Postby Harriet » Thu Feb 15, 2018 2:24 pm
Fun with beans -
I grew the second crop of mung bean sprouts according to some tips (not all) I learned from youtube videos of Chinese, Korean and Laotian ladies and one man whose nationality I never figured out. They were really trying to help me! But it was mostly visual learning!
Basically, this time I put in a first layer of nylon bag (like onions or potatoes come in - Korean lady's idea), then layered of natural (bleach-free) paper towel (that was the man's idea). Some used cloth instead, but then there were criticisms in the comments about whether you could be sure of cleanliness. For my well-drained pot about a quart sized (opposed to all their huge ones), I folded the paper towel in quarters, then cut it to a square and put in next. Then put in 1/4-cup mung beans soaked overnight and rinsed. The idea is that when the beans send roots down in the darkness, they'll have something moist to anchor on, and will emerge together, easy to harvest.
Also I watered more often, going from 3 times a day last time, to 4 this time. Several videos insisted at least every 5 hours, and one every 3 hours, getting up in the night, but I compromised. This is what was ready 5.5 days later - I think I could have harvested at 5 days and may try that next time. It depends on season/warmth, too. The nylon bag lifts off right away; the paper towel needs a little tugging but not much. I can see if it were, say, clean new muslin, it would also work and might be easier. Then you remove the green outside of the seeds that have fallen away, and any bit of root you don't like, or whatever - it's all good, though, so you don't have to remove anything. I don't think I had a single seed that didn't sprout.
There were 3 bowlfuls like the one pictured, about 2 pints. Most are 3 inches long, with some at 3.5, just about the size restaurants serve or can be found in groceries.
This is what the netting and paper toweling look like.
The pot with drain holes is beside the plate.
so plump! Fresh, fresh.
bottle cap to show size