Q&A for How to Grow Wheatgrass at Home

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  • Question
    How do I provide artificial light for growing wheatgrass indoors?
    Andrew Carberry, MPH
    Food Systems Expert
    Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.
    Food Systems Expert
    Expert Answer
    Purchase a fluorescent, full spectrum bulb and mount it in a fixture just above the growing medium.
  • Question
    Do I need to run the wheatgrass through a juicer or can I put it directly into my Vitamix with other ingredients for a healthy shake?
    Andrew Carberry, MPH
    Food Systems Expert
    Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.
    Food Systems Expert
    Expert Answer
    Yes, you can run the wheatgrass through a blender, and then pour the liquid through a strainer to take out the solids.
  • Question
    Can I grow it with normal wheat?
    Community Answer
    You can grow it with other wheat. However, since wheatgrass is good for low water areas, if you grow it with another wheat that requires extra water, then you might end up drowning the wheatgrass.
  • Question
    Can I cook wheatgrass?
    Community Answer
    Yes. There are many ways to incorporate wheatgrass into a meal! Check out some food recipes online.
  • Question
    How many fewer nutrients will the second harvest have than the first wheatgrass harvest?
    Community Answer
    The plant will just produce less and less grass as time passes. The grass itself will not lose nutrients.
  • Question
    Is it OK to freeze the juice?
    Community Answer
    I have seen wheatgrass frozen into individual servings for sale at the market.
  • Question
    What are the health benefits of wheat grass?
    Community Answer
    Wheatgrass juice is an effective healer. It contains all minerals known to man, and vitamins A, B-complex, C, E, l and K. It is extremely rich in protein, and contains 17 amino acids. Wheatgrass juice contains up to 70% chlorophyll, which is an important blood builder.
  • Question
    Can cats or humans eat wheatgrass?
    Community Answer
    Cats can eat wheatgrass as well as oat grass, is often sold under the name "cat grass." Humans cannot digest the fibres in wheatgrass, so if oyu'd like to eat wheatgrass, you'll need to juice or blend it first. Humans can safely drink the wheatgrass juice.
  • Question
    What are the best recipes to use with wheatgrass?
    Community Answer
    The best way to consume it is by mixing with other liquids. For example, add wheatgrass to a fruit and/or vegetable smoothie.
  • Question
    Is wheatgrass good for laying hens?
    Community Answer
    It is as much as any other grass. It has longer roots, so it can take more scratching before being torn up.
  • Question
    How can I reuse my soil when I grow wheatgrass?
    Community Answer
    After growing wheatgrass, I would not recommend using the soil again for growing plants as the soil will have lost most of its nutrients to the wheatgrass.
  • Question
    How long does it take until it seeds?
    Community Answer
    In perfect conditions, wheat takes an average of 120 days between sowing and harvest. If you use the wheatgrass model, wheat will grow for a certain period of time prior to decaying/dying. You will need more soil with more minerals and nitrogen and more sunlight.
  • Question
    Can I use wheat purchased locally to grow wheatgrass?
    Community Answer
    You can, but not all the seeds will sprout. For most consistent growth, you want seeds/berries that have not been irradiated.
  • Question
    Why can't wheat be sown directly into regular soil?
    Community Answer
    Use pre-moistened compost or potting soil free of pesticides or other chemicals. It's important to use organic soil to get the most benefit from your wheatgrass.
  • Question
    Since everything is organic, should I use paper towels without chemicals? Why put the newspaper on top of seeds if it has ink and chemicals?
    Community Answer
    Yes, choose paper towels without chemicals if you can. You could also use a clean muslin cloth rather than aplastic cover or a newspaper.
  • Question
    How long should I wait before harvesting the wheatgrass?
    Community Answer
    9-10 days. Around that time the wheatgrass should stand at least 6 inches tall.
  • Question
    Can I grow wheatgrass with a water culture hydroponics system?
    Community Answer
    Yes. Wheatgrass has been grown successfully using a Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), as well as flood and drain hydroponics. It also flourishes within an Aquaponics system, using fish waste as organic fertilizer.
  • Question
    I bought the wheatgrass seeds for my kitty. Do I have to soak them first?
    Community Answer
    Soaking them speeds up the growing process. You could just water them for a while, and they would sprout up.
  • Question
    Can I grow wheatgrass without soaking the seeds?
    Nisheeth Kumar
    Community Answer
    Yes. It will grow, but yield will be on lower side. It's always better to soak them first.
  • Question
    Can it be blended straight with a smoothie without straining solids? Besides a taste issue, does it matter?
    Community Answer
    Other than clogging your juicer, it will be fine. It's also a good form of roughage.
  • Question
    Can I deep-freeze wheatgrass juice?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can.
  • Question
    If I soaked the seeds for a hour, will the wheatgrass grow?
    Community Answer
    No, soaking the seeds for an hour won't accomplish anything. Try to soak them for at least 10 hours.
  • Question
    Can I mix the wheat grass juice with aloe vera, beetroot, and bottled gourd juice?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can. You can make any delicious mixture you'd like, as long as it is safe to consume.
  • Question
    Is wheatgrass safe for dogs?
    Community Answer
    Yes. If you're giving it to the dogs directly rather than mixed in food, try misting it with water first.
  • Question
    Is there any issue with taking wheat grass while I'm on Coumadin?
    Community Answer
    What's important regarding your diet while taking Coumadin is that you are very consistent. So if you are taking wheat grass (or anything else), it's okay if you consume it consistently. Certain foodstuffs will affect the metabolism of Coumadin, and when your lab test (INR) is checked, it may cause fluctuations. So if you eat wheat grass this week, then have your INR checked and your doctor adjusts your Coumadin dose, but next week you're not eating wheat grass, then your dosing will be off.
  • Question
    Is wheat grass the same as barley?
    Community Answer
    No. Wheat grass is grown from hard red winter wheat. Barley is a totally different grain.
  • Question
    Can harvested wheatgrass be incorporated into other salad leaves to eat without juicing?
    Community Answer
    Wheatgrass cannot be digested by humans, so no. It won't kill you, but in large amounts you might get sick. If you decide to juice it you can add it to the salad dressing, though!
  • Question
    Can I grow wheatgrass in a sprouting tray?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can. Just make sure you lay down paper towels as most sprouting trays have holes in the bottom.
  • Question
    Do I have to soak the seeds?
    Community Answer
    No, seeds can be sown directly into potting soil mix.
  • Question
    Should a heat mat be used for germination of the seed?
    Community Answer
    Yes heat mats are preferred to be used in germination. However, it is not organic, which might be something you want to find an alternative for.
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