How to Grow Wheatgrass on Paper Towels

Wheat grass grows from wheat berries which are the seed of Triticum aestivum, or common wheat. Wheat grass is rich in vitamins A, B, C and E, calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron, though its use as a treatment for ailments such as colitis, cancer or kidney stones are debatable, according to Vanderbilt University and the Creighton School of Medicine. The wheat berries must be sprouted before they can be grown but it is easy to grow your own wheat grass for home use.

Wheat berries

Fine strainer

Water

Glass jar with lid

Seed tray

Paper towels

Watering can

Scissors

Pour your wheat berries into a fine strainer and rinse them several times. Put them in the glass jar and fill it with water. Screw on a lid and shake them up to coat all the surfaces with water. The seeds need to soak and suck up water for eight to 10 hours to enhance germination. Drain the seeds after the time has elapsed.

Spread three or four layers of moistened paper towels on the bottom of a seed tray. Use an unbleached paper towel that is all natural. Add an inch of water. Pour the seeds into the tray and spread them out so that they are not overlapping. They will take longer to sprout if they are not in a single layer and the lower seeds could mold before they grow.

Cover the seed tray with two layers of moist paper towel. Put the seed tray in a warm location like the top of the refrigerator. You can place the tray in a green house if you have one but it's not necessary. Every day remove the paper towel and add moisture if the tray is not wet. There should not be discernible liquid in the bottom of the tray, but the seeds must feel moist.

Check the wheat berries daily and remove the paper towel when you see green sprouting from the seeds. Then move them to a bright light area. Sprinkle water on the seeds twice a day and wait six to eight days before you harvest the wheat grass. Cut if off just above the root and juice it. The grass will often reward you with a further harvest.