Growing sprouts, or sprouting, takes less time and effort than traditional types of gardening. Sprouting is inexpensive and requires few supplies, and many people have started eating sprouts because they are a healthy source of many vitamins and nutrients. To grow sprouts in a jar, all that’s required is a glass jar, beans or seeds, cheesecloth, a rubber band, and water. Growing sprouts in a tray requires a flat, shallow tray, beans or seeds, soil, and newspaper. Depending on the beans or seeds being used, sprouts will start to grow in as little as three days, and most sprouts will grow in less than seven days.
A plant is a sprout just after its seed has germinated. These young plants are a good source of many vitamins and nutrients, including many B vitamins. Sprouting can be an inexpensive, easy way to produce healthy, organic food. Sprouting is also inexpensive, as it’s possible to find everything needed to grow a sprout garden for free. Healthy sprouts can be grown from many types of seeds, but beginners usually start with alfalfa, broccoli, clover, sunflower, and lentil sprouts.
Compared to other types of gardening, growing sprouts takes little time and effort. Sprouts can be grown in jars or trays, but many people believe growing sprouts in jars isn’t the healthiest option because these can be breeding grounds for bacteria and fungi. Still others believe growing sprouts in jars works well as long as the right precautions are taken.
When growing sprouts in a jar, the only sprouting supplies required are a glass jar, a rubber band, cheesecloth or muslin, and some water. The ease of this type of sprouting makes it a favorite among school teachers trying to demonstrate to young students how plants grow. Growing sprouts in a tray requires a low, flat container, like a pie pan or a food tray with a raised edge. Soil is also needed to cover the bottom of the tray and give the sprouts a medium in which to grow. While sprout trays can require more space than sprout jars, some sprouts will grow better in a tray than they will in a jar.