Growing Broccoli in a bags?

When I wrote my book I said that Broccoli can be a bit of a sensitive sprout to grow. They love growing in trays because they like to root through the slats, but only want to be the top tray (spoilt!!) and sometimes need extra water. But if you don’t have time for that, I’ve discovered they can grow in hemp or flax bags. This is hugely exciting because it means they are much more accessible for busy people. If you grow them in a hemp, flax or cotton bag, they get the air they need and the coolness.  What they wont get is light and to turn green but you don’t need that to happen to get the gluconisolates to form.  Glucosinolates are the cancer fighting compounds that turn into sulforaphane in the body and the reason that scientists are all over them and are trying to bottle them. 

How to sprout in bags

● Soak broccoli  or seeds overnight in a bowl of fresh water. I always use filtered

water for the initial soaking (the stage where the seeds absorb water).

● Rinse and then put soaked seeds into your sprouting bag. Hang

your bag somewhere where you will see them. Over the sink is perfect, or

even in the bathroom. Ideally it will be somewhere cool, not over a radiator or

fire.

● Twice a day run bags under the tap or dip into a bowl of water.

● Do not reuse the water.

● Broccoli, sprouts and take 4 – 7 days to mature depending on the weather. They are ready when they have a double leaf.

● The ones at the top of the bag will get greener than the

ones deep inside so shake your sprouts up every now and then.

● Put sprouts in the fridge, they will last for a week. Wash your bag and start

again!