Sprouts: Growing Guide

Whether it's -12°F or 100+°F outside, you can always count on sprouts to give you a bounty of healthful, fresh food all year long right from your kitchen counter! Growing your own indoor sprout "garden" assures that you will always have sprouts on hand at the peak of freshness with maximum nutrition.

Botanical Interests sprouting varieties are certified organic, untreated, and tested at an independent laboratory to ensure that they have a high germination rate. Enjoy experimenting with the different flavors and textures. See specific varieties below.

Growing Sprouts using the Botanical Interests Sprouter

1. Wash all sprouter parts with warm, soapy water and a soft cloth before first use.
2. Although disinfecting sprouts is not necessary, if you choose to do so, visit our Sprouting Seeds at Home: Disinfecting, Growing, and Harvesting Tips article for instructions.
3. Soak suggested amount of seeds in the base or separate bowl(s) (see table). Use enough water to cover the seeds about three times their depth soaking for 8-12 hours then drain and rinse seeds.
4. Insert tray divider, if desired, and spread seeds evenly in a single layer in the tray. Seeds will expand when wet, and will occupy approximately four times their initial volume; don't overfill because it reduces critical air-circulation. Stack additional growing tray as needed and repeat.
5. Add water-diffusing lid to top of tray. (Avoid stacking anything on top of the lid that may reduce air flow.)
6. Place tray in a warm area, ideally 70°F, out of direct sunlight. Mung beans are the exception and should be grown in darkness for best flavor.
7. Rinsing at least twice daily with lots of water is the key to growing sprouts successfully. We recommend holding your seed trays with lid in place, over the kitchen sink without the base and running at least 6 cups of cool water through the water-diffusing lid before replacing on the base to drain. Or, you can place your trays on the base and pour 2 cups of water at a time through the diffusing lid. Empty base after each rinsing. Repeat at least three times.
8. Empty the base when the growing trays are completely drained or before the next rinsing. Wash the base as needed with soapy water and a soft cloth.
9. Sprouts are ready in approximately 2 to 10 days. Temperature can affect the days to harvest, so also look for the visual cues indicated in the table below.
10. Store sprouts in the refrigerator to maintain freshness. The Botanical Interests Sprouter is also great for storing sprouts in your refrigerator. Sprouts may also be stored in a sealed container like a jar, but should be dry to the touch before storage since these options do not have drainage.

Sprouting in Another Container

Be sure the container is easy to clean, sanitize, and drain. A glass jar with a screen lid is a common solution. Follow the steps above, but choose the amount of seeds based on giving seeds enough room to expand four times their original size, still be in a single layer, and have good airflow. In order to rinse seeds in a jar, fill the jar several times with cold water, draining it thoroughly through the screen top.

Sprout Seed Safety: To ensure you are purchasing the safest possible sprouting seeds, a sample from each seed lot we receive is sent to an independent laboratory where it must test negative for foodborne pathogens including E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, and Staph. For maximum safety, it is recommended that you disinfect the outside of your seeds and your sprouting container prior to sprouting.

Try all healthful, delicious varieties!

Sprout Sampler Seed Collection A collection of 6 types of sprouting seeds for an exciting sample of fresh homegrown sprouts.

Sprouts Adzuki Bean Organic Seeds Strengthen your body with this enticingly earthy, versatile, high-protein superfood.

Sprouts Alfalfa Organic Seeds Robust, nutty alfalfa sprouts are the original, classic sprout; one of the most popular.

Sprouts Bean Mix Organic Seeds A tasty, colorful trio of adzuki beans, mung beans and lentils provides a mild flavor and pleasant crunch to perk up salads and other dishes!

Sprouts Broccoli Organic Seeds Broccoli sprouts are a powerhouse of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, with higher levels of the cancer-fighting phytochemical sulforaphane glucosinolate than mature heads of broccoli.

Sprouts China Rose Radish Organic Seeds With the pungency of root radish, these sprouts provide a zesty flavor and crunch to liven up any dish you sprinkle them on.

Sprouts Fenugreek Organic Seeds With a nutty, maple syrup aroma, fenugreek sprouts add an exotic, spicy flavor to salads, sandwiches, and Indian cuisine.

Sprouts Garbanzo Bean Organic Seeds These snackable sprouts make quite an entrance! Also called chick peas, the crunchy, nutty, high-fiber little gems have innumerable culinary uses.

Sprouts Mung Bean Organic Seeds Crisp, tender texture and slightly sweet, mild flavor similar to fresh garden peas. Indispensable to Asian cuisine, but also wonderful in salads or sandwiches!

Purple Kohlrabi Organic Seeds All the flavor of the kohlrabi stem but milder in these little sprouts.

Red Clover Organic Seeds Similar flavor to alfalfa, but red clover more easily sheds its hulls.

Sprouts Salad Mix Organic Seeds Give your salads an added spark of flavor and color! Sweet, mild, tangy; a full flavor experience!

Sprouts Sandwich Mix Organic Seeds Our own special blend for fabulous sandwiches - sweet, mild alfalfa and refreshing, crunchy red clover, with zesty, piquant radish.