The Easy Way To Grow Alfalfa Sprouts In A Jar For A Healthy Harvest

Are you trying to stay healthy and eat salads regularly? If so, you know that the fresher the ingredients are, the better they taste. Although there's no shortage of great veggies and greens you can grow for your salad at home, one that often gets overlooked is alfalfa sprouts. Alfalfa sprouts can be eaten raw but can also be cooked: They work well in stir fry, soups, sandwiches, or even smoothies. Many people add them to dishes due to their high levels of nutrients, like antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins K and C.  Fortunately, these sprouts are also incredibly easy to grow.

If you're looking for ways to use old jars to level up your gardening game, growing alfalfa sprouts is a great choice. Growing alfalfa sprouts in a jar is an easy and convenient way to get your hands on some fresh, healthy ingredients. All it requires is placing seeds in a jar, then soaking and rinsing them with water until they sprout. It can also be a fun project for your kids since the sprouts grow so fast and will be ready to eat after a few days.

To start growing alfalfa sprouts, get a mason jar and a cheesecloth, muslin, or another type of screen covering. You'll also need water and some alfalfa seeds. Aim to get organic seeds since others will likely have been treated and modified. Once you have your ingredients, pour about a tablespoon of alfalfa seeds into the jar — add just enough to line the bottom. Then, fill the jar about halfway with water and cover the top with the material, held in place by a rubber band. Don't throw out the lid: there are lots of ways you can repurpose old mason jar lids in your home and garden.

Next, let the seeds soak for about 10 hours, then drain the water out through the screen. Once you've done this, pour some water into the jar and swish it around, rinsing the seeds. Dump out the water (keeping the screen on), then place the jar in a cool, dry place out of the sun  (alfalfa sprouts are perfect for starting a garage garden). Make sure to leave it on its side with the opening facing down at a slight angle to allow leftover water to drain out. Each day, rinse the alfalfa sprouts by repeating these steps. 

After three to five days, the sprouts should be ready to use. Finally, as an optional step, you can leave the jar out in the sun for about 15 minutes or until the sprouts turn green. 

Once the alfalfa sprouts are ready, you should rinse them again to remove the shells and chaff. The easiest method is to place them in a bowl and cover them with cold water. Once you've cleaned the sprouts thoroughly, you can place them on paper towels or a kitchen towel to dry.

After rinsing and drying the alfalfa sprouts, refrigerate them to make them last longer. Either a glass or plastic storage container works well for storage. Keep in mind that you won't want to wait too long to use them. Ideally, try to use them within a few days so that they'll be as fresh as possible when you eat them. If refrigerated, they should last about three or four days.

Be sure to pay attention to the sprouts and throw them out if they seem to be in poor shape. If they start to look a little slimy, don't eat any more of them. Alfalfa sprouts can be contaminated by bacteria such as E. coli if they're left out too long. Fortunately, if this happens, it's easy enough to grow some fresh ones. Once you use this method of growing alfalfa sprouts, you'll probably want to keep doing it over and over again to ensure you always have fresh supply.