Have we got a fun – not to mention super easy – planting project to share with you!
First off, we’d just like to say that if you happen to be a gardening whiz, congratulations and we applaud you heavily.
However, if you consider yourself to be the polar opposite of the “green thumb club,” we’ve got some good news.
Growing wheat grass is an incredibly fast, inexpensive and virtually foolproof project that you can complete within days.
Here’s how it’s done.
What You Need and Where to Get It:
| Pint-sized mason jars | Target/Wal-Mart/craft store |
| A bag of general play sand | Any gardening store |
| Potting soil | Any gardening store |
| Wheat berries | Whole Foods (sold in bulk) |
| Plastic Saran wrap | Grocery store |
Step 1: Soak the wheat berries
First thing you need to do is soak the wheat berries (about two tablespoons for every jar you plan on making) in a bowl of water for 8-12 hours. Place the bowl in a spot on your countertop that is somewhat shaded, or at least not in direct sunlight. Note: The berries don’t look much different after soaking, so don’t be expecting them to expand like frozen bread dough.
Step 2: Prep the mason jars
Remove the lids of the mason jars; you won’t need them. Scoop about one inch of sand into the bottom of every jar, and then top the sand with 1-2 inches of soil. Spoon about 1-2 tablespoons of the soaked wheat berries on top of the soil. Spread them out evenly, and make sure the layer is thin or the bottom ones will get moldy. Spritz each jar about three or four times with a spray bottle and drape a single sheet of saran wrap loosely over all the jars. Do NOT tighten a piece of saran wrap around individual jars.
Step 3: Lock them in a closet
Okay, it doesn’t have to be a closet, unless of course you feel like channeling your inner Vernon Dursley. But do place the jars in a shaded or dark area for 24 hours or until you see tiny sprouts coming from the seeds.
Step 4: Let them see daylight
After they start sprouting, take the jars out of the closet and place in a well-lit inside area but not in direct sunlight. A table next to a window will be fine. Remove the saran wrap and spritz them with a few squirts of water morning and night. After a few days, you should see wheat grass growing at a decent rate. Pat yourself on the back – you did it.
Step 5: Maintenance and use
Once the grass is growing, replace the water once a day. Just fill with cool water and use a finger to gently block the jar contents as you pour it back out to drain. This will keep things fresh. Wheat grass also has significant nutritional value and can be blended into smoothies and such if you feel so inclined. Also, if you’re feeling creative (or maybe a little lonely), you can draw a face on the jar and pretend you’re giving it a haircut!
(The photo below was taken after 3 or 4 days – within a week, you’ll have wheat grass that is about 6″ tall!)
And if you feel so inclined, give these out as cute little party favors or gifts! We purchased a “thank you” stamp, twine, and these wooden tags at Michael’s and handed out as little gifts. Enjoy!
