question for exurb or others who grow wheatgrass & buckwheat in the ground

[kaybee]

I know that I've read here that some people have actually grown wheatgrass in the ground outside, rather than in trays, and that it gives it a more grassy, rather than sweet, taste. Can anyone offer advice/details on doing this? Id also like to grow sunflower greens and buckwheat lettuce outside in the ground if possible. I dont like the tray-ed wheat grass and I dont like the sweet taste, but would love to grow it for nutritional value, especially if I can get it "less-sweet" by growing it in the ground. seems to me that growing it directly in the ground also avoids problems of mold, too? and it means less hassling with trays, etc... and im now in a position where there is a huge amount of outdoor garden space.

Whats the method? soak and sprout, then plant? or just plant dry? do you have to space seeds a certain amount apart, or just spread thinly? do you still get mold problems?

Thanks much

kaybee

Thanks a millionl

[Veganforlife]

Check this out. Even though they say to use trays, I bet you can grow it (them) outside. I don't see why not.

http://www.sproutpeople.com/seed/print/wheatgrass.html

[Veganforlife]

Check this link out:

http://www.cityfarmer.org/wheatgrass.html

[Raw Mom]

http://www.hippocratesgreenhouse.com/

This is my brother's website. He tells you everything you need to know about growing your own.
The people that grow outside,big distributors, mainly sell frozen or powdered. Some will harvest the first growth for live grass and then let it grow again and use that for frozen or powdered. First growth is optimal. I am in the process of starting a business growing and selling grass/seed and all that you need to grow your own and will share that with you when that happens.

Grass grown inside can be monitored easier. Grass outside can have too much sunlight and will dry out easier. Although sunlight isn't bad, without proper ventilation and watering, the grass will mold, and can raise temps high enough to start the process of rot, and actually cook your grass sprouts. I've been growing and it is really a nurturing process. I do it indoors.

Steve Meyerowitz says, field growers have hundreds or thousands of acres to manage. If they can't cut the grass when it is 8-10 inches, they lose all that grass. His book "Wheat grass, Nature's Finest Medicine" is great. My brother is actually quoted in the book. He says about grass...."because it grows so quickly under warm conditions, the plant has a relatively high level of simple sugars. You can taste the sweetness. In the outdoor grass, some of that sugar is converted into more complex carbohydrates and vitamins."

[Stina]

Grass on the ground? That's crazy!:)

[exurb]

hi kaybee, sorry I didn't see this until now.

It's very easy, just work up a bit of ground, cover densely with the seeds, and cover a little with soil, supposed to be 3x the thickness of the seeds. Water well. You can soak first, but it's not necessary for most seeds.

For sunflowers I just do black oil from a large bag (like the kind you buy for birds), then cut when about 2 " high and 2 leafs for best taste. Buckwheat lettuce is also no problem this way (you need the buckwheat with the black/brown hull still on it for growing buckwheat lettuce well), harvest when young and 2 leafers, the mild taste disappears as the plant gets too old1. Wheatgrass, barleygrass, etc... You might like the barleygrass if you don't like the sweet taste of wheatgrass, the barley is a little "robust" or grassy for some people, but I've read it's even more nutritional. You could also blend them.

Molds are usually no problem outdoors, way less hassle than indoors. Most sources seem to believe they are more nutritious also when grown in full sun.

If you're into this sort of thing, I would also recommend trying pea shoots.

[kaybee]

thanks for the responses :)

sorry i have not posted again sooner in response, but in order to pick up an internet signal i have to go down the driveway, down the laneway, and perch on a rock with my laptop in order to pick up some unsuspecting neighbor's signal ;) AND it has to dry, which there are usually showers every day...

anyway, here is my response/experience, further questions:

I tried growing stuff outside... only half successful..here's why.

i cant get unhulled sunflower seeds here. when i planted the hulled ones, which i have grown greens from before in a sprouter so i know they sprout, well, the rats got into the sunflower seeds and the buckwheat and ravaged them.... so i tried growing the sunflower greens in soil in trays in the greenhouse on shelves. grow brilliantly. the buckwheat i havent figured out a good plan for yet.. when ive tried to grow it in trays before it ended up all slimy and yuck...

when i put the seeds in the ground i had covered them with soil but the rats still found them. even though we are in the country, there is a big problem with rats living in the hedgerows, etc.

the wheatgrass had a different problem..the rats left the seeds alone and the grass started to grow...but as it grew the seeds sort of emerged from the soil as well.. and the birds thought the wheatberries looked mighty good and started pulling up the grass to get the wheat berries off the ends....
That said, some of the grass survived fine, AND, note to all of you who think you cant tolerate wheatgrass: the grass is lovely and "grassy-tasting", rather than the super-sweet grass that i have grown in trays before. i couldnt tolerate the stuff grown in trays, but this is more grassy and less sweet. maybe there are less nutrients but i wasnt drinking ANY before because i couldnt tolerate it. i realize nutrient content goes down as the grass gets taller, but how long can i continue to harvest off the same plants?

Thanks much

kaybee