I like to grow greens all witnter in small trays. I plant a little everyday and harvest a little everydayfor evening salads or stir-fry. The greens are ready in just 7days, so it is easy to get into routine of planting and picking. I grow Sunflower, Radish, Buckwheat and Peas. Also Broccoli and Cabbage. There is a Chinese Radish called Hong Vit that is really pretty. The picture is a typical days 'harvest'. You don't need a garden so it is possible to garden in an apartment with soil-sprouts.
Very nice. Anything with bite (spicy) to it?
Hi Pirl. The Radish has a very nice 'bite', it is spicy. One of my freinds told me that he added it to his cole slaw, I can't wait to try it myself. I grow cress too and those a spicy also. I only add a little to the mix cause it can be too much for the kids. I have grown arugala soil-sprouts and the some with cress, just mix in a little, but it is easy to grow once you've got the technique. If you are interested let me know, there are a few special tricks to getting them to sprout, they become a gelatinaous blob when you soak them! The Hong Vit, I mentioned, has a hot flavor.
We'd love them! Where did you buy the seeds?
The kits are availabe on thedailygardener site, they are 'just add water' easy to use. Johnnys, Pinetree and Burpees also sells seeds for sprouting. Make sure to get 'sprouting' seeds because they have a very high germination rate. The micro mix seed also seem to grow well form Johnny's. Terrrestial, hmm let me see, oh I think I got broccoli from Gurneys but it was not organic. I can send you a small batch to try if you want, just send info to and I'll send a little of each!
This message was edited Mar 11, 2007 11:57 AM
Thanks. You might want to edit and remove your email address ASAP. Many people feel it's dangerous to make it public. I appreciate your help.
I have trying all different types of 'cole' seeds, Broccoli, Cabbage, Kale, Chinese Cabbage, Pac Choi, Red Cabbage and a few others to see which varieties I like the best for greens. Although not a large a prolific as the other greens they have been good so far. My favorite is the cabbage greens.
Today I am planting 3 types of radish seed, Purple, Pink and Hong Vit, I'll post pictures when they are ready to harvest next Saturday! They are really pretty greens.
Do you do any Bean Sprouts ? Mung Beans
Beans don't do so well with the Soil-sprout method, at least none that I have tried so far! I do keep trying. Today I am trying beets and basil. I like the carrots but it takes a long time, relative to the sunflower etc, almost 2 weeks to get a small harvest, it is a novelty, but I think it is a delicate green on the window sill!
I actually took a picture last night of the carrots.
One of my big surprises is the clover soil-sprout, it is delicious and grows very quickly, not as fast as radish but it is ready in 7 or 8 days, nice flavor too.
This is Pop Corn Green, they are incredibly sweet.
TD, that is so interesting. They sound delicious. Right now I have outdoor garden seeds growing, but this looks like something that would be great to try in the winter. Your plants look so beautiful and healthy looking.
Jeanette
Hi Jnette, I just took pictures. These are Hong Vit, the flavor is the same as all the radish the color is so vivid and dresses up a salad. I started growing these just in the winter, but my family enjoy th e greens so much I gow them all year. In the summer mostly inbetween crop since it take only 7days to grow a crop
These are the purple radish. I'll make 'radish relish' tonight.
this is the Rose Radish, it has pink stems and pretty much the same spicy flavor.
These are Broccoli and Red Kale soil-sprouts. They are not quite as productive as the Sunflower and Buckwheat, but from what I read they a super good for you. They make a good addition to the salad bowl.
How do you figure out which sprouts are edible and palatable? I would think some might be not good to eat.
I try anything I think might be good, carrost taste like old tennis shoes! Squash is so bitter I could hardly get my mouth open to get a drink of water! Buckwheat is delicious. Most beans have very little flavor just a bitter after taste. I keep trying. If your intersted in something and let me know, I'll let you know if I have tried it.
This is last nights salad greens. Radish(Hong Vit) Red Kale and Sunflower. We added avacado and tomato. Yum.
TD, this might be what I've looking for!
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/698901/
Those pink radishes are beautiful; just the thing for a mixed container... I have to go to the daily gardener, I mean thedailygardener, right now.
xxxxx, Carrie
TD, the daily gardener is YOUR WEBSITE!
Carrie
It all started as a way to continue 'gardening' over the long winter months, now everyone in my family enjoys the soil-sprouts so much I continue right through the summer, just not as much.
Yup, my website. Very 'umble but I think gardeners should know about about it and it is a great way to garden even if you live in an apartment.
I've taught this to my 'garden buddies' and they feel the same as I do. Any question feel free to ask away. I am trying new seeds all the time and I'll be adding the next batch of kits over this next month.
Peter
I asked a friend in China about the pea shoots, doumiao (one word he corrected me) and he returned this:
"Hi Peter,
Yes Doumiao and Pea shoots are the same thing. I saw your way of cooking at your home when in Vermont :) But my way is totally different. We often hot the oil first, then put the pea shoots in together with some garlic. After 4-5 mins frying it can be picked up. We seldom cook it with water and cover the pan. Some day we must have chance to cook it together in both ways so can compare the flavour with each other.... "
I thought you might enjoy this message.
We tried the pea shoots and garlic stir fry last night. Great meal with brown rice. I harvested 2 trays 4" x 8", chopped pretty fine, garlic slivered, all stir-fried in hot oil quickly, stirring continuously for about 4 min. Yum. I plnted mor peas 2 days ago so we will have another batch for this week end. Next time I'll take a picture.
More news from China:
"Hi Peter,
I always cook DOUMIAO with the samething, maybe add some venegar too. But I think your Doumiao should be more delicious because you grow it by yourself but ours bought from supermarket so it should be too much fertilized. My mother always said that all vegetable in xiamen taste not as good as in my hometown because we grow it naturally there.
Winwood"
TD - I did it! I soaked the soil, the seeds (for 9 hours) and now have them all planted. That was Wednesday night. I took photos, too. When I lifted the papers to water them last night I saw things are happening! Very exciting!
With the way my hands shake from caffeine I think I'd use less than a tablespoon in the future!
This shows the compost and kelp at the bottom of each tray.
This message was edited Apr 20, 2007 6:54 AM
The wet paper which was folded in half to make a double layer and used to cover the seeds, tucking it in gently at the sides.
All covered. Then a post office flat box was placed on top to keep them dark. They're in the kitchen window so they have a room temperature spot. I'll take more photos as they progress.
Wow Pirl, great photos, everything looks perfect. It is remarkable how quickly everything grows. You will be harvesting in a few days! Soil-sprouts are sort of opposite of growing sets, you want them to reach for the light and be 'leggy' so keep the covers on until the seeds push up the paper, about day 4, that would be Monday 4-23, is that right? The radish greens will be the first up!
I can't tell from the photo, did you plant the sunflower with the pointed end pushed down into the soil? I know some people think that is extra work, but I have found it is well worth it.
Again, terrific photos. I like the granite counter too!
Thanks, TD. I took another photo this morning and can see how the seeds are changing.
Yes, shaky hands and all, I did put the pointed end of the sunflowers in the soil, one by one. I'll try and get a close-up for you.
That's just one piece of granite, 50" wide, I had installed originally for the work area of the kitchen. We're replacing the granite and all of the Wilsonart formica with all Corian for back splashes and countertops. The granite has been nice for 15 years but it pits, too much, and has always looked cold to me. It happens to be the same size as the potting table my DH, Jack, made for me last year so it will have a place outside.
This is exciting!
I am glad you are enjoying this, it is just the same way I feel every I start another batch.
Hi Pirl, you should be harvesting about now, how is it going? I've been really busy and just catching up with DG.
The radishes are definitely our favorite with sunflowers close behind, then the peas. The buckwheat are just greening up. I top all of our salads with them!
Peter looking forward to my first harvest as well. Just planted them on Friday morning. I know this is going to be addictive. :))
Juanita
Great, good to hear, one of my favorites is a sprout only peas and buckwheat, very mild and crunchy! Eventough i am starting to greens from the garden, it is great to fill in and for variety.
