If you are interested in incorporating wheatgrass into your diet, there are a few ways to go about it. You could go out and buy pre-grown wheatgrass, or you could buy pre-juiced extracts. Or, with very little work, you could grow your own wheatgrass at home, saving yourself some money and providing an ample supply, whenever you need it.

Of course, you know that wheatgrass offers all sorts of wonderful health benefits for people following a raw food diet. Fresh wheatgrass juice contains vitamins, minerals and living food enzymes that can, among other things, help to clarify and strengthen your blood, skin and hair; encourage the growth of muscle tissue; and keep your body healthy and able to fight off various minor infections.

Now, one of the down sides to growing your own wheatgrass is the length of time required to cultivate a crop. Wheatgrass can take up to two hundred days to grow to the point where it is ready to be harvested and juiced. Another problem area is the amount of wheatgrass it takes to produce a viable amount of juice. Remember, this is a grass we’re talking about, not a big, juicy orange, so it will take a lot to produce a little.

All that being said, it is worthwhile to grow your own wheatgrass. The first thing you will need to do is sprout your wheatgrass seeds. This usually takes between six to ten hours of soaking in a shallow water bath. Afterwards, you can drain off the excess water, and plant the seeds into a shallow seed tray, filled with your preference of growing medium. Most planting soils will work well for this, but you can mix in compost as you see fit. Once you have distributed the sprouted seeds over the growing medium, cover with a thin layer of soil or peat moss, and water.

The seed tray should be kept in a bright area to grow, but it does not need direct sunlight. Water the seedlings when the soil appears dry, and within a week, you should see the first shoots of your very first crop of wheatgrass. Your crop will be ready for harvesting when it reaches around six inches in height. At this point, simply clip the grass with a pair of scissors, and juice away.

One thing to watch for as you grow your wheatgrass is mould. At best, mould in your wheatgrass can cause an unpleasant flavor; at worst, it can cause a severe allergic reaction. If you see mould in your wheatgrass crop, simply remove the affected seedlings and soil.

Once trimmed, the wheatgrass crop will continue to grow, and if you choose to grow it indoors, it can continue to provide you with fresh wheatgrass all year round.

The juice you produce will be great when added to your favorite green smoothies, or on its own as a very healthy raw food drink that will provide you with a myriad of health benefits, at a fraction of the cost of buying it in the stores.