Wheatgrass Question

[vgloveforlife]

Do you have to grow wheatgrass in soil? What are the downfalls to growing it without soil? Is it not as nutritious that way?

Thanks!

[EastCoastie]

I am not sure that it can be grown hydroponically, but it grows in soil inside rather easily. That's how we do it. It takes about a week to get a good tray of wheatgrass.

[robertandenith]

you don't have to grow it in soil, I've seen my health food store sells wg w/o soil, that obviously was grown w/o soil. I always grow it w/ soil and it is sooo easy to do so. You don't need a lot of soil either :)

[Arky]

With soil is the most nutritious way to grow it, however the benefits of using soil are not as dramatic as the benefits for using good soil instead of bad soil with mature green leafy vegetables, for example (that's a HUGE topic which involves a myriad of different factors).

The only real argument for growing wheatgrass hydroponically is convenience - one need not purchase or clean up after soil. If you do wish to grow wheatgrass hydroponically, be sure to use liquid kelp and/or OceanGrown hydroponic solution as these will make up some of the mineral shortfall you can potentially experience in your wheatgrass if the growing shoots have not been able to draw nourishment from soil.

If you'd like to see hydroponically-grown wheatgrass, then scroll down the following webpage (almost to the bottom) :

http://www.eatsprouts.com/


J.

[vgloveforlife]

Thanks all!

I was already growing wheatgrass without soil for a few months and then I read about using soil and realized I was doing it wrong the whole time.
It is so much easier w/out soil IMO although not as nutritious I see.

Thanks for the kelp tip! Where do I put the liquid kelp? What about watering the seeds with a diluted mineral mixture?

Thanks in advance.

[ljcoolj]

I grow mine in vermiculite, which you can find at about any nursery. I think its extemely easy to use.

[threedogs]

I read online once that you can sprout it, and continue to grow it that way. It was an answer to the mold problem.

I'm trying it right now. (This was accidental - was sprouting wheat berries, forgot to check them, and I've ended up with a HUGE mass of sprouts). I realize that growing it in a good soil would be more nutritious, (potting soils have nothing worthwhile in them, in my opinion), but this (if it works) is better than no wheatgrass. :)

[Shivananda]

Boston Naturopath Ann Wigmore was the person who pioneered the use of wheatgrass juice for healing and nutritional support. She grew hers in cafeteria trays on a thin layer of Canadian sphagnum peat moss.

The purpose of the peat moss is simply to keep the wheatberries moist so they sprout well, and to give them physical support for the rootlets so they can stand up. A similar method is used for buckwheat and for sunflower sprouts. Perlite or vermiculite can be added to the peat moss to aid water retention, and liquid kelp fertilizer is typically added to the water.

Properly grown hydroponic wheatgrass is equivalent nutritionally to that grown in peat moss, because the entire nutrition for this immature grass is taken from the wheatberry. At harvest (typically 7-10 days after starting) the plant is not yet developed enough to take up any minerals or other nutrients except water and a small amount of nitrogen (from the kelp). But the hydroponic method requires more setup and equipment, and is not as easy for most people to manage as the tray method.

It's possible to use compost, or actual soil for growing wheatgrass, but there is actually no benefit at all to doing that and there are several disadvantages... soil grown wheatgrass tends to develp mold faster, the soil can contain contaminant, and soil is messier to deal with.

[threedogs]

I read online once that you can sprout it, and continue to grow it that way. It was an answer to the mold problem.

I'm trying it right now. (This was accidental - was sprouting wheat berries, forgot to check them, and I've ended up with a HUGE mass of sprouts). I realize that growing it in a good soil would be more nutritious, (potting soils have nothing worthwhile in them, in my opinion), but this (if it works) is better than no wheatgrass. :)

I gave up. The experiment failed. They went down the garbage disposal. Don't know if it was good or bad, but they smelled sour, no matter how many times I rinsed them.

Oh well. It was an experiment, anyway...