sunflower shoots.

I have had a bunch of people ask about how to sprout sunflowers, and how easy it is compared to traditional jar sprouting or growing microgreens. So, here is how I sprout sunflower shoots!

It has a few more steps than sprouting of course, but isn't quite as involved as growing other microgreens. With microgreens I find I need more space, more equipment (trays, lights), and it takes a little more time. With sunflower shoots I can grow small trays that fit on my kitchen counter or windowsill and don't need any light supplementation. So while it make take 9-11 days or so, it isn't hard or too involved.


Step One: Soak

Put your sunflower seeds into a canning jar or sprouter, cover with cool (60-70ºF) water. Soak 8-12 hours. Rinse. Drain. (They float, so you can shake/stir a few times during this phase to keep them all moist, or put something in to weigh them down a bit).

Step Two: Sprout

Set your drained sprouts in the canning jar/sprouter anywhere out of direct sunlight. Keep them at room temp.

Rinse and Drain the seeds every 8-12 hours for about 24-36 hours (2-3 rinse cycles). You want to have a small root before planting.

Step Three: Planting

You can use different types of growing medium, I usually use organic potting soil which contains a few other goodies (earthworm castings, etc.). They seem to grow best that way. Start with moist soil in a shallow tray - 1-2" of soil is fine.

Plant in a shallow tray with drainage holes. You don't need deep soil. You can use pots, trays, canning jars ...

Spread seeds on your soil. They can be densely packed, but don't pile on deeply or you might get mold. The seeds can be packed in there, single layer, all touching. Just press into the soil, you don't really need to cover them with dirt.

Step Four: Cover

Cover with a tray or slip into a gallon baggie (don't seal, let air circulate) to root well for a day or two - low light, not direct sunlight. Keep them under cover until they are 1 to 2 inches tall.

Water carefully once or twice a day. I like to add some organic kelp fertilizer to the water every few days, but you don't have to.

Step Five: Grow

Take off your plastic/cover and move the tray of small sprouts to a sunny location. If they get a lot of sunshine in a window you might need to water more. Let grow in the sun a few days.

Step Six: Harvest

When the shoots are about 3 or 4 inches tall and have two green leaves per shoot, you can start cutting them. Cut just above the surface of the soil. Be sure to cut/harvest when there are only 2 leaves per shoot, BEFORE true leaves come.

Just a note: sunflower shoots shed the hulls of the sunflower seeds as they grow, but you will see some that will retain those. If there are shoots that still have the hulls at the sunshine/grow stage, you can just gently pluck/pull them from the leaves as they grow.

(Here is the timeline for the batch I grew/photographed this time. 3/15: soak, 3/17: drain/rinse, 3/20: plant in soil, covered, 3/23: uncover, 3/27: harvest).

Sunflower shoots are high in vitamins A, B, C and E and contain chlorophyll, Iron, Niacin, Phosphorous, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Amino Acids and are up to 25% protein. They taste so green - and just like sunflower seeds. YUM! I eat them plain (can't stop myself!) or use them on sandwiches or in salads.

Many places carry sunflower seeds just for sprouting/growing shoots. It is a good idea to use organic seeds, and seeds meant for sprouting, as they have not been chemically treated. Where to find sunflower seeds for sprouting::

High Mowing Organic Seeds
Sprout People
Pinetree Garden Seeds
GrowOrganic


Happy growing!


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growing.

It starts so innocently. A few flats, a calendar, a few shop lights. But sure enough, soon the need to have green growing things expands and you have ... more!


More...Sprouts. Wheatgrass. Pea Shoots. Microgreens. Seed trays full.


Spray bottles of water for misting, canning jars with a kelp water mixture.


It is all good and very reassuring. All that life, all those bits of green.


Yes, spring is coming!


What are you growing?

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February, February.

Oh, February, February - how you try so hard every year to knock us down. While February inevitably ends up with, in its few short weeks, no less than THREE homeschool conferences we would like to attend, the annual Garden Expo *and* the Model Train Show, the Madison Youth Grow Local Conference, {yes, all in Feb!} as well as things like a Valentines skating party, several local events, and an upcoming birthday, we always end up down for the count this month and miss much of it. We have been so careful all winter and have not had any viruses for asthma boy in a long time, but the minute February arrives... I know better by now, so try not to plan much, not sign up for anything, and go with the flow, but it is still hard knowing that it will be another year before these events return!


We have had a definite February week - A is on day 8 of a wicked cold turned cough turned 2+ days of full body hives (!!!). G is just starting and we have already been doing the nebulizer and inhalers hoping to keep it mild and his lungs healthy - though after the past week with A I know we have a rough week ahead. We are sure to be inside for another week or so as this runs its course, and we are really looking forward to the snowstorm coming our way tonight/tomorrow. I think we all need some magical views, snow and wind, fresh whiteness and that cozy feeling of being snowbound, if even for only a day.

As for me, I have been enjoying all of the things in this house that keep me healthy and going while caring for sick boy (s). Fresh home grown sprouts, a bowl full of citrus, trays of microgreens and pea shoots, cold kombucha, herbal tea, freshly grated ginger, home made yogurt.


So while we are not even half way through February, I can see the end. I plant, I soak, I sprout, I grow. Each day closer to spring, to sun, to green grass and fresh air. I love the cold, but I love the anticipation of spring too. Each day one step closer!

Hoping you all are healthy and making it happily through February!