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You can use anything to sprout in, but again, there are certain things that are good for certain sprouts, and get better results. The most common techniques are using a jar or a cloth. After rinsing the beans, cover the end of the jar with a j cloth, or make a lid from plastic mesh. Soak the beans, and when done, drain and rinse beans again. Prop the jar up at a 45 degree angle so it can drain, and keep out of strong light until sprouted. When using a cloth, place on a saucer, and put the rinsed beans on it. Fold the cloth over the top (or use another), and keep damp. You can rinse the beans through the cloth as well.

Although the above ways are a great way to get started, I have had the best results with a tray type thing. You can buy special ones, but I use a oriental bamboo steamer, and it works perfectly, as I blocks out most light and you can grow two layers at the same time, of either two different types of bean, or the same kind a two different stages. It’s also pretty cool to mix a few kinds together, and saves the “Oh my god – there’s nothing to take for lunch and I’m going to have to eat in that foul canteen again” moments in the morning. It’s official, sprouting’s good for your morning karma.

Lentils

Soak for 8-14 hours, sprout for 1 day. Cloth or jar works best. The red lentils you usually buy are “split lentils” and these won’t grow. Brown and green ones are usually whole. You can usually buy whole red lentils in Indian supermarkets, called masoor dahl. They will be brown on the outside as they have skins on. They’re nice and spicy.

Alfalfa

These are nicest grown as greens – to do so, soak 4-6 hours, and for sprout 6-8 in a tray or jar. They need light to become green, so be careful to spread them out in a jar. If you would like them as small sprouts, soak for 4-14 hours, sprout 1-2 days in a jar or cloth.

Mung beans

To grow these types of beans, soak for 18 hours – 1 day. Sprout for a day or so. Mung beans are nice and mild, and when sprouted, are the bean sprouts you get in your Chinese takeaway, and can buy in supermarkets. But they don’t taste mouldy like the ones you buy in sweaty packets in the supermarket.