Short answer: soak barley for 6 to 12 hours. For sprouts, use hulless barley: rinse and drain it twice a day in a jar and eat it in about 3 days. For barley grass or fodder, use hulls-on barley: pre-sprout it for a day, spread it on soil or a mat in a tray and cut it at 8 to 10 days.
What are barley sprouts?
Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is one of the oldest farmed grains. Like wheat and oats, it can be sprouted as a grain or grown on into grass. Barley sprouts taste mildly sweet and malty, which makes sense: malt is made from sprouted barley.
Hulless vs hulls-on barley
| Barley | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hulless | Eating as sprouts | The hull falls off at harvest, so the grain is ready to eat |
| Hulls on | Barley grass and fodder | The hull stays on, which is fine for grass but chewy to eat |
| Pearl barley | Nothing | Polished; it can't sprout |
Sprouting.com sells both: hulless barley for short sprouts ready in about 3 days, and hulls-on barley for grass that's ready to cut in 8 to 10 days.1
How to sprout hulless barley, day by day
- Day0
Rinse and soak for 6–12 hours
Rinse ½ cup of hulless barley, then cover it with cool water and soak for 6 to 12 hours.
- Day1
Drain and rinse
Drain, rinse and drain well. Set the jar upside down at an angle, out of direct sun.
- Day1–3
Rinse twice a day
Rinse and drain morning and evening. Tiny roots appear first, then a short shoot.
- Day3
Harvest
When the tails are about as long as the grain, rinse once more and drain well.
How to grow barley grass
Barley grass grows almost exactly like wheatgrass:
- Soak hulls-on barley for 6 to 12 hours, then let it pre-sprout for a day until tiny roots show.
- Spread it thickly over 1 inch (2.5 cm) of moist soil or a grow mat in a 1020 tray.
- Cover it for 2 to 3 days, misting daily.
- Uncover, give it light, and water from below.
- Cut the grass at 8 to 10 days, when it's about 6 inches (15 cm) tall.
Sprouting.com estimates about 2 to 6 oz of juice per tray, depending on how tall the grass grows.1
Barley fodder for chickens
Sprouted barley is a popular fresh feed for backyard chickens and rabbits, especially in winter. Grown in shallow trays for 6 to 8 days, it forms a thick mat of roots and grass that animals can eat whole. Keep it clean and mold-free, and treat it as a supplement to a complete feed. Our guide to sprouting seeds for chickens covers a simple system.
Safety and gluten
Barley contains gluten, and sprouting doesn't remove it. If you have celiac disease, avoid barley sprouts.
Barley sprouts are eaten whole like other sprouts. The FDA says higher-risk groups should not eat raw sprouts, and Health Canada advises everyone to cook them.23 Barley sprouts are easy to cook into soups and grain bowls.
Problems and fixes
| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Won't sprout | Pearl or old barley | Use whole hulless or hulls-on barley sold for sprouting |
| Sour smell | Long soak in warm water | Soak in cool water. Rinse well after soaking |
| Moldy grass tray | Seed too thick, still air | Use a single dense layer, water from below, add a fan |
| Hulls in sprouts | Hulls-on barley used for sprouts | Use hulless barley for eating |
How to eat barley sprouts
- Soups and stews: add them for the last 10 to 15 minutes.
- Grain bowls: cook them briefly and use them like barley.
- Baking: dry and grind them into sprouted flour. See how to make sprouted bread.
- Juice: juice barley grass like wheatgrass.
Where to buy barley for sprouting
We link to Sprouting.com, a Canadian company that sells hulless barley for sprouts and hulls-on barley for grass and fodder. Store barley in a cool, dry place in a sealed container.
What to grow next
- Wheatgrass: the best-known cereal grass.
- Oats: sweet sprouts and soft oat grass.
- Wheat: chewy grain sprouts and sprouted flour.
- Rye: hardy, earthy sprouts.
Browse every seed in the Seed Library.
Barley FAQ
How long does barley take to sprout?
Hulless barley gives short sprouts in about 3 days after a 6 to 12 hour soak. Hulls-on barley grown in a tray is ready to cut as barley grass in 8 to 10 days.
Can you sprout pearl barley?
No. Pearl barley has had its outer layers polished off, which removes the germ that grows the sprout. Use whole hulless barley for sprouts, or hulls-on barley for grass.
Is sprouted barley good for chickens?
Barley is one of the most common grains for sprouted fodder. Chickens enjoy the fresh greens and grain. Fodder should be a treat or supplement alongside a complete feed, not a replacement for it.
Does barley have gluten?
Yes. Barley contains gluten, and sprouting doesn't remove it. People with celiac disease should avoid barley sprouts. Barley grass juice is a separate question, so check with your doctor before trying it.
What does barley grass juice taste like?
Fresh barley grass juice is sweet and grassy, often described as milder than wheatgrass. A tray yields about 2 to 6 oz of juice depending on how tall you let it grow.
Written by Michael
A passionate sprouting professional sharing practical tips for growing sprouts and microgreens at home. More about Michael
