Originally Posted by Wheatenergy

I have beeen growing FRESH wheatgrass for the general public for the past 9 years......Have found that CANADIAN peat...not american is the best as a base////considered soiless...."organic present day mixes contain excrament( fesusu and urin) in the compost....Our Fafard custom mix has NO WETTING agent(chemical..or start up fertalizer(sometimes urea)....and we incorporate a generous amount of Perlite....for airation. Vermiculite attracks water.....so even as a topical it is not benefitial (the wetter the seeds the better the chance of mold.) We amend our custom mix with FOOD GRADE SEA KELP...MEAL///not liquid. I feel the more something is processed by man the less effective. Yes perlite and vermiculite are EXCELLANT for just sarting seeds for transplanting purposes...because the root systems do not really get involved with them...and the seedlings pull apart easily. Our 2 inch deep trays are always planted to the full depth of the tray. Remember that TOPICAL mold on wheatgrass is not harnmful....but the molds that occur BELOW the surface can cause salmonella and / or Ecoli! The Organic Ass. now recommends using "soiless mixes". Who ever told you that Peat is not a good thing to use is either IGNORANT....or WANTS to sell you something. ps. we also purify and then filter our water....and use hard red SPRING wheat...certified organic for SPROUTING....most of the wheatgrass grown here is grown with cereal or grain(processed 4 times to get it "clean"(free of other seeds or stones)...a sprouting berrie(seeds) are only cleaned 3 times. Spring compared to winter wheatgrass will give a smaller yeild....but the seed has higher protien and in my opinion(everyonme has one)....tastes much better. Stay GREEN and BE Healthy!