Sprouting seed and grasses

[elferoz777]

Hi guys,

Now that I am keeping four times the amount of birds I need a little advice on producing larger amounts of sprouted seed.

I just want to know what everyone else does so that I can do it in a quick and hygienic manner.

Until now I put small amount in a opaque container with a a small amount of hot water.

Also when we spout seeds can the resulting plants be used as greens or are these not useful at all?

also I would like to start growing some seeding grasses, any advice on where to get these?

Thanks in advance

El Feroz

[Tiaris]

I sprout a month's supply of sprouted seed at a time & freeze it.
Up until now I've used Virkon S solution to soak the seed in for half a day, then strain off the water with no rinsing.
The soaked seed is all placed into a very large stainless steel bowl which is left in a warm place until it starts to sprout with the sprout just visible, then freeze it into a couple of ice-cream containers.
The soaked seed needs to be thoroughly stirred twice a day until it has sprouted otherwise the top layer dries out & the bottom layer is too wet & it sprouts very unevenly from too far advanced to not sprouted at all. By stirring regularly you get a very even batch.
The best & easiest green seed to grow is white millet. Grow in warmer months only. Fertilise when just a couple of inches high & keep well watered until it starts to head. Harvest when the kernels feel heavy in the head & some grains are just starting to go yellow. Freeze down.

[Craig52]

Tiaris,i do exactly the same as you,but can you tell me roughly how much seed would be in a months supply(kgs) and how much VirconS is used in the water to soak that amount of seed, as i soak/spout enough for around 3 months+ supply and thats 2 ten litre buckets of seed. Cheers Craig

[Jayburd]

That's what comes with a big collection I guess!! I only do a weeks worth at a time.
Elferoz, I just sow some finch seed to obtain seeding grasses.
While on the subject, where can you buy Virkon S on a local scale? Never seen it in any pet supply stores or anything.(although from what I gather its essentially a cleaning product)

[Tiaris]

Craig,

I soak about 4 kg of dry seed (mixed millets/canary & white clover) & this makes 2x4litre ice-cream containers about three-quarters full when sprouted. I use 2 heaped teaspoons of Virkon into a 3 litre bottle of water.
I feed it out 50:50 with frozen half-ripe white millet.

Graham.

[SamDavis]

While on the subject, where can you buy Virkon S on a local scale? Never seen it in any pet supply stores or anything.(although from what I gather its essentially a cleaning product)

Gomer is selling 500g VirkonS on here and you can get the little 50g bags at my local produce store and sydney FSA sells the little bags on their sales table (but buy it from Gomer). I use it all the time as a disinfectant. I have it mixed in a spray bottle and any cages, nestboxes, etc I clean get a spray. I also use it to soak the seed prior to sprouting - 1 teaspoon per litre (which is half the disinfectant spray strength).

[Jayburd]

thanks Sam!

[Craig52]

Craig,

I soak about 4 kg of dry seed (mixed millets/canary & white clover) & this makes 2x4litre ice-cream containers about three-quarters full when sprouted. I use 2 heaped teaspoons of Virkon into a 3 litre bottle of water.
I feed it out 50:50 with frozen half-ripe white millet.

Graham.

Ok,i use one heaped teaspoon to a 10 litre bucket.The bucket is 3 quarters filled with seed then topped with water and by the time the water is absorbed by the seed,it swells to just under the top,anyhow the reason i am worried about is not useing enough Vircon as you seem to be useing quite abit more than me for less volume.
Since my C operation and radiation,i have totally lost my sense of smell so i don't know if i'm feeding out ranked seed,so do you think i should up the dose of Virkon and how much is to much.
To a 10 litre bucket with seed as above,i would probably add 5 litres of water,so 3 heaped teaspoons wouldn't be over the top would it? Craig

[Tiaris]

I realise I have been using slightly above the recommended rate of Virkon but I have plenty of it & only use it once a month. I have never smelt anything untoward from the seed done this way.
After hearing some informed concerns regarding the chemical composition of Virkon lately I'm going to try Multiclens/aviclens next batch instead but may have to rinse. Time will tell.

[E Orix]

I must be stingy as I use half (1/2) Tea Spoon of Vircon S per plastic bucket full of seed and water.
I fill the bucket to within 75mm of seed add the water to just under the bucket rim.
After 2 to 3 hours the contents are poured into another bucket which has numerous small holes drilled into it
including the base part. It is drained well then put into containers and kept frozen and feed out frozen.
If it is drained properly then it will freeze without the seed being locked up with ice.
It would last for ages if held in a freezer.
As for the comments about Vircon being a no no,all I know is that I have been told by several respected people
that it is a problem and just as many saying it is fine.Make your own decision,all I know it is used extensively in the Dairy Industry.