I have only recently begun to work with growing and juicing wheatgrass and I love it! Here are some basic steps on how to get going.
You will need:
- Seed (certified organic if possible)
- Sprouting Jar
- Organic potting soil
- Trays to grow the grass in. Shallow trays, such as 2 inches deep are ideal as wheatgrass is not grown for a great duration of time, it does not require a lot of soil.
- Spray bottle
- Paper towels (optional)
Getting started:
1. Sprouting the seed. Best to be done in a sprouting jar. Fill at most to just under half full, then fill the jar with water. Rinse and refill with water every 8-12 hours until you see roots growing from most of the seed. This usually takes approximately 2 days.
2. Prep the trays. The paper towels can be used here to line the bottom in order to prevent the roots from growing outside the tray. Fill the tray with soil almost to the top.
3. Lay the seeds out on top of the soil evenly in a single layer. Place in shaded or indirect sunlight. Wheatgrass doesn’t like too much heat, causing it to wilt.
4. When getting started, they need to be watered every 12 hours using ideally the spray bottle as to not damage the delicate root growth that is forming. After 4-5 days, its okay to water once a day. Even when no longer using the spray bottle, its important to water the grass gently and not to overwater, as mold will grow at the base of the grass.
5. Harvest time! After about 10 days or when the grass is 6 inches tall, get a sharp pair of scissors and start cutting. If there is mold, avoid cutting those areas. Depending on the juicer, you need about 6 square inches worth of grass to get a 1 ounce shot of juice so plan accordingly. The grass will grow back and can be harvested generally 1-2 more times before its best to change the soil.
6. Rinse and juice! You will need a sturdy juicer such as a Champion or a manual gear juicer. Centrifugal juicers do not work well as they tend to clog up.
Its generally considered that a 1 ounce shot of this juice is all one person needs per day. Happy juicing!