how to germinate oats at home + photo

Why sprout oats for food?

Sprouted grains are characterized by high nutritional and biological value . During the awakening process, grains accumulate living energy, which contributes to the restoration of cells in the human body.

The content of vitamins and minerals increases several times , and vitamin C is synthesized, which is not found in ordinary grains. Therefore, adding the product to the daily diet replenishes the deficiency of energy, vitamins, micro- and macroelements.

Chemical composition

Sprouted oats contain a whole range of vitamins and mineral components:

• vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B4, B6, B9, E, H, P;
• potassium;
• calcium;
• silicon;
• iron;
• iodine;
• magnesium;
• manganese;
• copper;
• selenium;
• sulfur;
• chlorine;
• zinc;
• phosphorus.

Reference. Sprouted grains bring great benefits to women during pregnancy and lactation, children, the elderly and those engaged in intense mental and physical work.

KBZHU

Nutritional value of biologically active oats per 100 g:

• calorie content – ​​299.5 kcal;
• proteins – 10.1 g;
• fats – 4.7 g;
• carbohydrates – 57.8 g;
• fiber – 10.7 g.

Do not be afraid of the high calorie content of the product . Coarse dietary fiber and a balanced complex of nutrients speed up metabolism and absorption of food.

About germinating other crops:

How to germinate barley and why it is needed

Benefits of bean sprouts

How to germinate mung bean and how to eat it correctly

Beneficial properties of sprouted oats

Sprouted oat grains have a beneficial effect on the human body:

• rejuvenate;
• regulate the functioning of the sebaceous glands;
• strengthen hair follicles and nail plate;
• accelerate the process of cleansing blood vessels and blood;
• increase hemoglobin and protective forces;
• reduce blood pressure;
• accelerate the elimination of bad cholesterol;
• normalize the digestive process and metabolism;
• reduce blood sugar levels;
• improve vision;
• strengthen tooth and bone tissue;
• increase endurance and sexual function;
• normalize hormonal levels;
• reduce fat deposits;
• regulate brain and heart activity;
• normalize sleep;
• reduce the risk of developing cancer;
• normalize the flow of bile;
• restore liver tissue.

Why are oats used as green manure?

Oats have long been used for soil greening, due to its following properties:

• It has particularly nutritious stems that contain more valuable protein than alfalfa and clover.
• The vegetative mass contains more potassium and phosphorus than nitrogen. In terms of the content of nutrients, cereal biomass is comparable to manure, but there are fewer nitrogen compounds in this organic matter. It should be noted that the amount of elements depends on the age of the plant: the older it is, the more potassium it contains, but nitrogen predominates in young greenery. In this regard, oats as fertilizer are cut when they reach 20 cm in height.
  

  Due to the potassium content, oats are especially useful for nightshade and berry crops, cucumbers and cabbage, since this substance makes their taste richer and sweeter.

• It has a fibrous root system that strengthens light soils and loosens heavy ones. In addition, the embedded green mass of the plant makes the soil more air- and moisture-intensive.
• Forms dense plantings - its stems are located close to each other, so weeds do not appear between them. Oats simply drown them out, showing better competitiveness. If unwanted vegetation does appear, it does not have time to form seeds before mowing the biomass.
• It gives a high yield - from one hundred square meters of land you can collect a mass equal to 100 kg of high-quality manure.

Which oats to choose

For germination, they usually take bare oats without hard husks . The product is available for purchase in specialized health food stores, pharmacies and markets in the cereal departments.

Before you start germination, check whether the grains have been chemically treated , which is very likely in the modern race for quantity rather than quality. To do this, soak the grains in cold water: the processed ones will rise to the surface. Remove such grains, use only those remaining at the bottom.

Unshelled oats in a shell are used less often , since not everyone likes coarse fiber. But in terms of chemical composition and benefits for the body, this product is several times higher than bare grain.

Can oats be used in summer?

Oats do not tolerate hot weather well, so they are not recommended to be grown in the summer heat. However, some gardeners prefer to use it in the summer, since it perfectly loosens loams and clay, removes putrefactive bacteria and excess moisture from the soil.

In summer, spring oats are used as mulch, which are placed between the rows. To speed up the process of decomposition of green mass, it should be watered with a solution of biological fertilizer, and then covered with a layer of straw. Such manipulations will also preserve moisture near the roots and encourage soil insects to gradually process plant residues and turn them into humus.

How to germinate grain

For germinating oats in small quantities, available equipment is suitable: glass or ceramic bowls, plastic containers, clean gauze or cotton cloth.

For supporters of a healthy diet, there are special manual and automatic grain sprouters on sale. Everyone will find the best option for themselves in terms of price and material of manufacture.

Clay hand sprouters are considered environmentally friendly . Automatic devices are made from safe plastic. Their use greatly simplifies the process of obtaining sprouts.

Step-by-step instructions for sprouting oats

To properly grow oats, follow the sequence of actions :

• Sort through the grains, remove any darkened ones, rinse under the tap;
• fold the gauze in several layers and place it on a flat glass or ceramic plate;
• place the grains on one half of the gauze and cover them with the other;
• leave the oats in a warm place, out of direct sunlight, for 2 hours;
• Moisten the fabric periodically;
• grains will begin to germinate after 6-7 hours;
• Rinse the sprouted grains with running water and use as intended.

There is a second way to obtain sprouted grains : soak oats in water for 10 hours, then rinse with cold water and leave in a sieve for 12 hours. Shoots will appear in 24 hours.

Advice. Do not germinate oats for more than 48 hours, otherwise the grains will become moldy.

The product can be stored in the refrigerator for no longer than 2 days , so try not to prepare sprouts in large quantities.

How to germinate wheat and oats?

Benefits and harms

Greens contain a large amount of vitamins and minerals, which make the animal’s coat shiny and bones strong. Veterinarians call sprouted oats a cat health resort.

• for digestion, especially with diarrhea and constipation;
• cleanses the stomach of hairballs;
• for pregnant and lactating cats;
• many vitamins, macro- and microelements.

Harm from sprouted oats will only occur if it is treated with herbicides or pesticides. But at home this is not necessary at all. Although when industrially grown, oats are processed, so it is better to buy seeds and grow them yourself.

How to eat sprouted oats

Before consuming grains, rinse them in clean water to remove the odor and the so-called waste products of the grain, which are formed during the growth process.

Oats are most beneficial when consumed in their pure form for breakfast . The grains have a nutty and milky flavor and go well with honey, fruits, lemon juice, herbs and vegetables. Healing decoctions and jelly are prepared from the sprouts, which have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas.

Decoction

To prepare the decoction, take:

• 200 g of sprouted oats;
• 2 liters of hot water or boiled milk.

Preparation:

1. Rinse the grains and fill with liquid.
2. Leave to infuse for 5 hours.

Try to drink the entire amount per day, in small portions. The product removes toxins and waste from the body. The course of cleansing is 2 months. After 2-3 weeks, there is a noticeable improvement in intestinal function and more energy appears.

When and how to mow oats as green manure?

About 30-40 days should pass from the moment of sowing to mowing, but it is better to navigate by the grown green mass and panicle of flowers. When pollen appears on it, you need to immediately cut off the stems. In addition, the cutting should be carried out at the initial stage of heading, when the oats have grown to 20 cm, since it is in this state that they contain the maximum of useful substances. In the future, the stems will begin to become coarse and poorly decompose in the ground, and will also be steadily deprived of potassium.

The following video shows how to cut oats to green manure the soil, and also explains why this particular grain crop should be sown as green manure:

With autumn sowing, the mowing time often falls on the last days before the onset of cold weather, and with spring sowing - before the onset of hot May days.

Oats as green manure should be cut with a flat cutter, cutting the roots at a depth of 5-7 cm, and then embedded in the soil to a depth of 5-15 cm, depending on its structure: it is better to embed it deeper in clay soil, and shallower in light sandy soil. In any case, there is no need to excessively deepen the oats into the ground, otherwise, without access to air, they will begin to decompose and acidify the soil, bringing only harm to the plants, not benefiting them. So, it is enough to dig up the green mass to a depth of a shovel, and then press it with the top layer of soil.

If mowing is carried out in the spring, then the oats must be embedded in the ground no later than 2 weeks before planting the main crop, otherwise it will not have time to rot in time. If the work is carried out in November, then there is no need to drive it into the ground. It is better to do this shortly before the April sowing. Thanks to the cut stems, the ground will not freeze too deeply, so it will be ready for planting in the spring.

After mixing with soil, the green mass quickly decomposes with sufficient moisture, resulting in green fertilizer. If necessary, you can speed up the fermentation process of biomass by watering the greens embedded in the soil with one of the preparations of effective microorganisms (EM) or adding ammonium nitrate.

There is no need to dig up the stems, leaving them on the ground as mulch. In this case, they will protect the soil from drying out and weeds.

If there is a lot of green mass, then the excess does not need to be embedded in the ground, since in this case it will turn sour. So, the remainder should be thrown into a compost pit, where the green manure quite quickly breaks down into other components. In addition, the green mass can be placed in a barrel of water or used as feed for birds and livestock.

Contraindications

Oat sprouts are contraindicated in case of:

• gluten intolerance;
• allergic reaction;
• urolithiasis (strong diuretic effect causes discomfort when stones move);
• gastritis and stomach ulcers (coarse fiber can injure the affected mucosa).

There is an opinion that sprouted oats contain a large amount of phytic acid , which washes calcium from bone tissue. Proponents of the opposite theory argue that the acid, on the contrary, is destroyed when the grains awaken, and a large amount of calcium makes the product useful for children and adolescents, especially during periods of intensive growth. In any case, consulting a doctor before introducing sprouts into the children's menu will not hurt.

Benefits of sprouted oats for cats

The coat of domestic cats whose diet includes young oats is shiny and thick.
The coat of domestic cats whose diet includes young oats is shiny and thick. This is because green cereals contain B vitamins: B1, B6. Amino acids and trace elements (magnesium, calcium) make muscles and skeleton stronger.

Be sure to read:

Probiotics for cats: list of the best drugs and how to choose the right one?

Veterinarians call oat greens cat health. It is especially useful for animals with digestive problems. Greens contain a high percentage of fiber. It improves the peristalsis of the cat's intestines and promotes better digestion of food.

It's not just the nutrients that benefit your cat's body. Once in the stomach of an animal, hard oat stalks cause a gag reflex.

The wool accumulated in the stomach comes out together with oat leaves and gastric juice. The owner of the family will also feel the benefits of oats: the cat will stop eating her favorite indoor plants.

Cases when growing oats is simply necessary:

• your pet has constipation or diarrhea;
• the cat is expecting kittens (the body needs natural vitamins);
• The pet's hair is long and accumulates in the stomach.

Reviews

People who regularly consume sprouted oats note its beneficial effects on the body.

Anna, 28 years old : “I’ve been germinating grains for more than five years. I take only naked oats and add them to vegetable and fruit salads and put them on sandwiches. This is an excellent canned protein replacement for athletes. To understand how many grains to consume per day, start with 1 teaspoon and monitor your body's reaction. I eat no more than 2 tablespoons for breakfast.”

Ivan, 36 years old : “I started using oat sprouts six months ago. Every time I notice a great surge of energy. I felt much better and my digestion improved. I began to suffer from respiratory diseases less often. I also grow grass for my cat. To do this, I pour a layer of soil into a shallow container, sow oats on the surface and leave it on the windowsill.”

Olga, 43 years old : “I’ve been germinating oat and wheat grains for a long time, I even bought an automatic germinator for my home for this purpose. My favorite is oat sprouts. They have an amazing milky-nutty taste and go great with fruit. Sometimes I make delicious jelly from them.”

Oats for a cat: how to grow, plant, care

Fertile soil and seeds can be bought at a flower shop.

Green oat stalks are rich in vitamins

Any universal primer will do. It is enough to pour a layer of 3-5 cm into a small plastic container. It is recommended to germinate the grains before planting. They are wrapped in a damp cloth, placed in a disposable container with a lid and placed in a warm place in the light.

Many people successfully replace the soil with sawdust, and grass grows on them just as well. Before planting the grains, the soil is watered generously with water at room temperature. A certain amount of seeds is taken: 1 piece should account for 1 cm of planting area. The grains are laid out and sprinkled with a 1 cm thick layer of earth (sawdust).

The container is covered with film. It creates greenhouse conditions that accelerate germination. Sprouts appear in approximately 6 days. Cats eat greens grown in a container for 3 weeks. Planting a new portion should be done every 7-10 days so that the cat enjoys the grass without interruption.

The seedlings will have to be looked after, otherwise they will die. Care comes down to watering. Always check the soil moisture and water if it is dry. The soil needs to be compacted periodically because cats loosen it when they bite off the stems.