Alfalfa Sprouts from Seed to Harvest Posted on 23 Sep 07:24 , 1 comment
These directions are taken straight from our insert when you purchase Organic Alfalfa Sprouting seeds at Mary's Heirloom Seeds
This is where your sprouts do their growing. We use a counter top - in the corner of our kitchen, but where the sprouter won't get knocked over by cats, dogs, kids or us.
A plant can only perform photosynthesis when it has leaves. Until a plant has leaves, light has little if any effect. Sprouts also happen to like air-circulation, so don't hide your sprouts. When leaves do appear, this will be plenty of light for them to green up!
Fill with cool water. Loosen the sprout mass by pulling it apart with your fingers or a fork. Hulls will rise to the surface. Keep pulling your sprout mass apart and move them around slowly, pulling them down - under the water - to make room for the hulls to rise.
Skim the hulls off the surface of the water and compost them.
After the De-Hulling and the final Rinse we need to Drain Very Thoroughly and let our sprouts dry a bit.
If we minimize the surface moisture of our sprouts they store much better in refrigeration, so we let them sit for 8-12 hours....
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| I'm sprouting 3 at a time! |
Yields approximately 4 Cups (1/2 lb.) of Sprouts
Seed Prep
Measure out 2 Tablespoons of seed* Rinse your seeds to remove dust or debris.
Measure out 2 Tablespoons of seed* Rinse your seeds to remove dust or debris.
Soak
Transfer your Alfalfa seeds into your Sprout Jar, or a bowl. Add 2-3 times as much cool (60-70 degree) water.
Mix seeds up to assure even water contact for all. Allow seeds to Soak for 8-12 hours.
Transfer your Alfalfa seeds into your Sprout Jar, or a bowl. Add 2-3 times as much cool (60-70 degree) water.
Mix seeds up to assure even water contact for all. Allow seeds to Soak for 8-12 hours.
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| Alfalfa seeds after 1 soak |
Sprouting
Empty the seeds into your Sprout jar. Drain off the soak water. You can use it - it has nutrients in it.
Empty the seeds into your Sprout jar. Drain off the soak water. You can use it - it has nutrients in it.
Rinse thoroughly with cool (60-70°) water. Drain thoroughly. Set your Sprouter anywhere out of direct
sunlight and at room temperature (70° is optimal) between Rinses.
This is where your sprouts do their growing. We use a counter top - in the corner of our kitchen, but where the sprouter won't get knocked over by cats, dogs, kids or us.
A plant can only perform photosynthesis when it has leaves. Until a plant has leaves, light has little if any effect. Sprouts also happen to like air-circulation, so don't hide your sprouts. When leaves do appear, this will be plenty of light for them to green up!
Rinse and Drain again every 8-12 hours for 3 days. As long as you grow you have to keep the
sprouts happy! Always be sure to Drain
very thoroughly. The most common cause of inferior sprouts is inadequate
drainage.
Greening
On the 4th day relocate your sprouts if necessary. If you've been keeping them away from light, move them. Avoid direct sun - it can cook your sprouts. Indirect sunlight is best but virtually any light will do.
Experiment - you will be amazed at how little light sprouts require to green up.
On the 4th day relocate your sprouts if necessary. If you've been keeping them away from light, move them. Avoid direct sun - it can cook your sprouts. Indirect sunlight is best but virtually any light will do.
Experiment - you will be amazed at how little light sprouts require to green up.
Continue to Rinse and Drain every 8-12 hours. Your last Rinse/Drain will be either at the
end of day 5 or the start of day 6. Always
Drain Thoroughly!
Finishing
Your sprouts will be done about the end of day 6. The majority of sprouts will have open leaves which will be green. You'll recognize them.
Your sprouts will be done about the end of day 6. The majority of sprouts will have open leaves which will be green. You'll recognize them.
De-Hull
You may De-Hull your sprouts at any time during day 5 or 6. Before your final Rinse; remove the seed hulls. Leafy sprout hulls are not a real concern. They can conceivably lessen the shelf life of your sprouts, but we usually consume them too fast for that to be a concern, so it is, to us, more a matter of aesthetics.
You may De-Hull your sprouts at any time during day 5 or 6. Before your final Rinse; remove the seed hulls. Leafy sprout hulls are not a real concern. They can conceivably lessen the shelf life of your sprouts, but we usually consume them too fast for that to be a concern, so it is, to us, more a matter of aesthetics.
Fill with cool water. Loosen the sprout mass by pulling it apart with your fingers or a fork. Hulls will rise to the surface. Keep pulling your sprout mass apart and move them around slowly, pulling them down - under the water - to make room for the hulls to rise.
Skim the hulls off the surface of the water and compost them.
Return the sprouts to your Sprout Jar for their final Rinse and Drain.
Harvest
If you Dehulled, you can go right to refrigeration.
If you Dehulled, you can go right to refrigeration.
If not... Your sprouts are done 8-12 hours after your final
Rinse.
After the De-Hulling and the final Rinse we need to Drain Very Thoroughly and let our sprouts dry a bit.
If we minimize the surface moisture of our sprouts they store much better in refrigeration, so we let them sit for 8-12 hours....
Refrigerate
Transfer the sprout crop to a clean jar or the sealed container of your choice.
Transfer the sprout crop to a clean jar or the sealed container of your choice.
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Comments
debbie on
i get how to grow the seeds/ how do i save the seeds for next time?? thx