Wheat Grass Production

[kenc45]

Wheat Grass is very quick growing, and is very nutritious - and my Rabbits love it! I have been experimenting with different methods of producing wheat grass - mainly just changing things like: Paper towel under, dirt on top; Dirt under, mulch on top; Inside, outside, Sprouting first, v. just planting, etc.

I grew this for a few months last year, but got tired of the continuous work - just 2 rabbits would plow though a tray each day. Also when I go away nothing gets watered. So, I know if it is going to work long term, I need to automate at least the watering.

I think that a flood and drain system would work fine - so long as it doesn't get deep enough for the seeds to float away. I am doing a manual flood and drain in my laundry at the moment (my partner loves it when I bring the garden into the laundry! ). I may even tie it into my (eventual) AP setup.

Has anyone tried this? Any ideas, tips, etc. I will post photos of my current wheat grass trays, and a couple of plans soon. I'm off to Darwin this weekend, so it may not be until Tuesday, but I'll take the photos today.

[Hamish]

What about floating a tray of media and seeds on top of the fish tank? You could have a few trays floating on the surface at any one time giving you enough to rotate - so if they take 5 days to grow then have 5 trays and rotate them.

[GaryD]

Hi Ken,

I've grown wheatgrass before.....or more accurately, barley grass. I've been interested in hydroponic fodder for a long time.

You might try a shallow layer of coco peat instead of the paper. It will hold a bit of moisture and if the rabbits eat some it won't do them any harm.

One of the issues with growing hydroponic fodder (or wheatgrass) is that grain tends to go mouldy quite quickly. In fact, it comes with mould spores attached. Mouldy food should never be fed to any livestock....it can prove fatal if they eat it. Thorough cleaning of the trays in which the grass is grown is essential.

You can buy large turnkey hydroponic fodder production sheds but I've been wanting to develop a miniature version of the same thing for years. Ideally, I'd like to be able to turn off a couple of trays of fodder per day.

Gary

[kenc45]

Hamish, I've never tried the floating raft method to grown anything before. I'm willing to try anything once.

Gary, Ulimately that's what I'd like - a full system. I always think I should try to do things manually first, but realistically, then I forget to water, or leave them soaking too long. Automated is better for me.

Last year, I grew barley and wheat - both a very similar to grow. Then a little bug got into the barley bin and it was all eaten from the inside ??

I have found that I have less mould trouble if I grow it with soil on top, rather than without.

[kenc45]

Photos of my current wheat grass trays:

These are the successful ones on day 4 of growing. First I soak the seed for about 10 hours, then put into tray.

1. Paper towel on bottom, soil on top
2. Paper towel both sides to start, then removed from top, as paper towel is too tough for the grass to get through these days
3. Close up of the early growth. I never thought I'd be so facinated by watching grass grow!!

[Murray]

What do you grow the wheat/barley grass for ? To use on salads or to make a medicinal potion of some sort ?

There is a hydro shop up the road from me and the guy who runs it is always as high as a kite, looks at me like he is in love with me or something, and has a grin like a Cheshire cat. (bit of a worry really. I always stand very close to the door while talking to him. I am getting on a bit, but I am told that with the aid of certain potions, even I may be attractive.)
He has got trays of wheat grass around the shop.
I am wondering if it has some other use ?

[GaryD]

Wheatgrass is for human consumption. You often see it in those little Boost Juice shops where a shot glass of the wheatgrass liquid will cost you about $3.00. Its proponents claim that it is a health tonic.

Hydroponic fodder is for livestock. It is grown in a similar manner but in much larger quantities and it may involve wheat and/or other grains like barley and oats. The idea is that by the seventh day it will be about 200mm high and will have increased its mass several times. The protein and mineral content of the shoots will also have increased (over the original grain).

Hydro fodder has been around for a long time. I believe it was first grown in the late 19th century for feeding to thoroughbreds. Since then it has been promoted for use as a drought feeding strategy.

I'd like to get its production down to a sustainable, consistent scale for backyard use......for chicken, quail, ducks, rabbits....and other micro-livestock. As I indicated earlier, the growth of toxic moulds on the grain is the biggest inhibitor to successful ongoing hydro grass production.

Gary

[fishfood]

What do you grow the wheat/barley grass for ? To use on salads or to make a medicinal potion of some sort ?

There is a hydro shop up the road from me and the guy who runs it is always as high as a kite, looks at me like he is in love with me or something, and has a grin like a Cheshire cat. (bit of a worry really. I always stand very close to the door while talking to him. I am getting on a bit, but I am told that with the aid of certain potions, even I may be attractive.)
He has got trays of wheat grass around the shop.
I am wondering if it has some other use ?

\Murray it wont be the trays of wheat grass thats making him heigh it/s the plants of other stuff thats growing in the back room or in the ceiling

[Hamish]

\Murray it wont be the trays of wheat grass thats making him heigh it/s the plants of other stuff thats growing in the back room or in the ceiling

Or inside his computer - check this out!

http://www.homegrown-hydroponics.com/pcgr3plsthyg.html

[anniefish]

Interesting,
I wonder if we could make a mini incubator in a computer tower?? What do you think Gary?