Wheat grass sprouting question

[Livingsunfoods]

Hey guys. I've got a sprouting question. I usually buy them at the store (locally grown) but have recently wanted to start sprouting on my own more. So the question is, I've been sprouting wheat berries (the hard ones) for wheat grass for about 6 days. Their about 3 inches tall now.

1) What is a good length to stop? and 2) Do I just cut the greens off (I was going to put them in a smoothie) or can I use everything, seed, roots and all in a salad per se?

[spicyfull]

Sure......I don't let mine get that long. I just sprout them and put them in some soil then let them grow 5 or so inches. Then Juice them in a Wheat Grass Juicer. This way I can use the Grass another time after letting it grow again.

Since you don't have a Soil issue, you can use them anywhere you want. Have a RAW Day...........

[lily]

They're best when they're 6 inches tall. Takes about a fortnight.

good luck!

lily

[Rwmomto5]

Wheat berries are soaked first ,then sprouted (tails not too long) and then planted in soil and then the blades of grass grow.

I harvest mine 7 days after they have been planted depending on weather.

[Livingsunfoods]

Thanks guys. Not able to do the soil thing at this moment so I'm growing them out of a colander. I don't have a wheat grass juicer so I was going to put the grass (and fruit) into a blender to make a green smoothie. Anyone do this?

[Raw Mom]

Wheatgrass is meant to be juiced. You could chew it, swallow juice and then spit out the pulp, but it shouldn't be put in a blender. The speed kills the grass and chops, but doesn't juice it. Have you ever juiced a lemon vs. putting the whole lemon in the blender? You always get more juice from the squeeze.

Steve Meyerowitz, in "Wheatgrass, Nature's Finest Medicine" explains it this way:

"The wheatgrass juicer is actually a screw press. Unlike conventional vegetable juicers that tear or cut vegetable fibers into tiny fractions, the grass juicer presses and squeezes the pulp, much like wringing the wetness out of your laundry. Conventional juicers are simply not designed to handle the woody, ligneous fibers of grass and , besides, they operate at such high speeds, sensitive enzymes would oxidize immediately. Regular juicers destroy the nutritional value of grass, but that's not all... are also unworkable. The green blades will wrap around the steel blades strangling your blender to death. Even if it survives, the high speed blades aerate and heat up the grass, and don't make much juice anyway."

I sell the Healthy Juicer at a really good price on my website. Check out for info on growing wheat seed.

You could grow it in a wide weave basket too.

[Livingsunfoods]

Thanks for the info Raw Mom! I remember now that you brought that up. I'm going to look into buying a wheat grass juicer today, they sell them right up the street from me. How would a wide weave basket help? Can you explain more? I'm guessing for one, it would allow me to grow more wheat grass because it's shaped horizontal.

[Raw Mom]

I read about the wide weave basket in one of sproutman's books. I thought it was a good alternative for people who don't want to do the soil method. Sprouts are able to bind to the weave of the basket and it's easy to water. It's not easy to find the baskets that aren't sprayed with something toxic. You can also grow the seed hydroponically or on a cafeteria tray. The root system of the wheat berry is amazing. You need such a small amount of soil.
Good Luck!

[justinesmith]

Thanks guys. Not able to do the soil thing at this moment so I'm growing them out of a colander. I don't have a wheat grass juicer so I was going to put the grass (and fruit) into a blender to make a green smoothie. Anyone do this?

I had no idea you weren't supposed to blend the blades. We LOVE the grass in our smoothies. I mean LOVE it enough that wouldn't stop. Oh well.