How do you grow popcorn grass?

Learn to plant popcorn grass (AKA popcorn gress in Norway)! Did you know that you can eat the tender shoots that sprout from popcorn seeds? It’s true! Keep reading for a simple how-to that will answer all of your questions on how to grow popcorn sprouts. These are very likely the sweetest greens you’ve ever tasted. Sprouting popcorn kernels is probably easier than you’d think!

Not to brag, but I think today’s recipe how-to is so darn cool. If you haven’t tried growing your own popcorn greens yet, now might be a great time.

I purchase microgreen seeds through Johnny’s Selected Seeds. The last time I was perusing their products, I noticed that they sell popcorn shoot seeds.

Jump to:

• 🌱 What are popcorn shoots?
• 🍿 Popcorn Grass Supplies
• 🌽 How to Grow Popcorn Grass
• ➕ What are popcorn shoots used for?
• 📖 Recipe
• 💭 Expert Tips from a Dietitian
• FAQs
• 💬 Comments

🌱 What are popcorn shoots?

Popcorn shoots are simply the edible sprouts of popcorn kernels! The process for growing these greens is quite easy.

I let my first crop grow in the sun for a total of two weeks. The green leaves were a little fibrous, but the biggest surprise was how incredibly sweet they were.

I’ve heard some say that young popcorn shoots taste a bit like biting into a fresh ear of corn. We think the shoots are so sweet they taste a lot like stevia. It is pretty amazing.

I've also read that popcorn shoots grown in the dark for only one week make the best eating. They are sweet but not fibrous like the older green leaves. I currently have a batch growing in my closet, and I look forward to seeing how it goes! (Update: we did like one-week shoots better.)

The downside of shoots grown in the dark is that they remain yellow. You don’t get the lush verdant look of shoots grown in the sun.

🍿 Popcorn Grass Supplies

The items that you need to grow popcorn greens are things you may already have on hand. Here’s what you need:

• Popcorn
• A canning jar or other vessel for soaking the seeds
• Potting soil
• An 8”x8” metal pan with clear lid (I used one of those disposable baking pans; a slightly larger-sized pan is fine too)
• Water

That’s it! You don’t even need to order from a garden center to get the popcorn. Using plain popcorn kernels from the grocery store should work.

I used Bob’s Red Mill white popcorn kernels because that is what my store happened to have. However, any white or yellow popcorn kernels should sprout as long as they are not too old. Popcorn that has been sitting on the shelf for years may not sprout for you.

If you buy from stores that have a high product turnover, just about any plain popcorn you can get your hands on should work. Dry goods tend not to remain unbought on store shelves for long these days.

Even if you don’t like how sweet the greens are, this is a fun project to do with kids. Why not try it? No matter what sort of climate you live in, you can have fresh greens without a trip to the store.

I’ve been really into slow food and DIY lately, including gardening. Luckily, it’s possible to grow things in any climate, even with limited garden-related knowledge and supplies!

🌽 How to Grow Popcorn Grass

Here are the step-by-step instructions for growing popcorn grass:

1. Put ½ cup popcorn kernels in a glass jar and fill with warm water. Cover the jar with cheesecloth to prevent dust from getting in while still allowing air.

2. Let the popcorn kernels soak for three days at room temperature. Drain and refill the jar after 1½ days to keep the water fresh.

3. After three days, drain the water from the jar. Fill an 8-inch by 8-inch (20x20 cm) metal baking pan with 1-1½ inches (2.54-3.81 cm) of potting soil. Spread the popcorn seeds out in a single layer on the soil. Press the seeds into the soil but do not cover them with the soil.

4. Moisten the soil well with water and cover the baking pan with a clear lid. You want the seeds to stay moist throughout the growing process. If you live in a more humid area and are getting mold, remove the lid from the baking pan.

5. For tender, yellow shoots, grow the popcorn shoots in a dark place for approximately one week.

6. For more fibrous green shoots, grow the popcorn next to a sunny window. You can eat them at one week for more tender greens or two weeks for a higher yield of tougher greens. Here is what one week of growth looks like...

7. If you grow them for two weeks, you may need to remove the lid for the last few days, as your greens will be crowding the container. Here is what you'll see after two weeks of growth...

8. When you are ready to harvest, cut them with sharp scissors above the soil line. Remove any seed coats that are sticking to the greens. Your shoots will be around 3-6 inches (7.6-15.2 cm) long.

➕ What are popcorn shoots used for?

You can use popcorn shoots just as you would other microgreens. Use popcorn microgreens to top salads, sprinkle them in sandwiches, or saute them for a veggie side dish. Here are a few ways to use popcorn grass:

• Popcorn Chicken Salad Recipe
• Sardine Salad Sandwich Wrap
• Summer Berry Salad

📖 Recipe

FAQs

Where does popcorn come from?

Popcorn comes from a certain type of corn kernel that has a hard outer shell (source). When you heat the kernel, moisture trapped inside the hard shell turns to steam. Pressure builds in the kernel until the outer shell pops open, giving us a fluffy piece of popcorn.

Is popcorn grass safe for cats?

Popcorn grass shouldn’t be fed to cats, as it can give them an upset stomach. (Please note this is not the same as the popcorn plant, which also shouldn’t be fed to cats.) If you want to give your cats greens, try growing cat grass instead.

I hope you found this post helpful in answering all of your questions on how do you grow popcorn greens. If you grow these, tell me how you think these taste the best:

• After being raised in the dark or the light?
• One week or two weeks?

Also, I’d love to see your popcorn green culinary creations! I’ve been planting popcorn kernels to use in salads or lightly steamed as a veggie side dish. Hit me up with some more ideas!

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