How to Grow Wheatgrass at Home

Wheatgrass is packed with a variety of essential vitamins and nutrients that can help keep both your body and mind strong and energized. While drinking a glass of wheatgrass juice every morning is an excellent way to start your day, it can become quite expensive. If you'd like to include wheatgrass in your daily diet, consider growing it at home instead of buying pre-made juice. This guide will walk you through the process of growing wheatgrass from seed and reaping its benefits.

Collect wheatgrass seeds. Wheatgrass seeds are also known as winter wheat seeds. You can purchase seed bags online or at health food stores. Look for organic seeds from reputable suppliers to ensure that the seeds haven’t been treated with pesticides and will grow healthy and strong.

Prepare the seeds for soaking. Before soaking and sprouting the seeds, it's important to measure and rinse them.

• Measure enough seeds so you can spread them in a thin layer across the tray for growing wheatgrass. For a tray that measures 38 x 38 cm, use about 2 cups of seeds.
• Use a fine-mesh strainer to rinse the seeds under clean, cool water. Thoroughly strain them and place them in a bowl.

Soak the seeds. Soaking is the key to getting the seeds to sprout. By the end of this stage, small root hairs will have started to appear on the seeds.

• Fill the bowl with cold water, preferably filtered. Use three times the amount of water compared to the seeds. Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and soak for around 10 hours, or overnight.
• Strain the seeds, then replace the water with fresh water—again using three times the amount of water. Soak for another 10 hours.
• Repeat the soaking process once more, making it a total of three soaks for the seeds.
• By the end of the final soaking, the seeds will have sprouted roots, and you can now prepare to plant them. Strain the seeds and get your soil tray ready for sowing.

Prepare the seed tray. Place a paper towel at the bottom of the tray to prevent the roots from growing through the drainage holes. Add a layer of compost or potting soil evenly across the tray, about 2.5 cm thick.

• If possible, opt for unprocessed, chemical-free paper towels. You can purchase recycled, chemical-free towels at health stores.
• Use moist compost or potting soil that is free of pesticides and other chemicals. Using organic soil is important for maximizing the benefits of wheatgrass.

Sow the seeds. Spread a layer of seeds evenly across the soil or compost in the tray. Gently press the seeds into the soil, but do not bury them completely.

• The seeds can touch each other, but ensure they are not clustered together. Each seed should have enough space to grow.
• Lightly water the tray, making sure every seed is moistened.
• Cover the tray with damp newspaper to protect the young seedlings.

Keep the seeds moist. It's crucial to ensure the seeds stay hydrated during the first few days after sowing. Maintain moisture as the roots begin to develop in the tray.

• Remove the newspaper and water the seed tray each morning to keep the soil moist but not soggy.
• In the evening, before bed, lightly mist the soil with a spray bottle to prevent the seedlings from drying out overnight. You should also mist the newspaper to retain moisture.
• On the fourth day after planting, remove the newspaper so the seeds can sprout freely. Continue to water the sprouted seedlings once a day.

Place the seedlings in partial sunlight. Direct sunlight can damage wheatgrass, so make sure the tray is placed in a shaded area inside the house where it will receive indirect light.

Wait for the wheatgrass to "split". Once the shoots have matured, a second shoot will grow from the first, indicating that the grass is ready for harvest.

• By this stage, the wheatgrass should be about 15 cm tall.
• The wheatgrass is typically ready to harvest 9-10 days after planting.

Cut the wheatgrass just above the roots. Use scissors to harvest by cutting the wheatgrass just above the root and place it in a bowl. You can make juice immediately after harvesting.

• Wheatgrass can be stored in the fridge for up to a week, but it will be at its freshest and most nutritious when harvested just before juicing.
• Continue to water the grass for a second harvest. Harvest again when it's the right time.
• Occasionally, you can harvest a third crop, but the wheatgrass will be less tender and sweet compared to the first batch. Remove the old grass and prepare the tray for the next planting cycle.

Repeat the previous process. You'll need a significant amount of wheatgrass to produce several small glasses of juice. If you're planning to incorporate wheatgrass juice into your daily diet, you'll need to grow more than one tray at once.

• Carefully time your planting and harvesting so that the new batch is soaking while the previous one is developing roots. With two or three batches growing at different stages, you'll have enough wheatgrass to enjoy a glass of juice every day.
• Wheatgrass has a vibrant, bright green hue and serves as a beautiful natural touch for your kitchen or any sunlit room you place it in. You might consider growing wheatgrass in decorative pots and surrounding it with other plants to appreciate both its beauty and the health benefits it provides.

Rinse the wheatgrass. Since it's grown in organic soil, wheatgrass doesn't need a thorough wash. Simply rinse it briefly to remove any dirt particles that may have settled from the air.

Put the wheatgrass into the juicer. Wheatgrass juicers are specifically designed for this fibrous plant.

• Avoid using a standard fruit juicer as wheatgrass could clog and damage the machine.
• If you don’t have a juicer, a blender will work. Simply strain the pulp using a sieve after blending.

Enjoy a glass of wheatgrass juice. Just one small glass of wheatgrass juice per day will allow you to experience the benefits of the vitamins and minerals it contains.

• Wheatgrass is believed to have detoxifying properties. Drinking wheatgrass juice may help reduce stress and energize your body.
• If you notice mold developing on your wheatgrass tray, increase the airflow in the growing area by placing a fan nearby. Harvest the wheatgrass above the moldy section, as it can still be used.
• Visit a garden center and ask if they have any used plastic plant trays – they often have stacks of discarded trays that are perfect for growing wheatgrass.