Sprouting
They’re alive!!!
Our very own, home grown alfalfa sprouts!
Steven’s parents set us a sprouter for our anniversary, and four different seeds to try – (from left to right below) mung bean, 5 part salad mix, bean salad, and alfalfa. We decided to try alfalfa first, since it is the sprout with which we are most familiar.
The kit has 5 containers – a basin on the bottom for collecting water, 3 trays in the middle for growing sprouts, and a container on top for putting water in. You can use the three trays in the middle all at once – to grow three different kinds of seeds, a bunch of the same kinds of seeds, or seeds at different stages (so you’ll always have fresh ones!) – or you can just use one or two trays. Since this is our first try, we just used one tray, and decided to see how it went.
Day 1:
You take the top container off, and put a tablespoon of seeds in the seed container, then put water in the top container until it is filled 1/2″ to the edge of the top. You put the top container on, and the water in it drips down into the seed container. The little white cap in the seed container siphons the water into the bottom basin. You empty the bottom basin when all the water has gone through the seed container.
You repeat this “rinsing” process 2 times a day until the sprouts are ready. The instructions said it would take 3-5 days, but it took us a bit longer.
Day 3:
I thought they looked kind of wormy on day 3.
Day 4:
Day 5:
Day 6:
It was so fun to come home each day and see how much the sprouts had grown!
I rinsed them off yesterday, dried them, and put them in a little baggie in the fridge. They taste just like the ones from Jimmy John’s!
We’ll probably eat them on a sandwich today! And I already started some more last night!
The finished product!
Themocracy
Cool! I have some little herb pots growing on the windowsill in my kitchen. I have no idea how to know when they’re ready for harvesting, though. Also, Jason knocked the oregano into the sink so I don’t know how much longer it will survive after being rescued.
.-= Author’s last blog post… Take it and Run Thursday – Yoga and Running =-.
I love alfalfa! Fantastic salad topping. How cool that you can grow your own!
.-= Author’s last blog post… Target: FAIL. Run: FAIL. =-.
I’ve always wanted to try broccoli sprouts 🙂
Exciting!!!! They look delicious 🙂
.-= Author’s last blog post… Waking in Nebraska =-.
Hee hee! I feel as excited about my little pepper plant. Although, if I don’t get him into a bigger pot soon, I don’t think I’m going to have any peppers. :p
That’s so cool! I love sprouts, and I only eat them at places like JJ’s. (Too much hassle to keep them fresh at home.)
Though I have to admit, I felt a little nauseous when I saw the Day 3 picture. Worms gross me out.
.-= Author’s last blog post… Three things. =-.
That is sooo neat! They definitely looked like worms at first though haha!
Have a great weekend!
What a cool gift! I’ve only had alfalfa sprouts once (at Jimmy John’s) but don’t remember if I liked them or not..
.-= Author’s last blog post… =-.
Jealous! We tried growing herbs, but the cats just eat them…
.-= Author’s last blog post… Seriously, Firefly… I Think You Owe Me Some Money By Now. =-.
How exciting! My kids would love to do something like that (and so would I). What fun to see them every day and see how much they have grown.
.-= Author’s last blog post… No Broken Leg =-.
How cool is that. I am always afraid that they won’t work like the way they are supposed to!
I have to admit, I think that’s a pretty cool anniversary present!
Never knew there’s a specific “sprouter” for them sprouts! That might just go on a birthday wishlist one day 😀
.-= Author’s last blog post… an update from Springfield, IL =-.