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About the Jointing Stage of Growth
Peak Nutrition
There are 3 ways to grow wheatgrass, each of which has its own requirements. Regardless of how it is grown, all methods will yield a juice that is nutritious, to varying degrees.The degree of nutrition is most dependent on how close the plant gets to the jointing stage of growth before it is harvested. When the wheatgrass plant reaches the jointing stage, that is when the grass reaches its peak nutrition. The following link, shows how the nutritional value of all grasses is still increasing as it is maturing beyond the 7 - 10 day old "sprout stage" up to the jointing stage. Consequentially, many growers have been harvesting the wheatgrass too soon, before the wheatgrass reaches its optimal nutritional potential. Click here for the proof. Be sure to click on parts 1,2,3,& 4. The research (by others) is presented by Pines International. Gourmet Wheatgrass provides the solution to premature wheatgrass, by growing it in and the provision of, deep soil, non toxic, growing containers, and the new and innovative Field Flat described below.
Nutrition Rank by Growing Method
Of the 3 methods of growing grasses, here is how they rate relative to the methods physical ability to reach the jointing stage.
1. Field Grown..............Best.................most always reaches the jointing stage.
2. Container Grown......Next Best.........sometimes reaches the jointing stage.
3. Hydroponic Grown...Least Best........hardly ever, or never reaches jointing stage.
Time Frames to Reach Jointing Stage
It takes 28 - 36 days for Spring Planted field grown grass to reach the jointing stage, and 150 - 200 days for Fall Planted field grown grass to reach the jointing stage. That applies to the northern half of the nation. Warmer climates would shorten that time somewhat. However, 10 day old container grown grass, in a shallow plastic flat, has not, and can not reach the jointing stage. There is a misconception that is promoted by many growers and consumers that when a secondary side leaf appears,(tillering) the plant has reached the jointing stage. That simply is not true.
Jointing Stage Identification
Jointing is identified when a seed pod of grain forms in the stem. You can actually feel the pod when it forms at the base of a stem. Positive identification of the grain forming is done by slicing open the stem to reveal the pod. There are multiple secondary side leaves present on the stem prior to the jointing stage. Side leaves do not denote the jointing stage, the formation of the seed pod does.
Inadequate Toxic Plastic Nursery Flats
Grass that is grown in plastic flats are consistently not able to reach the optimum harvesting period known as the jointing stage. One of the reasons for this is because 1.50 inches of compressed potting soil can not support the grass plant long enough after the food reserve of the seed is used up, to allow it to grow past the "sprout stage" and reach the jointing stage. The plant will become root bound and physically decline before it reaches the jointing stage. Even under the best growing conditions, you will be hard pressed to see any wheatgrass in a plastic flat that is 10 - 14 days old reach the jointing stage. Gourmet wheatgrass uses an advanced growing method that increases the likelihood, maximizes the optimum growth rate, and increases the vitality of the plant, so it can reach the jointing stage without stressing the plant, in a period of time that is dictated by the plant relative to the plants growing environment.
Soil Depth, Longevity, and Optimum Nutrition
If you are using the shallow plastic nursery flats, it would be better to wait to harvest your grass when you first notice it is beginning to lose its healthy appearance, rather than counting how many days old it is. This will maximize the nutritional content. Just don't wait too long to harvest it when it reaches this point, because grass grown in shallow flats may quickly start to loose its vigor and nutritional value, before you can use it. It would be better to cut it and store it in the refrigerator. Smaller containers, around 7"x 9" that are planted in successive days work better for this technique. The deeper the soil is in the container, the more likely it will mature to the jointing stage, and maintain its nutritional value during the harvest period. Gourmet Wheatgrass provides containers that accommodate these optimum soil depths.
Field Grown Wheatgrass in a Container
The reason why field grown grass is nutritionally superior to other methods is simple. Field grown is the grasses natural environment, and it most always reaches the jointing stage. Gourmet wheatgrass achieves field grown quality by duplicating this environment using a deep soil, non toxic container.
Until now, the only problem about field grown wheatgrass was that you could only get it most commonly in the form of frozen juice or powder, not the actual fresh plant, and the juice is stored in a plastic container. Click here to learn how all plastic migrates toxic residue into whatever it is in contact with. Gourmet Wheatgrass uses only non plastic, non toxic growing containers. We also provide actual field grown wheatgrass in a non plastic Field Flat, and in the smaller non plastic deep soil containers. Click on the link below, "Field Grown Qualifications", to learn how we are able to get field grown quality wheatgrass grown in a container.
There are 3 ways to grow wheatgrass, each of which has its own requirements. Regardless of how it is grown, all methods will yield a juice that is nutritious, to varying degrees.The degree of nutrition is most dependent on how close the plant gets to the jointing stage of growth before it is harvested. When the wheatgrass plant reaches the jointing stage, that is when the grass reaches its peak nutrition. The following link, shows how the nutritional value of all grasses is still increasing as it is maturing beyond the 7 - 10 day old "sprout stage" up to the jointing stage. Consequentially, many growers have been harvesting the wheatgrass too soon, before the wheatgrass reaches its optimal nutritional potential. Click here for the proof. Be sure to click on parts 1,2,3,& 4. The research (by others) is presented by Pines International. Gourmet Wheatgrass provides the solution to premature wheatgrass, by growing it in and the provision of, deep soil, non toxic, growing containers, and the new and innovative Field Flat described below.
Nutrition Rank by Growing Method
Of the 3 methods of growing grasses, here is how they rate relative to the methods physical ability to reach the jointing stage.
1. Field Grown..............Best.................most always reaches the jointing stage.
2. Container Grown......Next Best.........sometimes reaches the jointing stage.
3. Hydroponic Grown...Least Best........hardly ever, or never reaches jointing stage.
Time Frames to Reach Jointing Stage
It takes 28 - 36 days for Spring Planted field grown grass to reach the jointing stage, and 150 - 200 days for Fall Planted field grown grass to reach the jointing stage. That applies to the northern half of the nation. Warmer climates would shorten that time somewhat. However, 10 day old container grown grass, in a shallow plastic flat, has not, and can not reach the jointing stage. There is a misconception that is promoted by many growers and consumers that when a secondary side leaf appears,(tillering) the plant has reached the jointing stage. That simply is not true.
Jointing Stage Identification
Jointing is identified when a seed pod of grain forms in the stem. You can actually feel the pod when it forms at the base of a stem. Positive identification of the grain forming is done by slicing open the stem to reveal the pod. There are multiple secondary side leaves present on the stem prior to the jointing stage. Side leaves do not denote the jointing stage, the formation of the seed pod does.
Inadequate Toxic Plastic Nursery Flats
Grass that is grown in plastic flats are consistently not able to reach the optimum harvesting period known as the jointing stage. One of the reasons for this is because 1.50 inches of compressed potting soil can not support the grass plant long enough after the food reserve of the seed is used up, to allow it to grow past the "sprout stage" and reach the jointing stage. The plant will become root bound and physically decline before it reaches the jointing stage. Even under the best growing conditions, you will be hard pressed to see any wheatgrass in a plastic flat that is 10 - 14 days old reach the jointing stage. Gourmet wheatgrass uses an advanced growing method that increases the likelihood, maximizes the optimum growth rate, and increases the vitality of the plant, so it can reach the jointing stage without stressing the plant, in a period of time that is dictated by the plant relative to the plants growing environment.
Soil Depth, Longevity, and Optimum Nutrition
If you are using the shallow plastic nursery flats, it would be better to wait to harvest your grass when you first notice it is beginning to lose its healthy appearance, rather than counting how many days old it is. This will maximize the nutritional content. Just don't wait too long to harvest it when it reaches this point, because grass grown in shallow flats may quickly start to loose its vigor and nutritional value, before you can use it. It would be better to cut it and store it in the refrigerator. Smaller containers, around 7"x 9" that are planted in successive days work better for this technique. The deeper the soil is in the container, the more likely it will mature to the jointing stage, and maintain its nutritional value during the harvest period. Gourmet Wheatgrass provides containers that accommodate these optimum soil depths.
Field Grown Wheatgrass in a Container
The reason why field grown grass is nutritionally superior to other methods is simple. Field grown is the grasses natural environment, and it most always reaches the jointing stage. Gourmet wheatgrass achieves field grown quality by duplicating this environment using a deep soil, non toxic container.
Until now, the only problem about field grown wheatgrass was that you could only get it most commonly in the form of frozen juice or powder, not the actual fresh plant, and the juice is stored in a plastic container. Click here to learn how all plastic migrates toxic residue into whatever it is in contact with. Gourmet Wheatgrass uses only non plastic, non toxic growing containers. We also provide actual field grown wheatgrass in a non plastic Field Flat, and in the smaller non plastic deep soil containers. Click on the link below, "Field Grown Qualifications", to learn how we are able to get field grown quality wheatgrass grown in a container.
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