Growing Sprouts Indoors or Out

By Steven Biggs
Gardener, Garden Writer, Garden Coach, Horticulturist

Growing sprouts is easy!

Homegrown sprouts are a delicious green addition to meals during the winter. My favourite it the pea sprout, with its long, wandering tendrils that give the sprouts an exotic look.

Some people grow sprouts hydroponically (without soil or peat moss), but I prefer the method below, which is very, very simple.

Supplies for Sprouting

• Seeds: A handful of dried peas (the sort used to make soup).
• Container: A pie plate or similarly shaped container.
• Medium: Peat moss or a soilless mix both work well. If the peat moss is very dry, wet it before use.

Instructions: How to Sprout

• Soak the seeds in water for a few hours, then drain.
• Spread the peat moss in the pie plate.
• Place the seeds over peat moss (don’t cover them).
• Waterwell (but don’t make it soupy)
• Place in a warm, well-lit area.
• Water as necessary.

Harvest using scissors when the sprouts are 10-15 cm in height (do not pull out the sprouts, as this will dirty them with peat).

In many cases, germination isn’t uniform, so there may be a second cutting after a few days.

Other Seeds to Sprout

Try cress, mustard (more spicy), and sunflowers.

Other legumes work well too. Try chickpea sprouts or lentil sprouts.

No need for special seeds, use what you find at the grocer.

Want to know more about how to sprout? Check back as this page will be growing. Better still, drop me a line. I’ll be glad to hear about your gardening experience and what you would find useful on this site.

Return to Home Page