Wheatgrass Microgreens Growing Guide — Grow and Juice at Home in India

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

Quick answer: Wheatgrass is grown to be juiced, not eaten raw. Soak 8–12 hours, sow 60–80 g per 10x10 tray, keep in the dark for 2 days, and harvest in 8–10 days at 15–20cm. A 30ml shot from a cold-press juicer is the usual daily serving. If the grass looks yellow, it needs more light — it usually greens up within 24–48 hours somewhere brighter.

Wheatgrass is different from every other microgreen in one fundamental way: you don't eat it — you juice it. Growing it at home is far simpler than most people expect, and a fresh shot is a popular part of many Indian morning routines.

What Makes Wheatgrass Different

Unlike radish, methi or sunflower microgreens that you eat directly, wheatgrass blades are too fibrous to chew comfortably. Juicing extracts the green liquid from the fibres.

Nutritional Profile

• Chlorophyll: the pigment behind wheatgrass's deep green colour
• Vitamins A, C, E and K: naturally present in young wheatgrass
• Iron: useful for vegetarian diets
• Calcium and magnesium: bone health and muscle function

Growing Guide at a Glance

These numbers match our Seed Calculator.

• Difficulty: Medium ⭐⭐⭐
• Soak time: 8–12 hours
• Quantity per 10x10 tray: 60–80 g
• Dark period: 2 days
• Harvest: Day 8–10 at 15–20cm height
• Best season: October–March, or an AC room in summer

Step-by-Step Growing Instructions

Step 1 — Soaking

Place 60–80 g of wheat berries in a large bowl, cover with room-temperature water and soak for 8–12 hours. The grains swell and a tiny white root tip may appear — a great sign. Drain, rinse twice, and let them drain for 15 minutes.

Step 2 — Sowing

Spread the soaked grains in a single dense layer across moistened cocopeat (4 discs per 10x10 tray). It will look thick — that's correct. Press gently and evenly.

Step 3 — Dark Period

Cover with a solid tray lid and keep in the dark for 2 days. Move to light once shoots are 2–3cm tall.

Step 4 — Light Phase and Harvest

Move to bright indirect light and keep a fan running — dense wheatgrass needs good airflow. Bottom water only. Harvest on Day 8–10 when the grass reaches 15–20cm, cutting close to the base with clean scissors.

Mould — The Main Challenge with Wheatgrass

Dense sowing plus moisture makes wheatgrass more mould-prone than most varieties. Prevention:

• Keep a fan running from Day 1
• Bottom water only — never mist after germination
• Check the base daily; fine white root hairs are normal, grey spreading fuzz is mould — see our fungus guide

The 2-Cut Harvest Method

Wheatgrass is an exception to the single-harvest rule. After the first cut, keep the tray in light with bottom watering, and a second, slightly thinner flush often grows from the same roots within a week. After the second cut, compost the roots — or reuse the cocopeat after sterilising it (see our cocopeat reuse guide).

How to Juice Wheatgrass

• Cold-press juicer (best): extracts the most juice with the least heat.
• Blender method: blend cut grass with a little water and strain through muslin. Less efficient but workable.
• What to add: a squeeze of lemon, a piece of ginger or an amla makes it much more palatable.
• Storage: drink fresh; if storing, refrigerate in an airtight bottle for no more than 24 hours.

⚠️ Start with a small amount (30ml) and increase gradually. People with wheat allergy or coeliac disease should avoid wheatgrass, and pregnant women should check with a doctor first. Microgreens support a healthy diet; they do not treat or prevent disease. This article is informational only — not medical advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much wheatgrass seed do I need per tray?

60–80 g per 10x10 inch tray, soaked 8–12 hours first.

Q: Can I juice wheatgrass in a regular mixer-grinder?

Yes, in a pinch — blend quickly with a little water and strain straight away. A cold-press juicer gives more juice and less heat, so it's worth it if you plan a daily habit.

Q: Why is my wheatgrass yellow?

Not enough light. Move it somewhere brighter — it usually greens up within 24–48 hours. Aim for at least 6 hours of bright indirect light a day.

Q: How often should I sow for a daily shot?

Sow a new tray every few days on a rolling schedule, and use the second cut from each tray. Our Grow Planner can help plan it.