ORGANIC SHOOTS & SPROUTS: GROWING INFORMATION Sprouts and shoots are grown for their tender and

nutritious young seedlings. The main differences are that sprouts are not grown in a medium and the roots are eaten. Shoots are similar to micro-greens, being grown in medium and clipped along the stem, and tend to be large seeded crops that usually have specific instructions for growing and harvesting all to their own. There are many ways to grow sprouts and shoots and largely depends on your scale of operation. Basic instructions are included here. CULTURAL INFO SPROUTS: Sprouts are immature seedlings that are eaten just after seedlings emerge and cotyledons open up but before any true leaves appear. The most popular types of sprouts are greens and grains, with notable health interest in broccoli or other Brassica crop sprouts. Sprouts are best grown in glass or plastic containers, in seed sprouters or on mesh or screened flats in low light intensity. Low light is desired for stem elongation and tenderness. Plants are greened up within a few hours of harvesting or eating. Best results are acquired when seed is soaked and washed on a regular cycle. Each seed packet of sprouts has specific information on label about its specific soaking and rinsing schedule. Quickly cool sprouts by rinsing in cool water when they are at desired size. Excess water should be removed when packed. Store in refrigerator wrapped or in container. SEED SPECS: see individual crop page MARKET GROWER REGULATIONS FOR SPROUTS: Growing sprouts organically depends entirely upon the ability of the producer to achieve adequate levels of sanitation using materials approved by the certifying organization. Until the development of consistent national organic standards, each individual must address this issue according to the rules under which he or she is currently certified. Growing sprouts has been defined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a food processing activity, not an agricultural one. As a result, FDA (not USDA) regulates the production process and the facilities in which sprouts are grown. Further information on food safety related to sprout production can be found at http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/foodborn.html or contact ISGA. LINKS: GENERAL INFO: http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/sprout.html#books REFERENCES: http://www.sproutman.com/ http://www.isga-sprouts.org/ http://www.sproutnet.com/

BOOKS: The Sprout Garden by Mark M. Braunstein Sprouting For All Seasons: How and What to Sprout, Including Delicious, Easy-toPrepare Recipes by Bertha B. Larimore Sprouts: The Miracle Food: The Complete Guide to Sprouting by Steve Meyerowitz The Sprouting Book by Ann Wigmore CULTURAL INFO SHOOTS: Shoots are large seeded immature seedlings. The most popular are pea, sunflower and popcorn. Shoots can be grown in wide array of medium such as potting soil, soilless potting mix, vermiculite or specialty systems for commercial productions. The main idea is that plants in general are aided by nutrients, mainly Nitrogen, in the medium. Crops like sprouts, shoots and micro-greens are too young and under developed to take advantage of these nutrients. All seeds are prepackaged with the appropriate nutrients to grow from seed to seedling until true leaves are developed and plants begin photosynthesizing. Until this point they do not require nutrient input for growth, although can benefit from a small amount. It is always best to experiment and see what works for you. Choose flats with drainage holes for planting, 1020 plastic flats work well. Fill flats to an inch or more with moist potting soil or soilless mix. As the plants develop they need more and more water. Make sure to use enough medium to hold adequate amounts of water till harvest. A liquid kelp fertilizer is helpful to provide high concentrations of cytokynin, a natural plant growth hormone. Cytokinin in combination with micronutrients in seaweed increased vigor and health of micro-greens and shoots. Best results are acquired when seed is soaked 8-12 hours before planting. Lay seeds on soil surface making a thick blanket for maximum production. Cover tray with an inverted flat with drainage holes for air circulation to avoid mold and fungus problems. Optimal temperatures for shoot sprouting is 70F. Water lightly once or twice a day to keep pea sprouts moist until roots develop. When roots bury themselves in medium increase watering. Use liquid kelp fertilizer if needed. Peas- Peas prefer cool temps for germination, if you are unable to keep temps at 70F or cooler use less seed to avoid mold and fungus problems. Uncover shoots when 1-2 tall or when they push cover up. Green up shoots in a well lit area. Clip just above medium surface when 2-4 tall and leaves are green in about 8-14 days. Reduce watering 8-12 hours before harvesting for best keeping quality. Store dry shoots in plastic bags or sealed container in fridge for 4-6 weeks. Shoots can produce a second crop but are notably less tender and tough. Peas shoots can also be grown outdoors, or you can easily clip growing tips of full size plants. Dwarf Grey snap peas have purple flowers that are desirable for chefs and market growers when harvested from mature plants. Popcorn- Uncover shoots when 2-3 tall (in about 3-4 days) or when they push cover up. Popcorn shoots have best quality when blanched and light yellow at this stage or green up in well lit area. Clip just above medium surface. Reduce watering 8-12 hours before harvesting for best keeping quality. Store dry shoots in plastic bags or sealed container in fridge for 1-3 weeks. Shoots can produce a second crop but are notably less tender and tough. Sunflowers- Earthworm

castings (20-30% maximum mixed in medium) improve growth, helps seedlings shed their hulls easier, and may improve flavor quality. Note that when pre-soaked that sunflower seeds will float. Weigh down seeds to keep submerged during pre-soak. Spread seeds thickly on surface of medium (seeds take up more room than seedlings after emergence so ok to spread thickly, lessen density if mold or fungal problems arise). Sunflower shoots grow well at 70F and higher. Uncover shoots when 3-4 tall or when they push cover up. Harvest before first true leaves appear. Hulls usually fall off cotyledon leaves but there are usually some that do not shed as easily, gently run hands or tray at an angel back and forth over tops. Clip just above medium surface. Reduce watering 8-12 hours before harvesting for best keeping quality. Store dry shoots in plastic bags or sealed container in fridge for 1-3 weeks. Shoots can produce a second crop which is a result of seeds that are slower to germinate, not the first cuttings regrowth. SEED SPECS: Peas- (small seeded) ~1,500 sds/lb, Popcorn- ~4,000 sds/lb, Sunflowers~3,300 sds/lb. SEEDING RATES: Peas- (small seeded) ~1/2lb/flat, Popcorn- ~1/2lb/flat, Sunflowers~1/4lb/flat.