Did you know that you could grow fresh, crunchy greens in less than a week? Flax seeds are among the easiest to sprout and are very nutritious, containing protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals, and Omega 3s*.
Flax sprouts have a mild flavor that combines well with a variety of foods. I love them on a sandwich with cheese, tomato, and a little bit of dressing. They’re also great tossed in salads or added to a stir-fry at the last minute. In this article, I’ll explain how to grow perfect sprouts in just a few days.
Note: I took the following photos at the same time each day, so you can get a good view of how growing progresses.
Day 0: Soaking
Select a plate or a baking pan as your sprouting container. I use a 9-inch cake pan.
The ratio for soaking is 1:1, equal parts seeds and water. For example, put 2 tablespoons of water in the pan, and then sprinkle 2 tablespoons of seeds over top. The seeds will begin to soak up water almost immediately, becoming sticky after a few minutes. They should be visibly wet, but should not be sitting in a pool of water.
If the weather is dry, cover the pan with a clear glass lid. This helps retain moisture while still allowing in some light. Place the pan on a surface where it can stay undisturbed, and out of direct sun.
Day 1: Keep Damp
Check the seeds two or three times a day to make sure they’re still damp. You can use a spray bottle to dampen them, or simply wet your hands and drizzle some water over them. Again, you want them to be damp, but not soaking wet.
After about 24 hours, you should see a few sprouts already growing, as shown in the lower-right corner of this image.
Day 2: Vigorous Sprouting
Continue to monitor the sprouts and lightly water them as needed. Most or all of the seeds will have sprouted after about 48 hours.
Day 3: Beginning to Grow Green
Continue to lightly water the sprouts as needed. The sprouts will begin to show some green growth after about 72 hours/3 days.
Day 4: Starting to Stand Up
After 4 days, the sprouts are beginning to stand up and you can see a lot of green at the tops. They’re almost ready. You can be forgiven if you pick some now, but they’ll be even better after one more day. At this point, move the pan to a spot where it can get some direct sun for at least a couple of hours. Keep the glass lid on so that they don’t dry out.
Day 5: Gorgeous, Fresh Veggies Accomplished!
Look what a difference one more day makes! The sprouts are standing tall with lots of green at the tops. They’re ready to enjoy. Simply remove them from the pan, put them in a sealed container, and store in the fridge. They’ll keep well for several days—if you can resist eating them for that long.
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Footnotes
- Omega 3s are essential “healthy fats” that your body needs for cell function, brain health, and heart health.