Help with sprouting sunflower seeds that have shells on them?

[spiralgirl]

Hi,

I bought a bunch of sprouting seeds and got a big bag of the sunflower ones that have the shell on them.

So I soaked the hard shells for a few hours and then left them in a canning jar and rinsed a couple times a day. So today they have 1/2 and inch sprout on them and the recipe I'm using says to sprout only 1 day but I've had them there for 2 days. The hard shells are still closed.

Anyway I started opening them one by one and gave up after like 10 minutes because this will take me a month of Sunday's to do. So am I supposed to use them with the shell on them, or wait until the shell opens and sprout longer? There is no way anyone would take the time to open every single one would they? Maybe this is the only way hence why I'm asking for help.

[Stina]

Hi'Ya! I've got a bunch of those too. I've been meaning to learn how to sprout them into greens, not sprouts, yeah, not well put. I know the general idea is to get shallow trays; my friend uses restaurant trays that she reappropriated out of McDonalds! Ah, those golden arches are good for something other than free plumbing on a road trip!

But anyway, it's basically growing mini-salad greens in soil. Hopefully, someone more knowledgeable will jump in with some expertise. Also, buckwheat greens can be grown like this. So, perhaps we can learn to do this together.

[exurb]

just plant them in dirt, water them, cut when young at the two leaf stage. after that they will taste unpleasant.

you can soak them a little before (like 1/2 hour - 1 hour) but not necessary, just keep well watered. works way better outside.

[Stuart]

You could just buy sunflower seeds without the shell on them!

[spiralgirl]

Thanks everyone for your replies. After sitting and trying to shell them by hand I gave up and just used raw sunflower seeds I always have on hand that aren't sprouted. My recipe called for sprouted ones and I just used non sprouted ones and it still turned out well.

What a hoot. I knew something wasn't right. So I plant them and then can use them right? Good job I didn't throw out the ones from last night.

[Raw Mom]

Buckwheat: soak 8-12hrs, sprout 16-24hrs. Plant on top of soil or in a wide weave, heavy duty basket, spraying at least twice a day. Approximately 10 days to harvest as buckwheat sprouts.

Sunflower with shell:
How To: soak 8-12hrs, sprout 16-24hrs., rinsing 3 times a day. Plant on top of soil or in a wide weave heavy duty basket, spraying at least twice a day. Approximately 10 days to harvest as sunflower sprouts. Keep covered with a heavy tray for five days after planting on soil. Rinsing will help the shell slip off.
Sunflowers contain a full spectrum of amino acids and supply vitamin D without the dairy. These baby greens contain an abundance of the sun’s energy and chlorophyll, and are considered “a complete food.”

[Stina]

Buckwheat: soak 8-12hrs, sprout 16-24hrs. Plant on top of soil or in a wide weave, heavy duty basket, spraying at least twice a day. Approximately 10 days to harvest as buckwheat sprouts.

Sunflower with shell:
How To: soak 8-12hrs, sprout 16-24hrs., rinsing 3 times a day. Plant on top of soil or in a wide weave heavy duty basket, spraying at least twice a day. Approximately 10 days to harvest as sunflower sprouts. Keep covered with a heavy tray for five days after planting on soil. Rinsing will help the shell slip off.
Sunflowers contain a full spectrum of amino acids and supply vitamin D without the dairy. These baby greens contain an abundance of the sun’s energy and chlorophyll, and are considered “a complete food.”

Thanks for the nice and easy instructions. My home is a little dark. I'm thinking about putting them outside during the day once they're uncovered.

[Frecs]

Are you sure the recipe meant sprouted sunflower seeds or could they have meant soaked sunflower seeds? Sometimes people say spouted for nuts when they really mean soaked.