Wheatgrass is the young grass of the common wheat plant, grown indoors in a tray and cut when it is 6–7 inches tall. It is one of the easiest and fastest crops to grow — usually 7–10 days from sowing — and it is grown mainly for juicing, since the blades are too fibrous to chew comfortably. It is also popular as fresh “cat grass”.
Wheatgrass at a glance
| Seed | Hard red winter wheat berries, untreated |
| Seed per 10×20 tray | 250–340 g (about 1¼–1¾ cups) dry |
| Soak | 8–12 hours |
| Pre-sprout | 12–24 hours (optional but recommended) |
| Blackout | 2–3 days |
| Light | Indirect light or 12–16 hours under a grow light |
| Harvest | 7–10 days, at 6–7 inches |
| Regrowth | One second cut possible |
Which wheat to buy
Use hard red winter wheat berries sold for sprouting or wheatgrass. They germinate reliably and grow tall, sweet grass. Hard white wheat also works. Avoid treated seed wheat sold for farming, and avoid pearled or processed grains — they will not sprout.
Step 1: Soak
Measure 250–340 g of wheat berries for a 10×20 tray (scale for smaller trays with the seed calculator). Rinse them, then soak in cool water for 8–12 hours.
Step 2: Pre-sprout (recommended)
Drain the seeds and leave them in a colander or sprouting jar, covered with a cloth. Rinse and drain them two or three times over the next 12–24 hours, until tiny white root tips appear on most seeds. Pre-sprouted wheat roots into the soil quickly and gives a very even tray. More detail in soaking microgreen seeds.
Step 3: Sow
Fill a tray with drainage holes with 1–1.5 inches of moist potting mix or coco coir. Spread the sprouted seeds evenly so they touch in a single layer. Press them gently into the surface.
Step 4: Blackout (days 1–3)
Cover with an upside-down tray for 2–3 days, misting daily if the seeds look dry. Wheat seedlings are tough and do not need weight, though a light weight helps keep seeds in contact with the soil. Uncover when the grass is 1–2 inches tall.
Step 5: Light and water (days 3–10)
Wheatgrass is less demanding about light than leafy microgreens. A bright room with indirect light is enough for good green color; under a grow light it grows more compact and darker green. Bottom water daily, or twice a day once the grass is tall. See how to water microgreens.
Keep the room below about 75°F (24°C) if possible. Warm, humid conditions encourage mold at the base of the grass.
Step 6: Harvest at 6–7 inches
Wheatgrass is ready when it is 6–7 inches (15–18 cm) tall, usually 7–10 days after sowing. A useful sign is when a second blade begins to split from the first (“jointing”). Cut about 1 inch above the soil with sharp scissors.
Juice immediately for the best flavor, or store the cut grass in a sealed container in the fridge for up to about a week.
Getting a second cut
Unlike most microgreens, wheatgrass grows from a point near its base, so it regrows after cutting. Keep watering and lighting the tray, and you can usually cut a second time 7–10 days later. The second cutting is thinner and less sweet, and mold becomes more likely, so check the base and roots before you use it. After that, compost the tray. More on regrowth in do microgreens regrow?.
Troubleshooting wheatgrass
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| White fuzz on roots | Root hairs (normal) | See mold vs root hairs |
| Grey or blue mold at the base | Warm, humid, over-watered tray | Fan, less water, cooler room; rinse seed well |
| Grass yellow and floppy | Too little light or too long in blackout | More light; uncover at 1–2 inches |
| Bitter taste | Grass harvested too old | Cut at 6–7 inches, at the first split |
| Patchy tray | Uneven soak or no pre-sprout | Pre-sprout; spread evenly |
Do you need a special juicer?
Wheatgrass is fibrous, so standard high-speed centrifugal juicers extract very little juice. Slow masticating juicers and manual wheatgrass juicers work much better. You can also blend the grass with a little water and strain it through a fine cloth.
A note on gluten
The grass itself is generally considered gluten-free because gluten is found in the seed, not the leaf. However, cut wheatgrass can pick up bits of seed or hull. If you need to avoid gluten for medical reasons, check with your doctor or dietitian before using homegrown wheatgrass.
Frequently asked questions
How long does wheatgrass take to grow?
Usually 7–10 days from sowing, or 8–11 days counting the soak and pre-sprout.
Can I grow wheatgrass without soil?
Yes, on a hemp mat or in a tray with a mesh insert over water. Roots grow fast and form a thick mat, but yields are usually a little lower than in soil.
Is wheatgrass safe for cats?
Wheatgrass is commonly sold and grown as cat grass. Wash it if it was grown in soil and offer it in moderation.
