Cultivating cress and sprouts is an easy way to get a green vitamin supplement indoors. They do not require soil and grow quickly.
Breathe
Sprouts are packed with vitamins, minerals, and proteins. By eating a handful of sprouts or shoots a day, you help your whole body stay healthy. The best combination of nutrients is achieved by varying different types of seeds. Sprouts are easily grown in a sprouting box, made specifically for this purpose, or in an empty jam jar with a cheesecloth or piece of nylon as a lid. Secure with a rubber band.
Cultivate sprouts like this:
- Rinse the seeds carefully:
Rinse the seeds thoroughly to remove any impurities. - Soak the seeds:
Soak the seeds in a container with a perforated lid and let it sit for a day. - Drain and rinse again:
Drain the water and rinse the seeds again. - Position the container:
Place the container upside down, slightly tilted, for example in a dish rack. This allows air to come in and water to drain away. - Rinse the sprouts:
Rinse the sprouts every morning and evening. - Harvest the sprouts:
After 3-5 days, the sprouts have grown out and are ready to be eaten. - Expose to light:
If you place the sprouts in the window, they will turn green from chlorophyll. - Store the sprouts:
Store them in a container or plastic bag in the refrigerator.
Various types of sprouts and shoots
Mung Bean Sprouts
- A simple beginner sprout that most people enjoy.
- Good for hair, skin, and nails.
- Contains fiber, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin B17, folate, iron, zinc, and calcium.
Alfalfa Sprouts
- Beneficial for blood and believed to help lower blood pressure and improve cholesterol.
- Contains potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, selenium, phosphorus, vitamin C, and B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6, B9), as well as vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Sunflower Seed Sprouts
- Breaks down fat and improves digestion.
- Contains lecithin, vitamin A, vitamins B, C, and E, along with minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, and potassium.
Radish Sprouts
- Contains sulfur, which is important for skin health.
- Has a cleansing effect and is beneficial for the liver and gallbladder.
- Contains vitamins A, B, C, E, and K, as well as minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc.
Broccoli Sprouts
- Contains the compound sulforaphane, which may help prevent cancer and relieve airway inflammation.
- Contains vitamins A, K, E, B6, B12, B3, B1, and C, as well as minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus, iron, and selenium.
Another easy to grow
Sprouting Seeds
- You can start by placing the seeds on moist kitchen paper on a tray or plate.
- Make sure the paper stays moist.
- After just a few days, the sprouts will start to grow and will soon be ready to eat.
- Quick, easy, and fun. Great for kids to try.
Herbs
- With extra grow lights, you can even grow different types of herbs like basil, oregano, and other culinary herbs all year round.
- Keep them as cool and bright as possible.
- Harvest when the leaves are small and thin.
Micro Greens
- Micro greens are shoots of various types of lettuce, like leaf lettuce, arugula, beetroot, basil, and spinach.
- Most vegetables can be grown this way; it is quick and fun.
- You can even mix different types of seeds to create a super mix— a good idea if you have limited space to grow.
- Harvest the leaves when they are small and mix them in a salad, use them on a sandwich, in juice, or as a garnish on dishes.
4o mini
Here is how you plant herbs and micro greens:
Preparing the Container
- Fill the desired container, such as a seed box with a lid or a pot with seed soil, and moisten it with a spray bottle.
Sowing the Seeds
- Sprinkle the seeds evenly on the surface, quite densely.
- If you want to grow larger herb plants, sow them with more space to give them better room to grow.
Covering the Seeds
- Cover with a thin layer of seed soil and press lightly with your hands.
Watering
- Water gently with a watering can with a sprinkler head or a spray bottle.
- Keep the soil lightly moist. Covering with a bag or lid helps the soil retain moisture better. Make small holes for ventilation.
Final Steps
- Place in a bright location.
- A few days later, the crop starts to turn green, and it's time to harvest.