Wheatgrass at Home — How to Grow, Juice, and Drink It the Right Way

✍️ Sonia Pardasani, Founder BageechaBox | 🕐 6 min read | Variety Guide

Wheatgrass is one of the most searched microgreens in India — and one of the most misunderstood. People know it is healthy; fewer know exactly how to grow it well at home, or how to get the most from it. This is the complete guide: growing, juicing, drinking, and what to realistically expect.

What Makes Wheatgrass Special

Wheatgrass is the young grass of the wheat plant (Triticum aestivum), harvested 7–9 days after germination at peak chlorophyll content. At this stage it is one of the most nutrient-dense foods available:

• Chlorophyll: Nearly identical molecular structure to haemoglobin; supports oxygenation of blood and detoxification of the liver
• Enzymes: Over 90 minerals and enzymes that are destroyed by cooking in mature wheat
• Vitamins A, C, E, K: All present in significant concentrations in a 30ml shot
• Iron and calcium: Highly bioavailable forms; relevant for vegetarians and vegans
• Alkalising: Wheatgrass juice has an alkalising effect on the body, counteracting the acidic effects of processed food and urban pollution

How to Grow Wheatgrass at Home in India

Seeds: Use hard winter wheat seeds sold specifically for wheatgrass growing. Do not use wheat from a flour mill — it may be treated. BageechaBox wheatgrass seeds are tested for germination and free from treatment.

Soaking: Required. Soak wheatgrass seeds for 8–12 hours in clean water. Rinse and drain before sowing. Some growers soak for a full 24 hours in warm Indian summers — this is fine.

Seed quantity: 30–50 grams per 10x10 inch tray. Spread in a dense, even layer.

Stage	Days	What to Do
Soak	Night before Day 0	8–12 hrs soak. Rinse well.
Sow & Blackout	Days 0–2	Spread on moist cocopeat. Cover with weight tray in dark.
Light phase	Days 3–6	Move to indirect sunlight. Bottom water daily. Grass turns deep green.
Harvest	Days 7–9	Cut when grass is 15–20cm tall, before the second blade appears. Juice immediately.

When to harvest: Cut wheatgrass just before the jointing stage — when a second blade of grass begins to appear inside the first. At this point, nutrient content begins to decline. Harvest in the morning for peak chlorophyll.

How to Juice Wheatgrass at Home

You need either:

• A manual wheatgrass juicer (recommended) — cold-press juicers work best; no heat, maximum nutrient retention. Available on Amazon India for ₹500–2,000.
• A high-speed blender — blend with a small amount of water, then strain through a muslin cloth or fine mesh strainer. Works well but slightly less yield.

Do not use a centrifugal juicer — the heat and oxidation destroy most of the beneficial enzymes.

How to Drink Wheatgrass

• Standard dose: 30ml (one shot) per day, on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning
• Beginners: Start with 15ml and build up over a week — wheatgrass is potent and can cause nausea if introduced too quickly on an unused digestive system
• Taste: Grassy, earthy, slightly sweet. Many people mix with lemon juice, apple juice, or ginger to make it more palatable
• Drink immediately: Fresh wheatgrass juice oxidises within 15 minutes. Always juice and drink right away. Do not store.

Common Problems Growing Wheatgrass in India

Mold at base: Very common in Indian humidity, especially during monsoon. Causes: over-watering, poor airflow, or too-dense sowing. Solution: bottom water only (never top water wheatgrass), ensure good air circulation, reduce seed density.

Yellow grass: Insufficient light during the light phase. Move to a brighter window or use a grow light. Wheatgrass needs strong light to build chlorophyll.

Slow germination: Water temperature too cold, or seeds not soaked long enough. In Indian winters, use slightly warm water for soaking.