Growing wheatgrass at home

Hippocrates, a great Greek philosopher and the father of modern medical science, once said very rightly – ‘Let thy food be thy medicine’.Read more to learn about this.

These golden words hold greater prominence today as people struggle to shift from unhealthy eating habits to a strict diet regime without having to compromise with body’s nutrient requirement. If you are one of them and if you are wondering where to begin from, try Wheatgrass! Though it is not easy to change much of your lifestyle but incorporating small changes can go a long way to help you be in the pink of health.

Wheatgrass is a king of a grass packed with essential vitamins and nutrients to keep your mind and body healthy and vibrant. Like most plants, it contains chlorophyll, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and enzymes. Proponents of wheatgrass claim about its health benefits ranging from providing supplemental nutrition to having unique curative properties. Wheatgrass is usually found in the form of grass, juice or powder concentrate.

Growing wheatgrass at home is extremely easy and economical. It is best grown in soil in trays rather than hydroponically. Wheatgrass is grown from seeds, which can be easily purchased from online stores.

Things you’ll need:

• Wheatgrass seeds
• Soaking Bowl
• Planting Tray
• Planting Medium (Soil)
• Scissors
• Water

Growing Wheatgrass at Home:

1. Soaking the Seeds:

Rinse the seeds in clean water and soak them in a bowl for 8-12 hours. Add about 3 times as much cold water as you have seeds. Change the water after about 5 hours.

Soaking the seeds initiates germination. By the end of the last soak, the seeds should have sprouted roots. This means they are ready to plant. Drain them and set them aside until you’re ready to plant them.

2. Preparing the Tray:

• Make small holes at the bottom of the tray to allow water drainage
• Line the seed tray with paper to prevent the wheatgrass roots from growing through the holes in the bottom of the tray.
• Spread an even two-inch layer of organic compost or potting soil in the seed tray

3. Planting the Seeds:

• Lay out the germinated seeds evenly and densely in one layer, on the damp soil in the tray. Lightly press the seeds into the soil, but don’t completely bury them.
• Water the tray lightly, making sure each seed gets a sprinkle.
• Cover the tray with a few moistened sheets of newspaper to protect the seedlings.

4. Watering:

Make sure that the seeds don’t dry out. Keep them damp as they root themselves in the seed tray. Lift the newspaper and water the tray thoroughly in the morning so that the soil is wet, but not completely waterlogged.

Place the tray in indirect sunlight. Direct sun will damage the grass, so make sure it is always in a shady place in your home. Remove the newspaper after 3-4 days.

5. Harvesting:

Once the shoots are mature, a second blade of grass will begin growing out of the first shoot. This is called “splitting” and means that the grass is ready for harvesting. At this point, it should be about 6 inches tall. Cut the wheatgrass with clean scissors about half inch above the soil surface.

Harvested wheatgrass can be kept in the refrigerator for about a week, but it tastes best and provides the most health benefits when it’s harvested right before you plan to juice it. Once harvested, the grass will grow back in a week’s time. After the second harvest crush all the roots and mix with the soil. The soil is now ready for a fresh sowing.

Place the wheatgrass in a juicer and enjoy a shot of wheatgrass to feel the effect of its powerful mix of vitamins and minerals!