Fodder Sprouting Results

If you've been following our progress in growing fodder, you know that I've been conducting an experiment to compare various sprouting methods.

Wheat sprouts after 24 hours of sitting in the trays.

24 hours after being put into the tray (total time 48 hours), it's becoming a little more obvious that the shorter soak time in the vinegar solution seems to be doing the best, as far as sprouting time goes.

Wheat sprouts after 36 hours of sitting in the trays.

That same trend continues through the day, although it's starting to look like the 1- and 8-hour batches are lagging behind the most.  I suspect that may be because they're in the middle of the trays and thus may not be getting as much water as the ones on the edges of the tray.

Progress of sprouts that had vinegar for first 1/2 hour of soak.

Progress of sprouts that had vinegar for first 1 hour of soak.

Progress of sprouts that had vinegar for first 2 hours of soak.

Progress of sprouts that had vinegar for first 4 hours of soak.

Progress of sprouts that had vinegar for first 8 hours of soak.

Progress of sprouts that had vinegar for first 12 hours of soak.

The above pictures were taken at 51 hours, 72 hours, and 103 hours in the tray, except for the 12-hour-vinegared batch, which was 12 hours older than the others at each of the pictures.  The 1/2-hour-vinegared batch was the first to show green on the sprouts, and continues to be the furthest grown, which tells me that it's the best environment for sprouting.

I did see some hints of fuzzy white late on Day 4, so all batches got a spray down of white vinegar, and a repeat treatment on Day 5, which doesn't seem to have affected the wheat's growth.  I didn't tweeze any out, but the white fuzz has dissipated anyway. Looks like we should be on schedule for serving this batch in a few more days.

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