Wheatgrass Growing Tips

By Kat Jones

Each of our wheatgrass growing kits have detailed instructions included in them but the tips below can help you troubleshoot the most common issues. Also be sure to check out our video series on how to grow wheatgrass.

Mold
Wheatgrass is very prone to mold! To control the mold, here are a few steps you can take:
1. Don't soak your seed longer than 8 hours and plant right after you finish soaking, this will help stop the mold from developing.
2. Water with Real (Mineral) Salt, or azomite when the wheatgrass is very young. 1 Tablespoon per gallon. If mold persists, include about 10 to 15 drops of grapefruit seed extract in your initial soak water, which works very well.
3. Keep the growing temperature somewhat cool (70 degrees) and also dry.
4. If you still have mold, you can power rinse the mold off before you juice.

Ideal Weather
If it is too cold outside (50 degrees and below) where you are growing your grass, the wheatgrass will grow very slowly. If you let it get below 32 degrees, it will freeze. Anything above about 75-80 degrees and your wheatgrass will not thrive. Under the hot conditions, you will experience more mold, and the roots will go sour and sometimes cause the grass to wilt. The ideal conditions for wheatgrass and barleygrass are 1) indirect sunlight, and 2) moderate weather (70 degrees).

Growing Space
Space often can become a problem once you start growing lots of wheatgrass and sprouts. Very inexpensive racks can be purchased from a local hardware store, or you can make a rack with PVC pipes. This seems to be a better solution for those who have their wheatgrass scattered all over their kitchen. Another solution is the use of greenhouses & grow racks:http://www.wheatgrasskits.com/greenhouses.htm There are various models to pick from to suit your needs.

Old Grass
If you don’t use the grass fast enough, your wheatgrass will get old, so here is a good solution! Whether you buy or grow your own flat of wheatgrass, if you don’t use the grass fast enough it begins to turn yellow and wilt (because it has used all the minerals from the soil.) Right as it begins to tinge yellow, cut all the rest of the grass off of the flat and put it in a plastic bag in your refrigerator. The grass will last for about one week after it is cut.

• Check out our how to grow wheatgrass videos
• Find summer specific growing tips for wheatgrass & barleygrass in hot & humid climes