Grow Alfalfa Sprouts in a Jar | 5 Easy Steps

Growing alfalfa and other sprouts in a jar is easy, fast, and fun. Putting nutritious sprouts on your salads and sandwiches adds vitamins, flavor, and texture. As an added benefit, sprouts can be grown and harvested within a matter of days, and when you grow them yourself, you know they are the freshest around.

HOW TO GROW ALFALFA SPROUTS IN A JAR

Materials to Grow Alfalfa Sprouts in a Jar

• 1 clean Mason-style jar with lid
• 1 small hammer
• 1 large nail, new and unused
• 1 rubber band
• Cutting board
• Water
• Alfalfa or other sprout seeds – available at natural food stores
• Sterile cheese cloth or sterile gauze to drain

Directions to Grow Alfalfa Sprouts in a Jar

Unscrew the metal ring of the Mason jar lid and remove the lining from the lid. Place the lining with the metal side up on a cutting board and hammer several air holes in to the lid using a clean nail.  Place the lid back in the ring and set aside. Add approximately 2-3 two tablespoons of alfalfa seeds for a large Mason jar, or 1 -2 tablespoons of seeds for a medium Mason jar and cover the seeds with approximately two inches of room-temperature water. Place the cover on the jar and secure, then allow it to sit overnight. In the morning, remove the lid from the jar, place gauze or cheese cloth over the opening. Secure the cloth with a rubber band and slowly drain the water out. Rinse the drained seeds in the jar by adding room temperature water (never use ice water or hot water) and gently swishing the seeds around the jar in a circular motion. Drain the water again and repeat this process twice a day, every day until the sprouts are the desired size for consumption. Be sure to place the jar of sprouts in a window or another well-lighted location between rinses. Sprouts will appear in a matter of days and will typically be ready to eat after about five days. Store the sprouts in the refrigerator in a breathable container or a plastic food storage bag with a paper towel inside to absorb excess moisture. Use within a few days. These directions can be used to grow most types of garden sprouts from seed, though growing times may vary depending on the seed variety. Have you ever grown sprouts in a jar? SEE MORE: Amaryllis, Sprouts, Bird Feeders and More | 5 Indoor Winter Gardening ProjectsThis post was first published in 2014 and has been updated.