Seed source for micro greens and sprouting?

[Flboy]

Hey, those of you that are into it, what source do you use for buying seeds for micro greens? This would be for our fids consumption and humans!

 

[ChristaNL]

if you means sprouts...


For humans -> Ye Olde Shoppe around the corner (healthfood type)
For the parrots I just order from one of the online shops.


Almost no difference except in price: the human has nicer packaging and is 5x more expensive, and sprouting is actually worse...


anything else, just the gardenshop/centre for packets of seeds.

 

[Flboy]

if you means sprouts...


For humans -> Ye Olde Shoppe around the corner (healthfood type)
For the parrots I just order from one of the online shops.


Almost no difference except in price: the human has nicer packaging and is 5x more expensive, and sprouting is actually worse...


anything else, just the gardenshop for packets of seeds.

True! If I am going to feed it to my birds, then I will also eat it! And I really have an issue with the term, “organic“!
Methinks, I am starting to get into the term of micro greens! Both for me, and my baby!
And along the same line of what you mentioned about just garden shop for seeds, thinking that through, most of the seeds that have potentially dangerous coatings are labeled!

 

[noodles123]

I know a lot of people and birds eat sprouts. I sprout things for myself from time to time. In terms of where to buy seeds fit for consumption, all sprouted seeds pose some risk, as the seeds themselves (even organic seeds) can contain bacteria on the inside. There is no way to ensure that the seeds/beans/lentils are not harboring internal bacteria, so there is always some risk when you put them in a non-sterile, moist environment and eat them before the plant matures.

They sell seeds for sprouting at the health food store, but again, these are not a sure bet as far as 100% safety.

I am not telling you not to sprout, but I just wanted to put it out there. I guess it's sort of like eating runny eggs---I do this and I am fine, but there is a chance that one day I won't be lol.

 

[noodles123]

anything else, just the gardenshop/centre for packets of seeds.

It is quite dangerous to eat seeds from garden seed packs (sprouted or dry). They are not fit for consumption, as the intent is to plant, not eat as is.

A few years ago, I ran out of coriander seed and I remembered I had a seed pack for the garden. I was going to use it in a recipe and my dad FREAKED out when I told him my "innovative plan" over the phone. That is saying something, as he is pretty lax about food-borne illness risks, but he does work within the chemical side of the food industry--specifically the chemistry, preservation and sanitation end of things (he knows his stuff in this arena...and few others lol!!!)

Apparently, these seeds are exposed to chemicals and other unsanitary things (as the intention is not for them to be eaten_--some are even treated with chemicals). Additionally, they aren't protected from exposure to dangerous bacteria/storage conditions etc in the same way sprouting seeds are, as the intention is for you to plant packet seeds, and not eat them as is.

 

[Flboy]

I know a lot of people and birds eat sprouts. I sprout things for myself from time to time. In terms of where to buy seeds fit for consumption, all sprouted seeds pose some risk, as the seeds themselves (even organic seeds) can contain bacteria on the inside. There is no way to ensure that the seeds/beans/lentils are not harboring internal bacteria, so there is always some risk when you put them in a non-sterile, moist environment and eat them before the plant matures.

They sell seeds for sprouting at the health food store, but again, these are not a sure bet as far as 100% safety.

I am not telling you not to sprout, but I just wanted to put it out there. I guess it's sort of like eating runny eggs---I do this and I am fine, but there is a chance that one day I won't be lol.

Because of problems that I have run into with sprouts, I am more looking into what they call micro greens which is allowing them to germinate and grow a few inches tall! Being in Florida, this is the perfect winter hobby to try!

 

[ChristaNL]

It is quite dangerous to eat seeds from garden seed packs (sprouted or dry). They are not fit for consumption, as the intent is to plant, not eat as is.

LOL, these are seeds are especially meant for consumption AFTER sprouting of course.

So eating them sprouted or not, does not matter, they are safe, but you are supposed to eat them *after*.


Europe has real strict laws about those things (we have way stricter laws about the amount of messing you are allowed to do with anything meant for human consumption. )

 

[charmedbyekkie]

Microgreens are such a niche thing right now. I've only seen microgreens associated with aquaponics, so perhaps try searching your local aquaponics communities?

 

[noodles123]

It is quite dangerous to eat seeds from garden seed packs (sprouted or dry). They are not fit for consumption, as the intent is to plant, not eat as is.

LOL, these are seeds are especially meant for consumption AFTER sprouting of course.

So eating them sprouted or not, does not matter, they are safe, but you are supposed to eat them *after*.


Europe has real strict laws about those things (we have way stricter laws about the amount of messing you are allowed to do with anything meant for human consumption. )

In the US, sprouting a seed pack from a garden center would still be dangerous, due to the carelessness with which the seeds are treated (as opposed to beans/seeds sold in food stores, which are still, not without controversy, but much safer in comparison). The hulls etc of garden seeds can contain unsafe chemicals and the bacterial load in these seeds is often higher do to treatment/storage--- while E. coli in/chemicals in/on a seed won't prevent it from growing into a plant, it could make someone sick if they eat it before it was a functional plant (e.g., surviving off of sunlight and water, and not the seed remnants).

 

[Flboy]

In the US, sprouting a seed pack from a garden center would still be dangerous, due to the carelessness with which the seeds are treated (as opposed to beans/seeds sold in food stores, which are still, not without controversy, but much safer in comparison). The hulls etc of garden seeds can contain unsafe chemicals and the bacterial load in these seeds is often higher do to treatment/storage--- while E. coli in/chemicals in/on a seed won't prevent it from growing into a plant, it could make someone sick if they eat it before it was a functional plant (e.g., surviving off of sunlight and water, and not the seed remnants).

Agreed! I know I asked about sprouting AND micro greens, but my interest is in the greens! I have had too many close calls with sprouting, and now do very little! I would never consider garden center seeds for sprouting!
I have since found reliable sources for seeds through Amazon that are all high-quality! At first the price of $12 a pound seemed expensive! When I then compared it to a garden pack seed of 1/3 ounce for three dollars I realized that this is quite a good deal!

 

[EllenD]

Do you have a natural food/health food store near you? That's the place to buy them, they are specially made for sprouting microgreens, and they are completely safe and sprout quite well...I live a block away from a store called "Nature's Pantry", which is awesome all the way around, they have EVERYTHING, but they have a huge selections of seeds for sprouting microgreens...So that's probably the best place to buy them...Even some more natural/organic grocery stores sell them, like Wegman's up here in the Northeast, and I would assume Whole Foods does too, or similar places...

 

[eland11]

In the Netherlands, there are not many sellers of seeds for microgreen. I buy from a Netherlands company selling organic seeds http://www.greenhuiz.com/