Sprouting question

[SunshineMN]

We finally got around to starting some sprouts. I know we're supposed to rinse them at least twice a day, it's really cold here right now so I doubt they are generating much heat. Is it okay if the seeds dry out between rinsing or are they supposed to remain a little damp to sprout? The sunflower seeds, amaranth, and lentils look like they stayed at least damp but the alfalfa seeds looked almost completely dry. Do we need to be rinsing them more often?

[fastfreedom]

If they completely dry out they will quit growing.

I've always rinsed twice a day. But I also use jars so it stays pretty moist in there.

[DebB]

I do exactly the same as fastfreedom ~

[SunshineMN]

Well hmm... I'm using quart jars as well. In fact, my setup is just like your's Deb. Hehe, I saw yours and ordered the bamboo dishrack to hold the jars at an angle. Some jars I use wire mesh circles (for the larger seeds) and others I bought some cheesecloth and hemmed small squares (for alfalfa, amaranth and quinoa) and put them under the jar ring.

Maybe they dried out so fast because there is only 3 tbsp. of alfalfa and everything else was at least a cup or more. We'll keep a closer watch on them I guess.

Thanks!

[DebB]

Well hmm... I'm using quart jars as well. In fact, my setup is just like your's Deb. Hehe, I saw yours and ordered the bamboo dishrack to hold the jars at an angle. Some jars I use wire mesh circles (for the larger seeds) and others I bought some cheesecloth and hemmed small squares (for alfalfa, amaranth and quinoa) and put them under the jar ring.

Maybe they dried out so fast because there is only 3 tbsp. of alfalfa and everything else was at least a cup or more. We'll keep a closer watch on them I guess.

Thanks!

I've got mine on top of the fridge - but, I do put a dish towel along the back of the dish rack to keep that warm air that come up and over the top of the fridge out of the sprouts. If yours are up there, you might want to do something similar?

I think you're right on the money - those alfalfa seeds are so tiny that they do dry out quicker than the larger ones.

Good luck! *Ü*

[SunshineMN]

Ours are sitting in a rubbermaid type container on the dishrack. There is extra room so it's not a tight fit and the top row of jars are pretty much even with the top of the container. I have them mostly covered to keep out the light. The container is sitting on our bedroom dresser. We live in a mobile home and we are in the middle of refinishing it. Unfortunately we don't have inner walls in the living room and it's really cold out there so we're living in the bedroom for the winter. I'm so glad our bedroom is so big! LOL It's usually around 70F in here, in the living room and kitchen it stays closer to 60.

Hehe, I guess I meant that our setup is like yours wasn't exactly right. We plan on putting ours on top of the fridge when we can move back out to the kitchen.

[SunshineMN]

I'm excited! All but the amaranth appear to have tails already. It's been less than 24 hours. The green peas are just starting but they've only been done soaking about 12 hours now. I've never actually grown anything before. I'm the queen of plant killers typically. I'll post pictures in a couple days.

[DebB]

Yay! I'm glad you're having such success! Isn't it *something* when you see these pop to life?? I just love it :) Looking forward to your pictures!

[SunshineMN]

Oh wow. I nibbled on some of the green peas we are sprouting. They taste almost as good as the fresh green peas I had this summer! Yummy... can't wait to have them on a salad. The sunflower seeds were done already last night. The amaranth decided to fill out the jar overnight. We were a bit worried they weren't going to do much then boom! Alfalfa is still inching along, we'll probably sprout them until they have their first two leaves. Lentils almost overfilled their jar. We're going to have to start out with less on those and the sunflower seeds or get more half gallon jars to use for sprouting. Next we'll be trying fenugreek (man these things are like little boulders they are so hard!), sesame seeds and maybe some quinoa.

[DebB]

I wonder if you might like sprouting in half gallon mason jars? If so - you can find them at Ace Hardware and they're $12+ for a case of 6. If yours doesn't carry them in stock - you can order them online, have them shipped to the store for free shipping.

The jar pictured is not a Mason jar - for some reason, I wasn't able to post a photo of the actual mason jar - but it is half gallon size.

[Th3Boss]

Attachment 8960


I wonder if you might like sprouting in half gallon mason jars? If so - you can find them at Ace Hardware and they're $12+ for a case of 6. If yours doesn't carry them in stock - you can order them online, have them shipped to the store for free shipping.

The jar pictured is not a Mason jar - for some reason, I wasn't able to post a photo of the actual mason jar - but it is half gallon size.

fleet farm has a 6 pack of the wide mouth half gallon jars for $8.99

[SunshineMN]

We don't have a Fleet Farm close and we don't currently have a vehicle either. Azure has 6 packs of half gallon jars for $11 though so I'll get some next month. :) Had our salad tonight with lentil and sunflower sprouts. I'm not sure the sunflower sprouts are okay though. They have brown spots on them... the seeds themselves not the sprouts. I'll get a picture to post so maybe someone can tell me if they look wrong? I noticed I got a lot of thin skins off the sunflower seeds after we soaked them but I know I didn't get them all out. Are you supposed to?

[SunshineMN]

Mmm... I think I'm in heaven. Just had a mixed lettuce (Red leaf, green leaf, iceberg), cabbage, cauliflower, celery, bok choy salad with alfalfa, amaranth and lentil sprouts. OMG no one had ever mentioned that amaranth sprouts taste like raw sweet corn! I think I'm in love. Yummy! And wow, I didn't think I'd like lentil sprouts. I had cooked lentils a few times over the last 20 years and have never liked them. They make really nice sprouts and I love their texture in my salad.

No pictures yet. Our kitty is missing and it's upset our household quite a bit this weekend. It's freezing rain outside and we're hoping she found some place safe and hopefully a little warmth some where.

[DebB]

I'm sorry to hear that your kitty is missing. My good friend's cat went missing a few months ago. The found her 4 days later in the garage, safe & sound.

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

We finally got around to starting some sprouts. I know we're supposed to rinse them at least twice a day, it's really cold here right now so I doubt they are generating much heat. Is it okay if the seeds dry out between rinsing or are they supposed to remain a little damp to sprout? The sunflower seeds, amaranth, and lentils look like they stayed at least damp but the alfalfa seeds looked almost completely dry. Do we need to be rinsing them more often?

Yeah, l find that during a cold winter (l keep mine in the shed) that l only need to rinse once a day. Try it and see how it goes.

lt's o.k to let the seeds get alittle dry sometimes, but not too dry. lf the alfalfa is completely dry l would be rinsing twice a day for those for the first few days.

During winter l have managed to keep fully grown alfalfa in a jar on the back lawn for one month before it started deteriorating.