I’m on a mission. This winter, I will grow salad. Now, winter is a terrible time to grow salad. That’s why I’m doing it. I like a challenge, what can I say?
Since I’m in a relatively temperate climate, it doesn’t generally drop far below freezing. That means that I can grow greens outdoors throughout the winter. This is good for the kale and chard in the garden, little hardy greens that grow well in a slightly sheltered area or just out in the garden under a very thin layer of snow.
However, since my garden space is somewhat limited, I’ve also been experimenting with growing food inside my house. My experiments in indoor food growing have not always been successful. I’ve grown food on my living wall, but it just doesn’t get enough light to truly thrive. I’m currently trying a new mushroom log, and my fingers are crossed for abundant and delicious mushrooms throughout the year.
During the winter months, we often try to eat locally and eat things like sprouts for our salad. Around the Pacific Northwest, there are a few farmers growing winter greens outdoors, but not many yet. However, sprouts are expensive, and I’m not terribly fond of the plastic packaging either.
Luckily for me, a neighbor gave us a sprouting bag recently. Now, I have tried sprouting in all sorts of containers. I’ve tried the mason jar method. I’ve tried an official and expensive sprouter. I’ve tried all of these things, and all of the sprouts have gone slimy and mouldy, even when I’m diligent and follow the instructions.
The sprout bag worked! It’s a thin bag that allows air to flow through it. I put the seeds in, soak the bag in clean water for a minute, and hang it up. It dries out, and later that day I soak it again. Soaking it, allowing it to be damp for a while, and hanging it to dry seems to give the sprouts the air flow they need in our damp climate.
I’ve stopped growing sprouts for now because we have such an abundance of garden vegetables. However, come the fall, I’m hoping that these lovely sprouts will become a staple of our salads.
Image Credit: Groesel