I usually add 3 cups of barley to 1/2 cup of BOSS in my mix, as the BOSS is way more expensive. I also don't like how dirty it is. Perhaps you have a better source than I did, mine requires a good deal of picking through so when I'm busy, I just don't bother and only sprout barley and wheat (soft white). More protein in the barley in the event you are concerned. Hope that helps.
The barley will not sprout unless it comes with the hull OR it is the hulless variety. Most of what you buy in the grocery store has been hulled (hull removed).
Mosuitos like water that is not running and moving. Stagnant, stale old or fresh, if it is still they will use it to drop in the eggs. I don't know the life cycle beyond that. I have never heard of it used as a deterent, rather we dump any standing water that doesn't have a job. sorry this doesn't really answer your question.
You might know this already-- commercial sources of seed usually have herbicides, pesticides and similar-cides on the seed. Not for food consumption. Maybe you have a safe source.
ORganic are not covered with -cides.
Howdy,
I have mixed BOSS (Black Oil Sunflower Seeds) with wheat, BOSS with Barley and BOSS with Triticale. I have also mixed Triticale with Wheat. Here's the thing, the barley grows fastest, but you could mix with wheat. I have kept them separated because I wanted to see how they liked each grain, remember I'm new at this too. I think you could mix any of the 4 grains above. Oats,however are not to be messed with, they are in a league of their own. Keep an eye on them if you start growing them. Watch for the mold!
- I do not mix together as some float (BOSS and OATS are floaters) this makes cleaning harder.
- I would start with 1 cup wheat, 1.5 cups of barley, and 1/2 cup of BOSS.
- First clean the wheat and barley (go ahead mix those two) toss them together (3 cups dry per 10x20 ish tray use less if your tray is smaller to reduce mold issues).
- The barley will have LOTS of chaff/hulls coming off, just let it float to the top and pour it off.
- Swish it a few more times and repeat the rinse water.
- Toss in the sunflower seeds, rinse and place into a soaking bowl for 30 minutes. This 24 hour stuff is not necessary, I have experimented with the 30 minutes and it works!
- Give it a spray with Grapefruit Seed Extract mix (I used this recipe) - 8 sprays did the job) and rinsed before placing into sprout container.
- The key is to sprout for the highest nutritional value and you get more value from a shorter sprout time, you also get faster growth,
weird, but true, so I've been told!
I sent you my mold prevention ideas. It has been in the high 90's here in Loomis, CA off and on. I have been successful so far. I have had a seed or two break out with mold (sunflower and random grass seed before deploying the grapefruit seed spray). I removed the offender and about a 1-2" area surrounding the offender, and watered this tray individually to see if more mold broke out. Not a problem with the rest of the trays that sprouted a single seed outbreak. Follow the steps and you'll have luck. I would seriously consider the fermentation as well!!!
