Sunflower sprouts

[Katterin]

Hi guys,

Does anyone sprout sunflower seeds?

I started a 7 day raw challenge yesterday and one of the salad recipes said a cup full of sunflower sprouts. The instructions was to soak the seeds for 8 hours then drain for 2 hours to sprout. I was slightly taken aback by the amount of sunflower seeds so I emailed the discussion forum.

However it took 24 hrs to hear back. By that time I'd had to go to my night shift with a salad, some soup (raw) and these sunflower seeds (there were no sprouts). So therefore I've been trying to eat a cup of sunflower seeds all night! I think in about 16 hours I only got through 3/4 cup lol. This morning I received an email saying that I hadnt read the ingrediants properly - but I'm sure that I had and thats what I was told to do! I'm slightly disappointed with the package I must say.

Did i do something wrong with sprouting them? (I do live in the UK so not as hot here).

[DebB]

Yes, I sprout sunflower seeds all the time. I soak them overnight, drain & rinse well and then start sprouting them. I let them sprout until the tails are about 1/4-1/2 as long as the seed (which definitely takes longer than 2 hours). Then I dehydrate them. Now I always have sprouted sunflower seeds ready to go for any recipe.

You might like to watch Rene's video on Creating a Staple Stash (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSCv-39TWvE). This is where I actually learned that one can sprout sunflower seeds, I didn't know that before watching her video.

I Googled and found pictures (http://sprouting.mybalconyjungle.com/sunflower_sprouts.html)of how to sprout them.

I *love* having a staple stash all ready to go! *Ü*

[streetsurfer]

I too, think you misunderstood the instuctions, if they read as you stated.

A cup of seeds will produce much more than a cup of sprouts. They enlarge and expand in the soaking and sprouting process. If it was intended for you to use a cup of seeds, the recipe would have read something like....use one cup of sunflower seeds, sprouted. that may net you four, or many more, cups of sprouts depending on how far they were sprouted-short or long tails or even into full blown greens.

An example. I usually put two tablespoons of mung beans in a pint jar for spouting. It produces a pint of sprouts on average. Big difference in quantity and a recipe calling for them could read either.....

one cup of mung beans, sprouted. (which would yeild many cups of sprouts)

or

one cup of mung bean sprouts. (which by my calculations would come from one tablespoon of seeds or beans).

I think a cup of sunflower seeds is a lot to eat in one sitting so don't be surprised you didn't finish them easily. Whereas, a cup of sprouts would be so much easier to consume and digest in a sitting.

[Katterin]

Yeah, I definately misunderstood the instructions, but dont feel they were clear enough for people who have never sprouted before! If I'd had a reply sooner then I wouldnt have taken them all to work!

In the end I ended up splitting the salad into three meals - one at 5.45pm, one at about 11pm and one at 2.30am this morning so they werent all eaten at once ( I was working a night shift). The only downside is that I didnt really get much to drink as I dont get many uninterrupted breaks and I can't take drinks into the laboratory with me. I was trying not to drink with the food and dilute enzymes etc.

I did think it was alot but working overnight I get starving! I have been taking raw sweets but was trying to cut down and I tried to go for the recipe I thought would fill me up the most!

Still lessons learned....

1) sunflower seeds take much longer than that to sprout
2) sprouts are much less heavy than seeds
3) not drinking enough gives me really dry hands
4) too many seeds ... cause minor stomach aches...

[Emiliana]

Seeds are sprouted with their hulls on, yes? Somehow the little sprout makes its way through the hull? Or maybe I mean shell?

Total newb here.

[DebB]

Seeds are sprouted with their hulls on, yes? Somehow the little sprout makes its way through the hull? Or maybe I mean shell?

Total newb here.

For sunflower sprouts, with just a little bit of a tail (like in the link I posted in the post above) they are hulled, no shells.

Now - if you want to grow them into greens, they do have the shell on for that and they're planted in dirt vs sprouted in a jar or bag. I do both, so I'm happy to help you out and answer questions if you have more. *Ü*

[Emiliana]

For sunflower sprouts, with just a little bit of a tail (like in the link I posted in the post above) they are hulled, no shells.

Now - if you want to grow them into greens, they do have the shell on for that and they're planted in dirt vs sprouted in a jar or bag. I do both, so I'm happy to help you out and answer questions if you have more. *Ü*

Ah, okay. That makes sense now that I think of it. It's a pretty tough shell. Same thing with pumpkin seeds? I've got some green ones--but they've been sitting in a drawer and may be too old.

[DebB]

I do soak and then dehydrate our pumpkin seeds. I have tried to sprout them. Even though they're raw & organic - I've never been able to sprout them, so now I just soak, dehydrate and call it good. *Ü*