Sprouts can be easily grown in the glass with little effort. You can find out how growing in a sprouting glass works here.
If you grow sprouts in the jar yourself, you can enjoy your own harvest after just a few days. The small seedlings are not only quick and easy to cultivate, but also contain many vitamins, minerals and fiber. Growing sprouts at home doesn't require a lot of space or accessories. Cultivation in so-called sprout or seed glass is particularly easy. What that is exactly, tips on buying and building yourself as well as instructions for cultivating sprouts in glass can be found in the next sections.
When can you put on a sprouting glass?
Since sprouts are usually grown directly in the kitchen and you are therefore independent of the weather, you can start growing sprouts in jars at any time of the year. Especially in winter, when the selection of fresh vegetables is more limited, the aromatic sprouts are a delicious addition to soups, spreads or salads.
Tip: The supermarket shelves are full all year round - but where do the vegetables actually come from? Many consumers are again trying to eat more seasonally instead of promoting blueberries from Peru and asparagus from Egypt. With a seasonal calendar that is always valid, such as our Plantura seasonal calendar for fruit and vegetables, you can see at a glance which vegetables you can currently buy without pangs of conscience. You may then find that the choice is actually smaller in winter if you consume something more sustainable. Sprouts are then a valuable addition.
Which sprouts are suitable for a sprouting glass?
If you want to grow sprouts, you are spoiled for choice - because you can use the seeds of a wide variety of vegetables, cereals and legumes for cultivation. The germination time, the taste and the size of the sprouts vary depending on the variety. We have put together a table for you with particularly suitable sprouts for sprout glasses.
| Type of sprout | Soaking time in hours | Germination time in days | Flavour and Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) | 6 - 8 | 7 - 8 | Mildly tart and nutty; On bread or in salads |
| Azuki Bean (Vigna angularis) | 6 - 8 | 3 - 5 | Blanch briefly before use; for example in Asian rice dishes |
| Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) | 8 | 2 - 3 | Becomes bitter if germination is too long; Taste reminiscent of curry |
| Brown Millet (Panicum miliaceum) | 4 - 8 | 2 - 3 | Suitable, for example, for muesli and salads |
| Peas (Pisum sativum) | 10 - 12 | 3 - 4 | Only use when heated; can be used like regular peas |
| Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) | 10 | 8 - 12 | Slightly milder than seeds; go well with fish dishes or in soups and salads |
| Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum) | 12 - 18 | 3 | Slightly nutty; blanch briefly before further use |
| Lens (Lens) | 12 | 3 - 4 | Nutty; good in salads |
| Mung beans (Vigna radiata) | 12 | 4 - 5 | Sweet taste; good in Asian dishes |
| Radish (Raphanus sativus var. sativus) | 6 - 8 | 4 - 6 | Hot-spicy; Salads, dips, spreads |
| Radish (Raphanus sativus) | 6 - 8 | 4 - 6 | Just as hot and spicy; suitable for salads, dips, spreads |
| Beetroot (Beta vulgaris) | 8 | 4 - 6 | Red color; taste slightly earthy; good in salads and sprout mixes |
| Soybean (Glycine max) | 15 | 4 - 5 | Blanch before use; good in wok dishes and soups |
| Sunflower Seeds (Helianthus annuus) | 2 - 4 | 1 - 3 | Mild nutty taste |
Almost every sprout variety can be cultivated in the sprout jar. However, so-called "slime-forming" seeds are not so well suited. These include, for example, cress (Lepidium sativum), rocket (Eruca sativa), chia (Salvia hispanica ) or linseed (Linum usitatissimum).Since they lie densely together in a sprout jar and can stick to each other, they start to rot faster. A flat seed tray is better suited for these seeds. Problems can also arise with grain seeds, since 100% germination capacity is usually not guaranteed here and some of the seeds may begin to mold. Finally, with sprouting jars with larger holes in the lid, small seeds can simply be washed out of the jar. For example, with broccoli seeds (Brassica oleracea), first test whether the holes are small enough and otherwise use a germination tray.
Nevertheless, there is still a large selection of sprout seeds left for the sprout jar. How about, for example, chickpea, lentil, radish or soybean sprouts in a jar?
Note: Legum sprouts such as chickpeas must be blanched before consumption as they contain substances which are inedible or indigestible when raw.
The right sprout glass
A germination glass for sprouts is a normal glass with a height of about 15 cm. With the glass you get the matching lid, which has small holes or a sieve insert. This is important so that the irrigation water can drain off and enough air can circulate through the glass. In addition, there is often a so-called adjusting device that holds the glass in an inclined position and ensures that excess water can drain off directly. Germination jars for sprouts are available with lids and holders made of plastic or metal.
Tip: Make your own sprout jar
If you want to save money or like to do handicrafts, you can easily make a sprout jar yourself. All you need is a large jar, such as a 500-750ml mason jar, 1-2 household rubber bands and a waterproof material with holes to cover it, such as a fly screen. This is trimmed to fit generously over the glass opening. Then fasten the material with household rubber bands. You can use either a flat bowl or a dish drainer for the inclined position.
Instructions: grow sprouts in the glass
Growing your own sprouts in a jar is not difficult and is the way to the finished seedlingsonly takes a few steps.
- First put 2-3 tablespoons of seeds in a colander and rinse under running water. After that, put the seeds in the sprouting jar and cover them with water.
- Now the seeds have to soak for about 10 hours. This process is carried out with almost all types of sprouts, only a few exceptions such as cress or linseed do not need to be soaked. After the soaking time, the water is poured off and non-swollen seeds can be sorted out. The water is great for watering other plants. Now the glass is tilted so that the remaining water can drip off.
- In order to create ideal germination conditions, it is best to place your sprout jar near a window, but without direct sunlight. The temperature should be between 18 and 22 °C.
The right care
To ensure that sprout germination is a complete success, there is only one important care measure to take into account: daily rinsing. Clean your sprouts in the glass with fresh water in the morning and evening and then place the glass back in the holder to drain - this prevents the formation of bacteria or mold. You can also take a quick look at your sprouts in the germination jar while rinsing. If you discover mold or a musty smell, it is better to start the germination process all over again. Because the moist, warm environment in the sprout glass is ideal for the development of bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms that are potentially toxic to us. Studies have shown that sprouts that are too old and packaged are high in germs - which is another reason to simply grow your own sprouts and eat them fresh.
Note: Some types of sprouts, such as radishes or radishes, have a kind of white down on their fibrous root that is easily mistaken for mold. However, these are fine roots, so it's completely natural and nothing to worry about.
When are sprouts ready for harvest?
Depending on the germination time of the sprouts, you can harvest after 3 to 4 days. If you don't use all the sprouts right away, it's possible to keep them in a jar in the fridge for a few days. Before starting a new germination cycle, it is important to thoroughly clean the germination jar with hot water.
A trend in the food industry, which is ultimately also about theCultivation of sprouts are the so-called microgreens. You can find out how to grow microgreens yourself in a separate article.