Grow your own wheatgrass for much less than buying it at the grocery store. Wheatgrass for juicing is a sprouted grass, usually harvested in 7 to 9 days from the inital soaking days. I now only order in bulk the wheatgrass seed (10 pounds) and the azomite fertilizer (2 pound bag). These can be found in the “REFILL” section of the website. (http://www.wheatgrasskits.com/sprouting/wheat_berries_sprouting_seed.htm) and (http://www.wheatgrasskits.com/azomite.htm). I no longer order trays. They are too big for home use. And I refuse to pay for shipping on the bags of compost. I now use a product from Lowe’s Home Improvement called Burpee Eco-Friendly Organic Seed Starting Mix (but you can use any organics seed starting mix that is light-weight, not potting soil).
Here’s the process.
1. In a small bowl (I use a Chinese delivery soup container), rinse and soak 1/4 cup seed. Soak for 24 hours.
2. After 24 hours, drain and rinse soaked seed several times. Drain completely, but do not dry the seeds. Place a damp paper towel (get yourself a brand that comes from recycled paper like Marcal) folded into 4 layers to cover the seeds completely. Keep damp with a spray bottle mister of water for up to 24 more hours.
3. Now, it’s time to plant. At this point you will most likely see little roots sprouting. Using a clean recycled “greens” container (the Earthbound Organics 5 oz container), place 2 handfuls of the seed starting mix into the container, spreading to about 1 to 1 1/2 inch thickness. This soil is only here to hold moisture and nutrients. Sprinkle a thin layer of the azomite over the starting mix (I use a flour/powdered sugar sprinkle can dedicated to this purpose). Evenly spread sprouted seeds over soil. Lightly, but thoroughly water the seeds and soil mix (not standing water). Cover with the container lid, but do not seal. Place containers in the coolest room in the house, out of direct sun. Wheatgrass does best at under 72 degrees and will have fewer mold issues.
4. After 24-36 hours, lift the lid and thoroughly mist seeds and soil. Replace the lid. as the wheatgrass grows, it will push the lid off naturally.
7. Soon the sprouts will begin to push the lid up and away. Keep sprouts moist. In 7 to 9 days, your wheatgrass should be about 7 to 9 inches tall and is ready for harvest. Harvest when ready to use immediately and snip into 1 inch lengths for best results in your “slow” juicer like the Hurom, Omega or Breville. I use half to the whole container at a time for my large juice drinks. Harvest only once, though it will regrow. Most of the nutrients are depleted once harvested. I then allow the wheatgrass to regrow and let my cats enjoy it or compost the rest.
8. To maintain a supply of wheatgrass, this process should begin anew every day or every other day, depending on how much wheatgrass you are juicing. After 9 days, store UN-harvested wheatgrass in its growing container in the frig. Use before it turns yellow.