How to Grow Sprouts

There are many health and environmental reasons to grow your own sprouts (check out my article for 10 reasons). While you can purchase them at your local grocery store or health food store, it is so easy to grow them at home. Growing your own is a great way to have a supply of gourmet varieties, ensure access to high quality fresh foods year round if you live in a colder climate, or simply to become more aware of the food you are eating.

I prefer the jar method which involves using a wide-mouth mason jar and either sprout lids from a health food store or cheesecloth and a rubber band.

You’ll need only a few basic supplies to get started sprouting. They include: organic sprouting seeds, nuts, legumes, or grains (such as mung beans, alfalfa seeds, clover seeds, broccoli seeds, and garbanzo beans.) Avoid sprouting kidney beans as they are poisonous if eaten raw or sprouted. Make sure the seeds you choose are from a reputable supplier that can guarantee they haven’t been heated during processing, which prevents them from sprouting.

You’ll need:

-Large wide mouth mason jars

-Sprouting lids for jars (Sprouting lids are typically available in most health food stores but you can use cheesecloth and rubber bands over the top of the jars if you prefer)

Now you’re ready to get sprouting.

1 of 2

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Barb K.

1:36PM PDT on May 11, 2012

Im gona try sprouting my own..!! Thanx..

send a green star

Eternal G.

7:06PM PDT on May 7, 2012

Love them on my sandwich!

Douglas S.

7:06PM PDT on May 5, 2012

Seems easy enough

Karen R.

8:54AM PDT on May 4, 2012

great! thanks!

Regina P.

9:04PM PDT on Apr 28, 2012

Thank you for the article

Storm M.

7:02AM PDT on Apr 26, 2012

Dianne D, mold often happens because of inadequate draining. I use the 'Easy Sprout'. I shake the heck out of it every rinse then set it in the container it comes with, elevated out of the bottom for continuous drainage. It is crucial to get as much water off as possible. Great resource here with videos, etc. I'm in Canada, so don't order from them, but as a learning resource it's great!
www.sproutpeople.org Look on the left for 'sprout school'.

Dianne D.

8:22AM PDT on Apr 25, 2012

I've tried growing sprouts but they get moldy. A friend of mine used to grow sprouts all the time. She would put them in a shallow pan and just cover it with a tea towel. I don't know how she did it.

Erin S.

10:19AM PDT on Apr 24, 2012

Going to get my sprouts on! Thank you!

Anna B.

7:30AM PDT on Apr 24, 2012

I love growing sprouts. Thanks for sharing the information.

aj E.

7:07AM PDT on Apr 24, 2012

thanks