Short answer: Sprout Right is a free, text-only course in 12 short lessons. Start with Lesson 1, and plan to read the first four before you start your first jar. The whole course takes about 90 minutes to read.
Who this course is for
Sprout Right is for you if:
- You have never sprouted before and want a clear, safe start
- You tried sprouting once and got a sour, slimy or moldy batch
- You want to know where to buy seed, what to ask suppliers and how to store it
- You would rather read and follow along at your own pace than watch videos
- You want to eat sprouts but are worried about food safety
It is a home-kitchen course. It does not cover growing sprouts to sell.
What's inside: 12 lessons
- How sprouting works and the 5 ground rules. What a sprout is, what seeds need and the rules the course is built on.
- Your setup for under $20. The short gear list, what to skip and how much seed goes in a jar.
- Seed sourcing and storage. Sprouting seed versus garden seed versus grocery beans, what to ask a supplier, and how to test and store seed.
- Food safety. What Health Canada and the FDA say, a risk ladder and a 10-point checklist.
- Your first batch. Lentils, mung beans and chickpeas, day by day.
- Small seeds. Broccoli, radish, alfalfa and clover.
- Harvest, drying and storage. Make sprouts last and spot spoilage early.
- Troubleshooting 1: smell and slime. Know when to throw a batch out.
- Troubleshooting 2: mold, root hairs and poor sprouting. Tell mold from root hairs and fix the common problems.
- Temperature, seasons and a weekly routine. Adjust for heat and cold.
- Cooking with sprouts. What cooked means, plus six simple recipes.
- Next steps and reference cards. A 30-day plan and four printable cards.
What makes it different
- A real seed-sourcing guide. Most sprout safety problems start with the seed. Lesson 3 shows what to buy, what to avoid and what to ask.
- Food safety, honestly. We follow Health Canada and FDA advice, and we teach you to cook your sprouts.12
- A proper troubleshooting guide. Smell, slime, mold, root hairs, bitter sprouts and poor germination, with clear "keep or toss" answers.
- Printable reference cards. A soak and grow chart, a safety checklist, a troubleshooting chart and a batch log.
Prefer the lessons by email?
Get a shorter version in your inbox. The free 5-day email course walks you through one batch of sprouts, one short email a day.
Free 5-day email course
Grow your first sprouts in 5 days
One short email a day: what to buy, how to rinse, how to eat sprouts safely and how to fix problems. Free.
About your instructor
I'm Michael, a passionate sprouting professional dedicated to cultivating sprouts and microgreens. Through this site, I share practical, well-sourced advice for growing these nutritious plants at home, with a focus on health, sustainability and keeping things simple. Read more about Michael and this site.
This course is for education and is not medical advice. Some pages link to seed suppliers through affiliate links. See our affiliate disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
Is the sprouting course really free?
Yes. All 12 lessons are free to read on this site. There is nothing to buy and no sign-up needed to read them.
How long does the course take?
About 90 minutes to read all 12 lessons. Your first batch of sprouts takes about 3 days, so most people read a lesson or two a day while they grow.
Do I need special equipment?
No. A wide-mouth glass jar, a mesh lid, a bowl and seed sold for sprouting are enough. Lesson 2 shows how to get started for under $20.
Is it safe to eat sprouts?
Sprouts carry a real risk of foodborne illness, which is why health agencies advise cooking them. The course teaches you how to lower the risk and how to cook sprouts properly. Lesson 4 covers it in detail.
Is there video?
Not yet. The lessons are text, with tables, checklists and reference cards you can print. Video lessons may be added later.
Written by Michael
A passionate sprouting professional sharing practical tips for growing sprouts and microgreens at home. More about Michael
