The key to good wheatgrass juice is freshness. And of course, the best way to ensure real freshness is to grow it yourself. Thankfully, it’s actually an easy thing to do and you can create a source of wheatgrass at home without becoming a farmer. All you need is some wheatgrass seed, a few gardening supplies and a window.

First, get your stuff together. Wheat seed can be found at various health food locations (and here) as well as gardening stores or even agricultural supply places. Then you need at least one large gardening tray, plastic wrap and a bag of potting soil.

Fill up your tray with loose potting soil, and give it a good soaking. Spread out your wheat seeds on the surface of the soil, leaving roughly a quarter to half an inch between the seeds. Don’t worry about precise spacing. You harvest soon enough after sprouting that it doesn’t matter that much. Sprinkle a fine layer of potting mix over the seeds, and then cover the tray with a piece of plastic wrap.

Some people recommend having the seeds sprout in a jar first but they will grow perfectly well when sprouted right on the soil and this way saves a step.

Place your plastic-wrapped tray near a window or under a fluorescent lamp. Keep it warm without overheating. A really hot window isn’t a good idea. If your rooms are cool, a seedling heat mat under the tray can be a helpful touch though not strictly necessary.

After a few days, your wheat seeds will start to germinate and little sprouts will start to poke out of the soil. You can take the plastic off at this point as long as you water regularly to keep the wheat seedlings damp at all times.

Let them grow in indirect light for about a week to 10 days. You’ll notice a second leaf blade start to develop, and that means harvest time. Use a pair of scissors to snip off all your seedlings at the soil level and you’re ready to get juicing with your wheatgrass.

Technically, you can just let the plants continue growing and take another harvest but the bulk of the nutrients are already spent at this point and there won’t be anywhere near as much healthy goodness in your juice with future crops, so I recommend only growing one harvest a time and starting over. The usual approach is to reseed a new tray. If you have 2 trays, you can start up tray #2 about a week after you start tray #1 to create a more continuous supply of wheatgrass for your juicing needs. Once cut, you can either juice up your wheatgrass right away or store it in the fridge for about a week.

A few things to watch out for. Don’t let your trays get too hot. Wheat seedlings don’t like too much harsh direct light, so don’t feel you have to keep your trays in the brightest window of your house. You may also have trouble with mold due to the constant damp conditions and close contact of the seedlings. If this is a problem, add a fan nearby for better air flow and leave a bit more space between your seeds when you plant next time.

That’s all there is to growing your own wheatgrass for juicing. It really doesn’t get much simpler.

Now, of course – you will need a wheatgrass juicer – and the Healthy Juicer is perfect for just that!