Sprouting seeds to eat

[Alice]

I've bought some sprouting seeds (like I need more seeds!)
Red Cabbage and Fenugreek.
Instructions say sow them onto damp kitchen paper and keep them on the windowsill. Use the sprouts as for watercress after 5 to 10 days.
I can see the kitchen paper drying out and think this technique could be improved on. Anybody growing them ? Doing it a different way ?

[rustylady]

You can buy very expensive sprouting kits, but all you really need is a clean jam jar. The aim is to keep the seeds moist, warm and light. Soak the seeds in water in the jam jar, pour off excess water, repeat daily with clean water until the sprouts are big enough to eat.

[welsh veg grower]

I've been looking at a sproting kit tonight. The seeds are expensive and hte one I found seemed to be bulk buying, anyone know of an organic seed firm who sell miked packets so we can try some different types. I'm going to try the Food Dr diet and he recommends them.

Well we can try !!!

[Hazel at the Hill]

You can buy very expensive sprouting kits, but all you really need is a clean jam jar. The aim is to keep the seeds moist, warm and light. Soak the seeds in water in the jam jar, pour off excess water, repeat daily with clean water until the sprouts are big enough to eat.

I've done this before: jam jar - water - strain in seive - but back in jam jar. Repeat daily. Before I used the seive I cack-handedly dropped a load down the drain each day!

[Alice]

Thanks rustylady and welsh veg grower, no the seeds are not for making the kind of sprouts from a jam jar. Ehm well, when I look at the packet the fenugreek looks a bit like it. The red cabbage is more little stems and leaves like water cress. I never liked growing anything in jars of water (just me !) and wondered if it might be better to grow in damp vermiculite rather than just paper.

[ogilvie]

Alice,

I use the kitchen towel method but instead of just using one layer I use a few layers and then it doesn't dry out so quickly.

Are you eating the whole sprout or just chopping off part of the stem plus the leaves like cress? If this is what you're doing then you can do them like the pea sprouts and put them into some compost.

I've got pea sprouts, cress and red cabbage on the go just now. I'm desperate to eat something I've grown and this seem like a good start until the veg get going.

Did you get to Tattie day? I had to give it a miss, I've hurt my foot and I was so looking forward to it.

Ogilvie

[Earthbabe]

Hi Alice I grow red cabbage a la mustard and cress and fenugreek in a jar. I use a muslin secured by a random laccy band over the top hence preventing any droppage in sink. The kitchen towel will dry out occasionally, just gently moisten with water. If it gets and stays too wet the sprouts will rot. Extremely YUK!

[Alice]

Thanks Ogilvie, I think I'm going to give it a try both ways - paper and compost. Nothing to loose really. See under Dunblane to hear about the tattie day.
Thanks Earthbabe, will try the Fenugreek on paper and in a jar.

[bramble]

Alice, the vermiculite is a good idea and the seed wont get dirty from the soil.

[rustylady]

I've done this before: jam jar - water - strain in seive - but back in jam jar. Repeat daily. Before I used the seive I cack-handedly dropped a load down the drain each day!

Washing the seeds down the drain reminded me of the day my Mum decided to sieve the gravy cos it was even lumpier than usual. Poured gravy through sieve, all lumps out. Unfortunately she had forgotten to put a clean pan or jug under the sieve and the gravy went down the drain. The air was blue!!

[Alice]

I think more than your Mum's done that one Rustylady. I find if somethings gone lumpy if you if you stir it with a whisk it takes the lumps out.

[lyndap]

Alice,I bought a jar with special lid for £3.99(I'll have to ask my daughter the make cos lost my box,and I bought her one last week cos grandaughter and daughter kept eating all my sprouted seed!) Its really easy to use.Put tablespoon of seed in bottom of jar,half fill with water and leave to soak over night.Next day drain water out through the lid or muslin if your making your own sprouting jar.All you need to do then is rinse twice daily until ready to eat I have sprouted fenugreek,alfalfa,red cabbage,onion,beet,and others this way.The only one that didn't suit this method was Basil(Even though pack said to grow this way )I think my jar was called biojar,but will check

[Alice]

Thanks for that Lyndap. I'm going to try them all ways. I'm going on holiday next week so it will have to wait til I come back.

[lyndap]

Have a nice holiday Alice.

[Flummery]

I found basil (recommended for sprouting) went slimy - there was a mucus layer around the seeds. (YUK!) However, I have a pack of mixed seeds for sprouting, which include fenugreek which is a bit spicy. Alfalfa's still my favourite.