The Easiest Indoor Garden You'll Ever Grow
To help cultivate a root-to-stalk mind-set, we asked four of our favorite chefs to help us grow a few sprouts of our own.
Photo: Sang An
Carrots
To prep carrots for growing new fronds, cut the top off a few, leaving about an inch of the orange root. (Carrots that already have some green sprouting are most likely to keep growing.) Fill a glass container with a single layer of marbles and add water. Balance carrot stubs on top, making sure they stay in contact with water. Place in a window that gets light (but not bright sunshine). Add water every few days and replace when it gets murky. New tops should start growing in five to seven days.
Scallions
To grow new greens from scallion bulbs, trim the ends off a bunch, leaving about 1½ inches of white bulb. Balance bulbs, roots down, in a clear vase or a drinking glass. Fill with enough water to cover roots. Place in a window. Add water every few days and replace when it gets murky. New greens should start growing in three to four days.
Lentil Sprouts
Rinse ½ cup brown or green lentils and pick through to remove stones or debris. Place in a 1-quart glass sprouting or mason jar. Add 3 cups water and cover with a sprouting screen or two layers of cheesecloth, secured at the neck with a rubber band. Set aside in a warm spot to let soak 8 hours or overnight. Drain lentils, rinsing them thoroughly in running water. Drain again and return to jar, securing sprouting screen or cheesecloth with a rubber band. In a shallow, medium bowl, prop jar at an angle, allowing air to circulate while lentils drain. Repeat the rinsing and draining process three times a day (i.e., morning, noon and night) until a small tail appears on each lentil, about 1 to 2 days. Continue rinsing and draining process until the sprouts are about 1" long, 2 to 3 days. Lentil sprouts will keep, refrigerated, up to 1 week.
Makes 1 cup sprouts. Total time: 3 to 6 days.
To prep carrots for growing new fronds, cut the top off a few, leaving about an inch of the orange root. (Carrots that already have some green sprouting are most likely to keep growing.) Fill a glass container with a single layer of marbles and add water. Balance carrot stubs on top, making sure they stay in contact with water. Place in a window that gets light (but not bright sunshine). Add water every few days and replace when it gets murky. New tops should start growing in five to seven days.
Scallions
To grow new greens from scallion bulbs, trim the ends off a bunch, leaving about 1½ inches of white bulb. Balance bulbs, roots down, in a clear vase or a drinking glass. Fill with enough water to cover roots. Place in a window. Add water every few days and replace when it gets murky. New greens should start growing in three to four days.
Lentil Sprouts
Rinse ½ cup brown or green lentils and pick through to remove stones or debris. Place in a 1-quart glass sprouting or mason jar. Add 3 cups water and cover with a sprouting screen or two layers of cheesecloth, secured at the neck with a rubber band. Set aside in a warm spot to let soak 8 hours or overnight. Drain lentils, rinsing them thoroughly in running water. Drain again and return to jar, securing sprouting screen or cheesecloth with a rubber band. In a shallow, medium bowl, prop jar at an angle, allowing air to circulate while lentils drain. Repeat the rinsing and draining process three times a day (i.e., morning, noon and night) until a small tail appears on each lentil, about 1 to 2 days. Continue rinsing and draining process until the sprouts are about 1" long, 2 to 3 days. Lentil sprouts will keep, refrigerated, up to 1 week.
Makes 1 cup sprouts. Total time: 3 to 6 days.