then juiced the entire thing ... hulls, seeds, sprouts and all?

Would there be anything wrong in juicing the entire plant? ... I juice entire alfalfa, broccoli, and other sprouts regularly.

If the wheatgrass is just rinsed every day, would it be as nutritious as a plant that is grown in soil and cut?

Someone at a potluck told me they did this, and I'd never heard of it before.

[DebB]

Has anyone ever just let the wheatgrass continue to sprout in a bowl/collander, then juiced the entire thing ... hulls, seeds, sprouts and all?

Would there be anything wrong in juicing the entire plant? ... I juice entire alfalfa, broccoli, and other sprouts regularly.

If the wheatgrass is just rinsed every day, would it be as nutritious as a plant that is grown in soil and cut?

Someone at a potluck told me they did this, and I'd never heard of it before.

Hi ~ I've tried growing wheatgrass soil-free and I haven't been able to get it to work for me very well, so after many failed attempts I gave up and now grow successfully in soil.

You might like to watch Dorothy's video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZsEfbWwvYc)where she's juicing her soil-free wheatgrass. She's my favorite subscription - I love her videos and have learned so much from them. She's really good about answering your questions too. She's got 1 or 2 other videos on growing WG soil free. *Ü*

[levamssg]

Hi ~ I've tried growing wheatgrass soil-free and I haven't been able to get it to work for me very well, so after many failed attempts I gave up and now grow successfully in soil.

You might like to watch Dorothy's video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZsEfbWwvYc)where she's juicing her soil-free wheatgrass. She's my favorite subscription - I love her videos and have learned so much from them. She's really good about answering your questions too. She's got 1 or 2 other videos on growing WG soil free. *Ü*

Thanks DebB. I didn't have a lot of success just letting the wheatgrass sprout. So I'm going back to growing it in soil. Besides ... the worms in my worm farm LOVE the wheatgrass soil mats ... so it all works out. :woohoo:

[Mary Kay]

I've been growing wheatgrass for a couple years successfully in soil, but have on occason, had mold issues. Recently, I got some food-grade hydrogen peroxide and mixed it in a spray bottle and spray it often throughout the day, swhich seems to have eliminated the mold entirely.

Interesting, that thebottle says that hyd peroxide is formed from natural rain water. If it's ever warm enough and raining, I'll put my trays outside.

Okay...I'm going backwards here, but here's what I do:
In late fall I put a cover crop of mostly hard winter wheat in my garden. top with a little straw and keep watered. Then I forget about it during the winter, and in the late spring/early summer, I invite people over for a wheatgrass-juicing party!

Now, during the winter, I plant in flats. I use regular, bagged organic soil. and I add azomite, DE and kelp to it. Wet it, and then sprinkle on some non-soaked berries. I lightly cover with some seed sprouting medium, which is fine and powdery. Then I spray with the hyd peroxide solution to dampen. I add about TBSP of hyd peroxide to a quart of water. .

I get juice from it twice, then give the remainder to the chickens in the compost pile, who then tear it to shreds.

Now that I've read that about the vermiculite on this thread, I think I'll add some of this to my soil too! It'll only help it break up easier.

And I figure if the azomite, kelp and DE aren't really getting into the wheatgrass and giving it beneficial nutrients at such a young age, it doesn't hurt because it goes back into my compost.

HTH, and I don't know about juicing the whole root etc. But wonder if this would be good for someone who's gluten-sensitive? Maybe some would still remain with the root/seed. There is absolutely no gluten in the leaves though, so even those with allergies can do the juice..

Mary Kay

.

[levamssg]

MaryKay - I use food grade hydrogen peroxide for cleaning most anything -- and also spray it on the wheatgrass. It's wonderful stuff (diluted of course!). I usually don't have a mold issue, but for some reason, this last batch of seeds I started I've had some mold -- and they aren't growing well at all. I'm going to give the whole batch to the worm, and start some new flats.

What a good idea planting a whole garden of wheatgrass. We are putting in raised beds using the "square food gardening" technique this year, and will have a regular garden area that will be available this fall. I'm going to try this!

Right now I have a wheatgrass growing system outside made from pvc pipe with trays at different heights -- so as soon as the weather gets decent, I'll be starting grass outside. So much easier that itty bitty trays in the house perched on window sills everywhere. We're having a really nice day here today, so I'm somewhat inspired to get out there and start some outside trays. But it is only still march, so ya never know around here!

In the past I've used regular potting soil enriched with worm castings. But as soon as we mix up some "Mels Mix" listed in square foot gardening, I'm going to try using that. It is 1 part compost; 1 part peat moss; 1 part vermiculite -- equal mix by volume not weight. I'll see how it goes.

[Mary Kay]

Hi Terry and all,

Just to clarify, I don't plant a whole garden of wheatgrass.. just towards the late fall as a cover crop in the winter. I use hard red winter wheat (which is what most use for wheatgrass), as well as rye.

I'll turn up the rows, plant them, and leave the aisles betw the rows with the cover crop---at least until I get 2 cuttings from it. And just like the wheatgrass you grow in your flats, it doesn't do very well after it's been cut twice!

Really gives my juicers a workout in the late spring/early summer! LOL

Mary Kay