How to Grow Large Mung Bean Sprouts

Mung beans appear in a wide variety of dishes from dessert-like pastes to soups and jellies. People also eat them raw in the form of sprouts. They are relatively low in calories and packed with nutrients like phosphorous, potassium, and protein. Mung beans have a taste akin to lentils, and are moderately easy to grow using inexpensive items like tulle netting and jars. They generally produce sprouts at the peak of their nutritional value in as little as three to five days.

Raw, whole mung bean seeds

Wide-mouth jars with lids

Tulle netting

Rubber bands

Sprouting rack or shallow bowls

Remove the lids from the jars and set aside for later use. Cut the netting so that it covers the tops of the jars and extends 2 inches down the sides of the jar.

Fill each jar 1/4 full with seeds. Fill the rest of the jar with water to soak and pre-germinate the seeds. Cover the jars with the pieces of netting. Secure the netting with the rubber bands.

Allow the seeds to soak for eight to 12 hours or simply let them sit overnight. Drain the water and place the jars onto a spouting rack or in a shallow bowl, so that they sit at an angle. The rack or bowls must hold jars at a slant to allow for water to drain and provide the seeds with adequate oxygen.

Rinse the seeds twice daily by filling the jars with water, stirring the seeds to ensure uniform moisture, then draining the water into a sink before returning the jars to the sprouting rack. Allow the jars to sit in the sun for four hours daily, moving them into a warm, dark place for the rest of the day.

Check the seeds for sprouting. The sprouting seeds will possess a pungent odor. Mung bean sprouts are typically ready to harvest in three to five days and will grow to be about 1/2 inches in height. Depending on the quality of the seeds used, all of the seeds should produce sprouts.

Remove the netting and return the lids to the jars or move the sprouts to a sealed container and place in the refrigerator. Mung beans and other sprouts will generally keep for about a week in the refrigerator and may even continue to sprout in the refrigerator during this time.

Avoid seeds that have been treated. Untreated, raw, whole mung bean seeds can usually be found in any health food store.

Tulle netting is a lightweight, inexpensive netting usually found in large spools with a longer lifespan than cheese cloth or other netting. Tulle netting is fairly common and can be found in any fabric store.