Saturday, March 6, 2010

Wheat Grass








Wheat Grass Web Site No1 Wheat Grass Web Site No2 Wheat Grass Web Site No3 Wheat Grass My brother, contributed the following information and pictures about Wheat Grass. HHEF thanks him for this contribution. There is absolutely no mystery to growing wheatgrass. Wheat seed is very vigorous and no special care is required. Here is basically what I do, not that it is required, or "best", it is just what I do. I attached some pictures ... 1. Put about 1/2 cup fresh hard red winter wheat seed into a wide-mouthed quart jar, and cover the seed with room temperature water. 2. Put a porous lid on the jar, cover the seed with cool water and soak the wheat seed for 8 to 12 hours. 3. Drain the water. 4. Sit the jar on the counter. 5. Rinse and re-drain the seed again every 8 to 12 hours replacing the lid loosely and sitting it on its side each time. Do this until there are 1/4" tails on the wheat seeds (about 2 days). NOTE: The proceeding steps are completely optional. Wheat seed is very vigorous and can be sown in the open garden and raked in if desired. 6. Plant your wheat seed like you would any other large seed. Cover it with from 1/4" to 1" of soil. Sunlight or open shade is preferable to indoors, but that will work also. 7. If you consider that birds or drying out may be a problem, cover the newly planted soil with a light cloth of some kind and weight down the corners, just like you would with any other plantings. 8. After the seedlings are 1/2" high water them like any other seedling, every day or so, depending on the weather. 9. Harvest the grass, when it is about 7" tall, using a knife, just like you would lettuce or other greens. Wheatgrass is only used as "juice", at least as far as I know. I've tried cutting wheatgrass into small pieces and adding it to salads, but that wasn't too satisfying. The above links are some things people are saying about the benefits and uses of wheatgrass juice. Neither my brother or HHEF endorse or support any of these claims. The reader will have to make up your own mind as to whether wheatgrass juice is a good thing. "Buckwheat" is not the same as "wheat", and consuming the sprouts or greens of buckwheat should be vigorously opposed, as many articles indicate. You should avoid eating buckwheat greens which can cause a painful photo sensitive rash. Plants are very powerful and should be used with care