Wheatgrass wont grow after 2 cuts

[Lucas 7D]

Hi everyone

So i got very excited about my new healthy lifestyle and planted 3 long containers of wheatgrass. The grass grows well and is a darker rich green color. After i cut it 2 times it will no longer grow and is a light green color by that time. The bottom of the grass is white. I always thought that grass just keeps on growing no matter how many times you cut it.

This has happened to me twice already and I dont know what to do. Do I replant seeds in the same soil? I ripped the remaining grass out and the soil is full of roots.

My trays are about 4 inches deep.

I also just got my parents an Omega 8005 juicer and seeds for Christmas and dont know what to tell them about properly growing wheatgrass.

Please help :confused:

[DebB]

Hi ~ Congratulations on growing wheat grass! I'm not an expert, but I'll share what I do. I've read and heard on assorted YouTube videos that 2 cuttings is about all you can harvest from a tray of wheat grass.

After harvesting you can compost the dirt, or in my case I admit to throwing it away. We have 2 big compost piles, but these don't work out well in our compost pile. I don't like throwing them away, but I don't know what else to do with them.

So, no you don't replant seeds in there. You need to start from scratch with a clean tray (sterilize if you had any mold), clean soil or growing medium and new seed.

Good luck! There are many videos on YouTube if you'd like to check them out. Just search for wheatgrass. *Ü*

[Revvell]

Hi everyone

So i got very excited about my new healthy lifestyle and planted 3 long containers of wheatgrass. The grass grows well and is a darker rich green color. After i cut it 2 times it will no longer grow and is a light green color by that time. The bottom of the grass is white. I always thought that grass just keeps on growing no matter how many times you cut it.



That's if you plant it in the earth and it's grass grass not wheatgrass. By the time you've cut it twice, it's leached the nutrients out of the soil. Time to change as Deb stated.

[Lucas 7D]

what about an Easygreen sprouter?

http://www.amazon.com/EasyGreen-MikroFarm-Sprouter-Cartridges-Trays/dp/B000PDBA4C/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1262200825&sr=8-14

Using soil is too much work in this case. I keep getting insects flying around the house and changing the soil isnt cost effective.

[DebB]

I agree about using soil - I have a problem with mold as well.

The 2 trays I'm growing right now, I'm experimenting and using all perlite. I wanted to use vermiculite, but I couldn't find any this time of year. So far, no mold and it's day 5. No bugs either. But the final yield will tell if this worked or not.

I'm also looking into soiless methods. I emailed Viktorus Kulvinskas (sp) and he graciously emailed me his soiless method - I haven't tried it yet. *Ü*

[crkdjwlr]

Hi LucasD;

I have great success with the easygreen sprouter. I also grow trays of wheat grass without soil. I can grow 8 inch tall wheat grass in one week, even here in Canada in the winter. In the summer it grows a little faster.

Good luck and take care, Paul Le May.

[DebB]

Hi Paul ~ Will you share how you grow your trays of wheatgrass with no soil? I am so interested in this! Thanks in advance. *Ü*

[crkdjwlr]

Hi DebB;

I put enough dry wheat berries on the bottom of the tray so that you can just barely see the bottom of the tray. Next I mist spray the entire tray until they are completely soaked with water. You want a tray that has a cover and also good ventilation both in the tray and in the cover. This creates a mini green house. I use black trays that I purchased from the garden center at a store here in Canada called Canadian Tire which sells similar product to Home Depot and Wall mart combined.
I do this every day, once a day at the same time for 4-5 days. I also cover the trays with a towel or something that will keep the light out for these 4-5 days as well. This helps to start the wheat grass growing and also keeps them warm too. At this point you take the towel cover off. After this they are ready to be immersed in water from the tap, enough to cover the root bed that you now have. Let them soak for approximate 2-3 minutes and then drain really well. I also do this once a day until they are finished growing. At some point in the growing stages, the cover the you are using to create your green house can come off as the grass will push it off. If you leave it on too long you will probably have a mold problem. I also have a small fan pointed in the direction of the trays of wheat grass to help with this as well.
When the grass reaches approximately 8 inches tall I harvest it, rince it twice and let it air dry overnight and store in the refrigerator. I only get one cutting from this. I compost the root bed.
I hope this helps everyone that is interested in this. If you want to p m me you can.
Take care, Paul Le May.

[betty boop]

crkdjwlr: Thank you for taking the time to post those detailed instructions! It sounds good - I'm going to give it a shot. Would it be asking too much to post a photo?

[DebB]

Thank you Paul for sharing this information! I have some questions ~

* You said you used dried wheat berries, so you do not soak them overnight first?

* I have the black trays. Some with drainage holes, some that are solid. Do I use the trays with drainage holes to grow the grass? Can I use another tray (with holes?) for the cover?

* What size are you trays? Mine are about 11" x 22". I'm thinking I'd have to soak them in the bathtub. My kitchen sink's not large enough.

* Do you use the fan once the cover comes off around Day 4-5?

Thanks again Paul ~ I appreciate this! *Ü*

[crkdjwlr]

Hi DebB;

I do not soak the wheat berries, I put them in dry. I have tried soaking them and have not seen any difference. The trays that I use are the size that you have mentioned. My trays do not have drainage holes in them but they do have lots of ventilation holes, both in the bottom tray and in the top cover.. After day 5 when you are immersing them in water you can tip the tray up and drain off all of the water. By this time the root bed will be somewhat sufficient to hold them together. Don't tip them too far or you will have a mess. I do this at my kitchen sink, using the tap to immerse them and then tip them into the sink. You can use any tray that you have as long as you have ventilation. I use the fan from the beginning to end. My fan never shuts off as I always have trays growing at one stage or another.
If anyone has any questions please do not hesitate to ask.

Take care, Paul.

[DebB]

Thank you Paul for your kind and patient explanations! I really do appreciate this as I want to try this. It would be great to grow my wheatgrass without the mess of using the soil.

Would you take a look at the trays I have (http://www.wheatgrasskits.com/growingsupplies.htm)(scroll down a bit)? I have both trays, with and without holes.

I don't understand this:

My trays do not have drainage holes in them but they do have lots of ventilation holes, both in the bottom tray and in the top cover

I understand no drainage holes - no holes in the bottom of tray. I've not seen trays with 'ventilation holes' though. Are these holes all over the tray sides then?

Would it be possible for you to snap some pictures of your set up? Or if you've seen something similar online, point me to it?

I realize I'm asking a lot of questions, however I'd really like to do this. I thank you in advance Paul!! *Ü*

[crkdjwlr]

Hi DebB;
The link that you sent to me are the ones that I am using. I would send pictures but my program to load from my camera to the computer is on the frits right now. I just took a single hole paper punch and punched approximately 10 holes down each side, just underneath where the top edge rolls over and about 5 across each end and the same amount in the cover as well.

Please feel free to ask any questions at any time. I also started using soil and it was costing me a fortune so I finally came up with this method which works for me. I was also growing sunflower sprouts in soil and now I do not do that anymore either. I use three double fresh green automatic sprouters for this and I also have one Easy Green automatic sprouter as well. I have tried to grow wheat grass in these but I was not happy with the results. I can grow taller and thicker wheat grass using the black tray method.

Once the snow goes in the spring I am going to attempt to make a hoop house outside to grow some things outside, and also attempt to keep them over the winter next year. Other people further south from me seem to have success with it so I am going to give it a try. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Enough of my babbling. Hope this helps all who read it. I will attempt to answer all questions that come my way.

Take care, Paul.

[DebB]

Ahhhh ~ I understand it now! This is what I believe your set up is:

Planting tray: No drainage holes in the bottom. Vent holes you punched in all 4 sides.

Bottom tray: You set the planting tray in a solid, no drainage holes tray.

Cover: Same as planting tray.
_____________________________________

Have I got it?? :)

You answered my questions and explained it so well, no picture is needed ~ ~

I've got 2 trays growing right now, but my next batch I'm going to try your method. I've got a little fan that I bought just for my wheatgrass, so I'm all set.

I also grow sunflower seeds, but I've planted my last 11x22" inch tray of those, I simply can't use them up fast enough. I'll grow them in something smaller.

I've got bags and bags of organic soil that I bought at Home Depot on clearance this summer, so I'll use that up with the sunnies. I'd rather not mess with it with the WG though.

You mentioned hoop houses - have you watched Growing Your Greens (http://www.youtube.com/user/growingyourgreens) with John Kohler on YouTube? He can grow year round in California, but I'm learning a lot from him. We're in the desert, so I'll probably have to continue growing my WG indoors year round as it's so hot in the summer here.

* Final questions - what WG juicer do you use? I have a Champion juicer, but it doesn't seem to do well juicing WG. So I've been using my BlendTec, blending it with a small amount of water and then straining it - since it's all that I've got.

Do you juice your WG daily?

How do you use your SF sprouts?

Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU! *Ü*

[crkdjwlr]

Hi DebB;

Yes I do believe that you have got it.

I have a Green Life juicer that I have had for about 15 years. I works great for everything including wheat grass. I juice about 2 ounces each morning. That is what I have first thing and then I make a greens juice using brocoli and kale and sunflower sprouts with carrot and celery and 1/2 clove of garlic with the center core removed and a small piece of ginger.

I also enjoy making veggie nori rolls so I will use up lots of sprouts in those as well. I also make humus using sunflower and radish sprouts as well. I use a recipe for zucchini humus and use sprouts instead.

I also have a friend that has live lizards that eat wheat grass so they take some of my wheat grass too.

I have been looking on you tube for hoop houses but have not seen the one that you have mentioned so I will look it up after this.

Take care and hope you have success with your sprouts and wheat grass.

Take care, Paul.

[DebB]

Wow - you're drinking the WG and green juice daily is what I aspire to. I want to get in the habit of juicing daily beyond the WG.

Thank you for posting how you use your SF sprouts. They have such a good flavor, I really enjoy them.

Thank you again for all your help. I'm looking forward to trying your soilless method! *Ü*

[crkdjwlr]

Hi to all with interest;
You asked my to post some photos of how I do this. This is the first time that I have posted photos so I hope it works ok. There is a couple more listed in my album on this forum. I did not put them here as the limit is 4 pictures per post. Thanks to Aleesha for all her help in getting these photos where they belong.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask.
Take care, Paul LeMay

http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/picture.php?pictureid=1451&albumid=228&dl=1262460714&thumb=1
This is how I punched holes in the black growing trays
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/picture.php?pictureid=1450&albumid=228&dl=1262460674&thumb=1
This is after 4 days growth
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/picture.php?pictureid=1454&albumid=228&dl=1262460748&thumb=1
This is my set up. I purchased the stands from Zellers which is similar to Kmart and Wallmart.
http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/picture.php?pictureid=1453&albumid=228&dl=1262460738&thumb=1
This is my wheatgrass all covered up for the first few days.

[betty boop]

I tried it yesterday morning and by the afternoon the wheatberries were dry already, so I sprayed them again and changed to a tray and lid without ventilation holes. I think I punched too many holes, lol, and that's why they were dry. They are need to be kept moist and warm to grow don't they? Or should I let them go dry?

I can't find your album - can someone point me to it pretty please?

[DebB]

I can't find your album either Paul - do we access it by clicking on your name?

I'm not only WG growing challenged - I'm techno challenged as well - ha!

I look forward to seeing your photos! *Ü*

[crkdjwlr]

Yes the seeds need to be kept moist. I could be that they did not get enough water the first time around, but they do drink a lot. As for my album, just click on my name and it should be there under wheat grass. If you have troubles just ask Aleesha the moderator. She is the one that helped me upload pictures to my posting.
Take care, Paul.

[DebB]

Hi Paul ~ Are you sorry you posted about your wheat grass?? (wink!) :D :D

I emailed Aleesha and she said, "I don't know where he posted them...only that I told him how."

I don't see them in your profile ~ but then I may not be looking in the right place. I'd really like to see you pictures.

You get an A+ in Patience! *Ü*

[streetsurfer]

You may need to go into your control panel, then to pictures and albums, and check the section that makes your album visible to the public, rather than just private (contacts and mods). This may be what is preventing others from seeing it. If you wish to keep them private then make those who wish to see them friends by sending or accepting the friend request.

Deb, if you request to become a friend, and crkdjwlr accepts it prior to making the change to public, they should be visible to you once you become a friend or contact.
I hope I've made sense.

[betty boop]

I can see them now - thank you so much!!

And you definitely get an A+ for patience!!

[DebB]

Thank you so much Paul for posting your pictures! I can get a very good idea how it all plays out now. I was able to see them in your photo album too.

Thanks streetsurfer for the tips!

*Question ~ Are your covers clear? Can I use a solid black tray for my cover. I don't know where to get the clear ones, but I imagine I could find them online.

We just bought some nice stainless shelves at Costco a few days ago to hold all my growin's. I'd like to grow micro greens too.

Your sprouts look wonderful too! *Ü*

Back to add - this deserves its own thread...

[DebB]

Hi Paul ~ Well, I've got 3 trays going using your method. I "planted" them up today and I'm really looking forward to this!

Thanks again for all your help ~ here I go....

Hi betty boop ~ how is your WG coming along?