Grow bean sprouts to use on sandwiches and salads.
Beans sprout so well that sprouting beans provides a basic learning activity for children. With dried beans, containers, water and absorbent growing material, anyone can sprout bean plants. Many varieties of beans, such as garbanzos and mung, also work for sprouting to eat as salad sprouts. Whether you want to host a learning activity, start a garden or start a kitchen bean sprouting project, with a few guidelines, you can sprout your own bean plants.
Instructions
1. Sort through dried beans and discard any split, withered or moldy beans.
2. Sprout beans indoors for a science project or just to see how the sprouting works. Line a tray or any shallow container with a layer of paper towels.
3. Place beans on the paper towels. Place the beans so they don't touch. They don't need much room to sprout, so spread them out anyway you want, as long as they aren't right on top of each other.
4. Place another layer of paper towels over the beans. Water lightly. Get the paper towels damp, but don't make a puddle. Excess water causes beans to rot and they won't sprout.
5. Put the tray near a window for natural light.
6. Water the beans regularly, keeping the paper towels moist. After two weeks the beans begin to sprout.
7. Plant beans outdoors after the danger of frost passes. The University of Illinois Extension website recommends planting beans at a depth of 1 inch with bush beans spaced 3-inches apart and pole beans spaced 5-inches apart. Use a stick to poke a hole in the soil, put one bean in the hole and cover with dirt.
8. Water the beans as soon as you plant them. Keep them moist and avoid soaking the soil. Beans will sprout directly in the soil, as long as they don't get too wet.
9. The University of Illinois Extension suggests planting beans every two to four weeks for an ongoing crop through late summer.
Tags: paper towels, bean plants, beans spaced, beans they, dried beans