Grow your own alfalfa sprouts microgreens in only 5 days for a nutritious addition to your meals. So easy that you’ll wonder why you never did it before.
- Can You Grow Alfalfa Sprouts at Home?
- How Long Before the Alfalfa Seeds Germinate?
- How to Eat Microgreens Sprouts
- Step by Step Instructions
Can You Grow Your Own Sprouts at Home?
Growing alfalfa sprouts is easy to do at home. You can have fresh sprouts, ready to eat, in just under a week. Maintain a steady supply and you can enjoy them every day of the year.
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Soak the Seeds Overnight
I like this Salad Mix from Nature Jim’s Sprouts. It’s a seed mixture of broccoli, alfalfa, radish and clover. If you use 2 tablespoons each week to keep a steady supply, the bag should last you about 4 months.
For about 2 cups of sprouts, you will need 2 tablespoons of sprouts. Start by washing the seeds in a fine mesh colander under cool water.
Place the seeds in a small jar or cup then cover with cool water with about an inch over them. They’ll need to sit in the water for 8-10 hours, or overnight.
What Materials Do You Need to Grow Sprouts?
We have a product called Gardens Alive Seed Sprouter Kit which works great for the seeds. Instead of a large tray, it’s two small trays stacked on top of each other.
Divide the seeds evenly on the two trays. Just spread them out as best you can. It won’t matter if there are gaps because the seeds will move around quite a bit when you water them.
How Long Before the Alfalfa Seeds Germinate?
You don’t need to set the kit in sunlight. Just set it on the counter and the seeds will begin to germinate in only 1 or 2 days, depending on the warmth of your house.
If your rooms are dark, you may want to set it close to a window to get a little bit of light. Sometimes, the sprouts in the bottom tray are a little yellow in the center of the tray from lack of light. They’re still edible, but they’re not the pretty green.
Watering the Sprouts
When you water the sprouts, you are also cleaning them so that there is no bacterial growth. Don’t skip this step!
Set the entire tray kit into the sink and run cool water through the top. You don’t want to remove the lid. The tray is made to distribute the water, without damaging the delicate sprouts.
I like to run the water until it starts coming out the bottom, then lift the sprout trays of the base and empty the base.
Complete this process at least once every day, but preferably two (or even three) times each day.
By day 5 or 6, the sprouts are starting to push the lid off the top and it’s time to harvest!
Harvesting Alfalfa Sprouts
The delicate sprouts will be about 1-½ – 2″ and ready for harvesting. Once you lift the sprouts out of the trays, immerse them in a bowl of cool water. Press them down and rotate the water so the outer seed shells rise to the top. Scoop out and discard the shells.
Drain out the water well and dry the sprouts in a salad spinner or on paper towels. Store in the refrigerator in a canning jar or sealed bag for up to 5 days.
How to Eat Microgreens Sprouts
You can eat alfalfa sprouts anywhere you would usually eat lettuce. We are currently only going to town for groceries twice a month to conserve gas. It really helps to have something you can substitute for lettuce.
Put the sprouts in a salad, or make them the salad! Put them on sandwiches, tacos or wraps. I especially love an avocado, cheese, and sprouts sandwich.
Step by Step Instructions
Grow Your Own Alfalfa Sprouts Microgreens
Equipment
Supplies
- 2 tablespoons Salad Mix from Nature Jim's Sprouts
Instructions
- Place 2 tablespoons seeds in a fine mesh colander and rinse with cool water. Drain and place the seeds in clean jar. Cover with cool water and about an inch over the seeds. Set aside for 8-10 hours.
- Divide the seeds evenly on the two trays of the sprouter kit. Set aside on the counter. It doesn't need sun. Keep it inside the house. Outside may produce too much humidity and bacterial growth.
- Water at least once each day, but twice (or even three times) is best. Place the entire kit in the sink and run cool water over the top until the water starts coming out of the base. Do not remove the lid. It's made to distribute the water. Lift the trays out of the base, dump the water, replace the trays and set back on the counter.
- After 5 days (sometimes 6), the sprouts will be about 1-½ to 2". Pick them up carefully out of the trays and place them in a bowl filled with cool water. Press them down and rotate the water gently until the seeds shells rise to the top. Remove the shells and discard them.
- Place the sprouts in a salad spinner or on paper towels to dry completely. Once dry, store in a covered jar or sealed bag for up to 5 days. Produces about two cups of sprouts.
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. All amounts are estimates and 24Bite® takes no responsibility for actual figures since calculations vary by packaging and supplier. Please calculate the amounts yourself based on package labeling if you have specific dietary requirements. 24Bite®, Kim Guzman or Christian Guzman shall not be liable for adverse reactions or any other outcome resulting from the use of recipes or recommendations on this website or actions you take as a result.
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