Wheatgrass help

[raweater]

I had tried growing wheatgrass in my easygreen sprouter and while it sprouts anything perfectly, wheatgrass normally grows mold before it's done. I noticed at jugo juice at my nearby mall they grow wheatgrass in simple trays, so would I be better of growing it that way?

I'm absolutely horrible with plants, I can't even grow mint which apparently anyone should be able to grow, my mint has always died in 24-48 hours after being under my care, so that should give you an idea how bad I am with plants.

I got my Green Star juicer in part for wheatgrass juice nearly a year ago and still haven't managed to grow any successfully to juice!

Thanks for any tips.

[spicyfull]

I think Wheat Grass grows better in Trays with soil. Just keep it misted. Mint...just plant some near your outside faucet.

[cavany]

I bought my Easy green for growing wheatgrass and found it couldn't do it propertly. It also grew mould before I harvested it and second it never looked as good as the outdoor grown grass. It was very pale or light green.

I think it is better to grow the wheatgrass in trays with soil and in a tunnel if possible.

[Eva]

I used to grow wheatgrass in trays with a lot of success. I do NOT have a green thumb, either.

[Ilse W.]

I soak my wheat berries for 12 hours, then sprout for a day or so before I toss them onto a soil-filled tray. After the initial watering I just mist. I keep the tray in the kitchen so I don't forget to mist.

[raweater]

Thanks. With one tray of maybe 1x2 feet, how often could I expect to grow an ounce worth of wheatgrass?

Thanks

[rawstrength]

A 10x20 inch tray of wheatgrass will give you 6 ounces of juice, if juiced in a good juicer (greenstar is an excellent choice). I would try to get a tray with as short side walls as possible. Good ventilation is the key to keeping mold away. I used to grow my wheatgrass in just any old containers and it worked fine. Then I moved to a damp, moldy, basement dorm room by the sea shore. I had huge mold problems. They cleared up by improving the ventilation by switching to trays and moving the wheatgrass near the window.
I don't use soil for my wheatgrass because it is too messy and too expensive to buy that much sterile soil. I just throw down a damp unbleached paper towel (eco-soft is a good brand) in a tray, and then pour in a cup of wheatgrass that has been sprouted for a day or two (or three if I get lazy).
I water my wheatgrass using diluted ocean water. Dilute ocean water provides 90+ minerals to the wheatgrass. Grasses are the only plants that can take up all 90 minerals. If you think that there are only about a dozen minerals, then think again. In my geology class I've been learning about how there are actually thousands of minerals on planet earth, and that there are mineralogists who devote their lives to studying minerals. Anyway, the wheatgrass tastes much stronger and more vibrant when you use ocean water. I think it's also supposed to keep mold away.
Best of luck!

[raweater]

Wow 6 ounces? I would have expected one, and I do have a green star. I do have a Kelp fertilizer, does that provide as many minerals?

If I still have issues with the wheatgrass are there other grains that are easier to grow and still as healthy?

Thanks

[Eva]

I used kelp to help with my wheatgrass. I never tried without, but what I was doing was working!!

[goobygirl]

Also you might want to use some grapefruit seed extract or hydrogen peroxide to rinse them in before sprouting so they won't mold.

[Seabie]

I am so glad to discover this forum! I never would have thought I could just use unbleached paper towels or use GSE for the seeds!

10 x 20 tray only produces 6ounces of juice! Wow! I've got a lot to learn! I was going to puchase the grass sold by the tray at the health food store but they sell for over 20.00 per tray. Looks like I would need at least a couple of trays every week. Much too expensive!

[coco]

you can buy great trays from a restaurant supply place, you can even find them used if you scout around. it's only about an inch of soil that you use and if you have the space to compost you just add the soil mats back into the compost bin when you've harvested the grass.

often tray grown grass will sprout mold near the roots. when this happens just be sure to cut the grass well above the mold and it should be fine. if you are particularly sensitive to mold or have a compromised immune system i'd try a different grass. i have heard good things about barley grass and the sprouting method is the same.

it makes sense that ocean water would keep away mold, the salt is a natural anti-bacterial agent (think gargling with salt water when you're sick).