Help with sprouting sunflower

[Raw Angel Mom]

I seem to have problem with mold.

What are your favorite way of sprouting them and getting great result.

I am trying different way. I know if i put them outside, it helps to kill the mold but the problem, winter is coming and this is something i won't be able to do. I try with less water then they won't grow. Now, i am trying to start them in the dark and will place them in light.

I am just not sure what to do.

Thank you.

[lizad14]

are you trying to sprout hulled or unhulled seeds, because the ones without the shell really only need to be soaked overnight and maybe sprouted one day. Hope this helps.

[Raw Angel Mom]

Thank you, this is what i have been doing. Soaking overnight then sprout them one day. Then i will place them on top the soil and water my soil. Sadely, there is mold growing on the second day.

I wonder what i am doing wrong?

[alicemagooey]

i think your temperature may be too high..

i think generally sprouts like cool but not really cold temps.

i think you may do better sprouting sun seeds hulled in large glass jars..just a few seeds ( well, a small amount)..and you do need to rinse your sprouts maybe three times a day..to keep them from getting moldy.

i noticed another of your posts and the response to that one was to let them have plenty of air circulation.. This is really, really , important.

coolness, air circulation, and plenty of rinsing.!!
three important things.

ALSO.. if you want to use soil.. i think you can cover the seeds over with a wee bit of soil..

but i really prefer the jar method..just for the pure fact of rinsing.

I understand your desire to get GREENS, however.. They will get green in the jar..do most of the sprouting in subdued or regular kitchen lighting..then put them for the last few days in the sunlight..(continuing to rinse often).

i think you may be able to do them in soil without mold and without having to rinse them so much.. i know i have in the distant past..
i covered my sprouted seeds with soil ( thin layer) and kept them in a relatively dark place until they really began to grow. When leaves form, then put them in bright sunlight.
the key here is cool also.

cheerio
alice

i think i

[jacsam]

I make a large salad to last a few days and put lots of sunflower seeds in it. By the second and deffinately by the 3rd day, they are sprouting. I love it.

[Raw Angel Mom]

Thank you everyone for the tips.

I had problem with mold too with glass jar with different sprouting. I wonder two things, how do you get good ventilation inside a jar? Maybe this is the quality of air of my house or even the dirt that i use.

Would the fridge be too chilled to put my jar inside?

I am sorry for the silly question, i am no expert in sprouting and i am just starting. I would so much be able to produce my own sprout and save a few dollars and have it fresh.

I managed to grow to tray but it was only because it was sunny and i was able to place them outside, but the animal loved them too, lol... After this, i have been dealing with mold no matter what i do.

Do you think if i use a fan, it would help?

Thank you for your time!

[SpeakLow]

Hey there-
I have done a lot of gardening in my days and I start about 90% of my veggies and flowers from seed. The mold you are experiencing sounds like 'damp off.' It's a condition that grows on the surface of the soil, at the base of a seedling, or even on the seed though it may not have even sprouted by the time the mold shows up. This is caused by three common factors;

1)Non-sterile Soil - I NEVER used soil to start seedlings, I use seed starting mix. You can mix this with the soil you are using now. Seed starting formula is a very lite soil with lot's of vermiculite, it's drains water very well. Regular soil holds too much water, good for established plants, bad for baby seedlings...

2)Too Much Moisture - Probably caused by poorly draining soil. Also, the soil needs only be very slightly moist. And a lid over your soil and seeds will lock in escaping mositure and keep it at a nice temp!

3)Poor Air Cirlculation - You can cover your seeds to keep them slightly moist, but once those seeds sprout, the lid comes off right away to promote circulation.

I would put the jar or soil in the fridge, too cold. They may sprout, but it'll take longer. Hopefully his will help! Nothing like watching a seed sprout, and then waking up the next morning to find it covered in mold, grrr.....

Here's a little on damping off. (http://www.simplegiftsfarm.com/damping-off.html) I think the garlic goes a little too far....

[michigan roman]

ide try using cheap plastic colanders like the ones in below pic .

and or also try growing them covered with soil then pulling them out of soil and rinsing off dirt from roots . and the little bit of soil is said to provide some b12 .

ps - in the colander are mung bean sprouts at around 6 day

[Raw Angel Mom]

Awsome, thank you so much for the extra tips.

I have been misting them. Meaning, i used some ocean water mixe with tap water with a spray bottle and try to just mist them often. So far no mold but it is growing very slowly.

It has been near a week and i am just started to see them sprouting the green.

I am going to try the extra recommendation posted here.

Thank you so much again!
I will keep you update!

[curlygirl82]

Michigan -
I LOVE your idea of sprouting in a colander! Have you done this with smaller seeds/sprouts? I keep trying to sprout quinoa and buckwheat, and they mold in the jars, so I'd love to try it in a colander... but when I use a metal mesh one, they still mold (probably too narrow = still poor air circulation?) ... thought about getting a plastic one like in your pic, but the holes are too big for those tiny seeds. Do you start them off in something else? Or line the colander with paper towels? Thanks!

[michigan roman]

Michigan -
I LOVE your idea of sprouting in a colander! Have you done this with smaller seeds/sprouts? I keep trying to sprout quinoa and buckwheat, and they mold in the jars, so I'd love to try it in a colander... but when I use a metal mesh one, they still mold (probably too narrow = still poor air circulation?) ... thought about getting a plastic one like in your pic, but the holes are too big for those tiny seeds. Do you start them off in something else? Or line the colander with paper towels? Thanks!


i soak my seeds in a bowl like 12 hours or so , then move to the colanders and rinse several times a day . and recently i found some cheap / large plastic colanders with holes small enough to do small seeds :D

but before that i was gonna use my bigger holed colanders inside mesh paint filter bags , i get the big 5 gallon size at home depot so theyre big enough , so the mesh would stretch over inside of colander and prevent seeds from falling through .

could also buy some peices of a meshy type cloth at a fabric store .

and some people have sucses sprouting in paint filter bags . i was headed that way and also bought a bunch of mesh material and was looking to make like wooden frames out of small say 1" x 1" peices of wood or 1 x 2 furring strips
as opposed to just letting the sprouts sit clumped together in the paint filter bags which to me would be mold enhancing because ya need the air flow . i was gonna make say 18" x 24" frames with the wood then loosely stretch and staple mesh over them . then make some type rack for the mesh trays to slide into , with the rack just being opened framing for air flow .

but the colanders are so easy / efficient im locked in . it took me several months of hunting at dollar stores til i found the giant sized small holed colanders and ever since ive been one happy camper :D

maybe try searching internet for proper colanders . and actually if the store i bought them at still has some ide mail some to you because theyre only a dollar each and shipping probably wouldnt be much cuz just cheap / light plastic so wouldnt cost you much .

[Raw Angel Mom]

Yes, i love that idea too with the colanders. I am going to look for that. You are a genous, lol...

Oh so far so good with the sunflower, they are turning to greens now and no mold. YEAH......

Thank you again everyone for you time and support. I am going to try different sprout next.