When to Havest Wheatgrass?

Provide wheatgrass with the proper growing conditions so that it remains healthy.

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People prefer to grow wheatgrass to turn it into a nutritional drink, but you can also dry it into a powder or add it to a dish. The grass also makes an attractive decoration at the office or in the home. Growing wheatgrass at home allows you to enjoy the plant whenever you desire. Since the grass grows quickly, you can enjoy it within 14 days after planting it.

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After planting wheatgrass, you may harvest it within eight to 14 days. During this period, the grass grows rapidly and turns green in color. Young wheatgrass appears yellow in color until it matures. When you harvest wheatgrass, continue to check on it daily because it will continue to grow. Always measure the wheatgrass daily as the plant grows so that you can determine precisely when to harvest it.

Harvest Wheatgrass

Once the planted wheatgrass reaches 7 to 8 inches tall, you may harvest it. The grass will appear bright green in color when it reaches maturity. Place sharp scissors 3/4 inch above the soil level. Cut the grass from the container to remove it. If you do not have scissors, you can use a sharp chef's knife. Continue to harvest the wheatgrass as it reaches maturity, but it will contain less nutrients once it matures. You can also grow a new batch of wheatgrass as well since it grows quickly.

Store Harvested Wheatgrass

When you harvest wheatgrass, use it as soon as possible for best results. Harvested wheatgrass that you cannot immediately use may be stored in the refrigerator. Keep the wheatgrass crisp by wrapping it in damp paper towels. After you wrap it, store the grass in a zipper-sealed bag and remove the excess air. Wheatgrass will only remain fresh for three to four days when stored in the refrigerator and then it begins to lose its nutritional value.

Tips

Avoid allowing wheatgrass to grow taller than 8 inches because it will become tough and have a bitter flavor. Wheatgrass requires a sunny location to grow so that it can produce chlorophyll. If the wheatgrass appears pale, it may need more sunlight. Straighten wheatgrass blades with your hands before cutting them to ensure that you remove whole blades instead of small portions. Cutting the wheatgrass as close to the soil level as possible ensures that you harvest most of the nutrients. Wheatgrass seeds may be purchased online or through specialty stores because they are not common.

ReferencesThe Daily Gardener: WheatgrassSai Sanjeevini: Wheat GrassHappy Juicer: Growing WheatgrassHappy Juicer: Wheatgrass FAQsPhoto Credit Jupiterimages/Creatas/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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How Often Can You Cut Wheatgrass?

Print this articleWheatgrass offers many nutritional benefits, including vitamins and chlorophyll, and can be added to salads or fruit juice. If you grow wheatgrass in your own garden, you can enjoy these benefits by cutting and harvesting the grass several times before you have to replant. In order to continue enjoying your wheatgrass, you must keep it healthy and productive.

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The first cutting, or harvesting, should take place when the wheatgrass is approximately 7 to 8 inches high. This is when the wheatgrass is at its nutritional peak and typically occurs one week after the initial planting. It is best to cut the grass blades 3/4-inch above the soil level to promote continued growing after harvest.

Care

When planting wheatgrass seeds, use ordinary potting soil with no added chemicals or fertilizers, though manure can be used if desired. Sprinkle the seeds over the soil before adding a second thin layer of soil over the top. The seeds need to be watered every day to keep them moist and kept in indirect sunlight for much of the day. For the first few days, keep a cover over the tray to lock in the moisture so the seeds don't dry out. Keep your wheatgrass at a consistent temperature between 65 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit while it's growing.

Further Cuttings

The second growth of wheatgrass should spring up one week after the first cutting. It should once again be approximately 7 to 8 inches in height before harvesting. The wheatgrass may produce one more round of growth after the second cutting. If it doesn't start to grow after a few days, it's best to compost the soil and either reuse it or get new soil for the next planting.

Considerations

When planting wheatgrass for home use, you may want to consider planting a second tray if you have indoor cats. They enjoy munching on wheatgrass as it reminds them of the grass outdoors. If you don't want them eating what you're going to use, go ahead and plant a tray just for them. Keep harvesting your wheatgrass for as long as it continues to grow. If you don't harvest often, you run the risk of mold forming since the soil must stay consistently moist.

ReferencesHappy Juicer: Growing WheatgrassSai San Jeevini: Wheat GrassHealth Banquet: How Many Times Can You Harvest The Wheatgrass?Health Banquet: Will Cut Wheatgrass Grow Back?Read Next:

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Can You Harvest Grains From Wheatgrass?

Harvest wheat to use as a grain or seed for next year.

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Wheat production uses more land than any other crop around the world, according to Iowa State University. First grown in the United States in 1602, the traditional use for wheat was as a food crop for man and animals. Wheatgrass is the immature version of the wheat plant, Triticum aestivum. Considered a health food since the 1930s, researchers at Illinois State University believe wheatgrass to contain "many unexplained natural healing qualities." Allowing wheatgrass to grow to maturity allows you to harvest the grains.

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Choosing a bread-wheat variety allows for the production of wheatgrass and grain. The major classes for bread wheat include hard-red spring and hard-red winter, according to Iowa State University. Spring wheat is planted in early spring for a late-summer harvest, while winter wheat is planted in the fall for an early-summer harvest.

Growing Location

Wheatgrass is often grown indoors, but it should be grown in an outdoor garden area if intended to reach a mature, harvesting size. As a grass, wheat requires the wind to aid in fertilization for the production of seeds. The size of the garden area can range from a small area to several acres. A 30-foot by 30-foot area will generally produce approximately 50 lbs. of harvested grain, according to John Vivian of "Mother Earth News." One acre has the potential to produce 30 bushels, or 1,800 lbs., of wheat.

Harvesting Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass contains the optimum nutrition for juice when between 6 and 7 inches tall, according to Happy Juicer, a juicing information website. It takes approximately 4 to 5 days to reach a harvesting size. Harvest by trimming with scissors an inch or 2 above the soil. Wash thoroughly before juicing. Continued care and watering will allow the wheat to regrow. You can harvest again within a week or allow the plant to mature and produce grain.

Harvesting Wheat Grains

Sara Pitzer of "Mother Earth News" recommends testing the wheat grain once the stalks begin to brown and the heads droop towards the ground. A properly mature wheat grain will be firm and crunchy when eaten. Small areas can be harvested using a scythe, sickle or sheers. Larger areas may require a farm tractor and implements. Once harvested, the wheat should be bundled into 12-inch sheaves and allowed to cure until hard. After threshing and winnowing, the wheat may be stored in airtight containers or ground for flour.

ReferencesIowa State University; Origin, History and Uses of Oat and Wheat; Lance Gibson, et al.; January 2002Illinois State University; Wheatgrass; Kent SeymourHappy Juicer: Growing Wheatgrass -- A Beginner's Guide"Mother Earth News"; Growing Your Own Wheat; Sara Pitzer; 2010"Mother Earth News"; Growing Grains; John Vivian; 1999Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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