Growing Big, Juicy Sunflower Shoots Without Soil

These are instructions for an 8"x10" large SproutMASTER tray, or a similar tray with a mesh bottom. Just modify amount of seed for a larger or smaller tray.

• One mesh bottom tray, SproutMASTER or something similar. 

• Sunflowers, approx. 1cup or 90 g or 3 oz, or one to two layers in your tray.

• Rustproof larger pan to hold tray, Pyrex glass baking dish works well.

• Polyethylene sheet large enough to cover the tray. This is used to keep moisture in during the early stages of sprouting, and to help raise humidity during the later stages to aid hull drop.

• Option - spray bottle for moistening seeds.

• Option - Sea Spray kelp fertilizer, mixed according to directions.

Day 1
           - Wash the seeds in clean water, drain, and refill container to soak the seeds for 4 to 8 hours. (option - soak seeds in Sea Spray solution)
           - Spread the soaked seeds as evenly as you can over the tray. It should be approximately one to two layers of seeds.
           - Loosely cover with the poly sheet (or SproutMASTER lid), to keep in moisture.

Day 2 and 3
           - Lift plastic and spray or sprinkle seeds to keep moist. They should be moist but not standing in water.

Day 3 or 4
          - Sunflower roots should be forming. Set the tray into 1/4" water in the larger tray. 

Day 5
         - Change water daily to keep approximately 1/4" deep. You can allow the leaves to lift the loose polyethylene cover, in dry conditions. Remove if mould is noted.

Day 6 to 9
         - Continue checking/adding water every day. (option - you can use Sea Spray solution for some of the waterings.)

  Day 10 to 12    
        - Cut or pinch off sunflower shoots as needed. they should be 3" to 6" tall by now. You can harvest the whole tray by cutting the roots below the mesh and pulling the whole growing mass out of the sprouter. Pick off hulls and cut off roots if desired. Refrigerate.

Sunflowers don't grow a second crop.

HINTS-
-Grow OK between 68F and 75F.
-Avoid direct sunlight, bright indirect light is OK. Fluorescent light is OK as well.
-Dry air is preferable to humid, if mould is a problem.
-Sunflowers can be consumed from as soon as the leaves open until the second leaves (first true leaves) start to form. After that they will start to get tougher.
-Hulls can be removed by picking off near the end of the growing. Most should fall off. Keeping the humidity higher by covering with plastic helps hull removal. Light brushing with your hand before harvesting will also knock off more hulls. Misting twice daily will help the hulls release.
Black sunflowers generally lose hulls easier than striped sunflowers.