How to Grow Sprouts

Written by Jeremy Pickles


Continued from page 1

Sprouts from beans, peas, etc., are ready earlier and can be eaten when they are 3-6 days old, depending onrepparttar type of sprout. For spouts grown in no soil or in seed trays, you can harvestrepparttar 145704 green "grass" when it starts to grow. Sprouts, from grain sown in jars, are ready sooner and are edible even before they turn green. Seeds sown in soil take a little longer.

If necessary, washrepparttar 145705 sprouts thoroughly to removerepparttar 145706 seed coat. Sprouts need to be stored inrepparttar 145707 refrigerator once they are ready to eat. Putrepparttar 145708 sprouts in tight sealing bags, and they will remain flavorful and crisp for one to two weeks. Rinsingrepparttar 145709 sprouts daily under cold water can extend their life.

Sprouts may be frozen by blanching them over steam for three minutes and then cooling them in ice water. Drain them and pack into freezer containers.

- Some ofrepparttar 145710 Kinds of Seeds/Beans You Can Sprout -

The following list gives some ofrepparttar 145711 popularly sprouted seeds/beans. It is not all inclusive as you can sprout almost any kind of seed. Remember that seeds soak up 2-3 times their dry volume in water and sprouts need at least six timesrepparttar 145712 volume occupied byrepparttar 145713 seeds. So be sure that your container is large enough, and start with a minimal amount of seed in a container like a jar, until you determinerepparttar 145714 correct quantity that will grow torepparttar 145715 sprout size you like, without being difficult to remove.

Your local garden shop or health food store will carry a line of seeds for sprouting. When purchasing seeds for sprouting, be certain thatrepparttar 145716 seeds are intended for food and not for planting. This precaution is necessary because some seeds meant for planting have been treated with fungicides or insecticides to protectrepparttar 145717 young seedlings when planted in a field or garden.

Alfalfa - should be soaked for 6-12 hours. The seeds can be planted inrepparttar 145718 pots or jars and also inrepparttar 145719 flats with soil. 1-part seed gives 10-parts sprouts in approximately 5-6 days. Sprouts can be eaten after 3 days. Whenrepparttar 145720 root is 1-2 inches long, it will begin to develop tiny green leaves. At this stage, it needs to be eaten immediately sorepparttar 145721 plant will not switch to photosynthesis that exhaustsrepparttar 145722 stored food inrepparttar 145723 seed.

Peas - when soaked in a glass jar, will grow sprouts in about 3 days. Whenrepparttar 145724 roots are 2-inches long, they are ready to eat. 1-part peas gives 2-parts sprouts.

Lentils - can be grown in either a glass jar or a plant pot and need to be soaked for 12-hours. The sprouts are ready in 3-4 days. Lentil sprouts are ready to be eaten whenrepparttar 145725 root is 1-inch long. 1-part lentils gives 6-parts sprouts.

Barley, Oats, and Rye - should be soaked for 12-hours and then can either be grown as "grass" to harvest, or sprouts ready to eat after 3-4 days. The ideal length for eating is about 1/2-inch. 1-part seed gives 2-parts sprouts.

Soybeans - can be grown in a glass jar or a pot. They need to be soaked for 12-hours and sprouts are usually ready after 3-5 days. They are ready to eat whenrepparttar 145726 root is 2-inches long. 1-part beans gives 4-parts sprouts.

Mung Beans - after soaking for 12-hours, these beans can be grown by any method. Mung beans arerepparttar 145727 most commonly grown sprouts and are usually ready to eat after 3-5 days. Whenrepparttar 145728 bright, white root grows from 1-2 inches long, they are ready to eat. 1-part beans gives 4-parts sprouts.

By growing your own sprouts, you will save yourself money because it is less expensive to buy sprout seeds and grow and harvestrepparttar 145729 sprouts yourself, than it is to buyrepparttar 145730 sprouts from a market. Sprouting at home takes only a few minutes a day, and can produce a good part of your daily requirements ofrepparttar 145731 nutrients you need from fresh produce. The hassles are minor,repparttar 145732 costs are low, andrepparttar 145733 freshness is wonderful.

Jeremy is the owner and publisher of Organic News. Go to www.ge-free.com for all the latest organic food articles and news.


What is Organic Farming?

Written by Jeremy Pickles


Continued from page 1

Organic farming has come about as a consumer reaction againstrepparttar chemical based methods that have been used so widely in 20th century food production. Really though it is simply a formalised definition of traditional agriculture as it has been practiced for thousands of years before 20th century chemicals were invented.

So far, organic farming has been limited to small businesses growing for local markets. Organic farming methods are very expensive compared to their chemical counterparts, andrepparttar 145677 production yields are low when compared to 'conventional' farming.

Consumers of course are willing to pay a premium forrepparttar 145678 improved flavour and nutrition value of organic produce but it remains a premium market. This will change as more large scale organic producers enter production.

Most countries now have 'all organic' type food stores inrepparttar 145679 larger cities. So long as there are people who enjoy healthy living and an alternative torepparttar 145680 chemical ridden norm, these businesses will continue to flourish.



Jeremy is the owner of http://www.ge-free.com/ and publisher of Organic Food News.


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