Get Sprouting

At this time of the year, the garden has been put to bed and is producing very little for the kitchen table. As the winter restricts our chances to grow fresh greens in the garden, we begin craving all of those fresh greens that were so plentiful during the growing season. One alternative to get your fresh greens "fix" is to grow sprouting seed at home.

Sprouts are an excellent source of digestible protein, fiber, and Vitamin C, and are full of antioxidants. A 1997 study at John Hopkins University found that broccoli sprouts contain higher levels of cancer-fighting compounds than fresh broccoli itself.

Sprouting is so low-tech that it doesn't even require a green thumb. Some simple equipment and just a few steps will ensure that you and your family have a safe supply of this extremely nutritious food source.

Sprouts can be grown from a wide variety of seed, each with their own distinctive flavour. While most people are familiar with alfalfa, clover, and mung bean sprouts, you can grow sprouts from the seeds of radish, fenugreek, Adzuki bean, lentils, lima bean, kale, cabbage, broccoli, sunflower, onion, rye, barley, wheat and even buckwheat.

Many types of sprouters are available on the market; most come with multiple tiers so that different types of seed can be sprouted at the same time. However, seeds can also be sprouted in jars, tubs, or any kind of container that can be covered so that the seeds will not dry out.

Most people have heard of sprouting seed in a jar. However, as easy as this method sounds, it can be difficult to ensure that all of the excess moisture has drained. The humid environment inside a sprouting jar can encourage fungi and bacteria to grow. You'll find a slimy film on sprouts that have been sitting in water too long without being rinsed properly. I would not recommend growing sprouts in jars for anyone suffering from a suppressed immune system or for young children or the elderly.

The safest way to grow sprouts at home is to actually grow the seeds in soil. Any type of soil can be used but sterilized potting soil is the easiest to work with. Use whatever containers you have around the house - yogurt containers, bowls, even baking dishes, the shallower the better. The sprouts won't require any fertilizer since all the nutrients required for growth are in the seed.

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