DEAR SPROUTMAN: We got our Sprout Bags, but they are much smaller than we anticipated. Since the site says it is equivalent to a 3/4 gallon jar we expected to be able to sprout from 4 to 5 cups of wheat at a time. We routinely sprout 7 cups in our 1 gallon glass jars. Your instructions say 1 to 2 cups in the bag. Is that the max per bag? Please let me know. Thanks – David

DEAR DAVID: The Sprout Bags’ volume is an estimate because the bulkiness of the sprouts varies from seed to seed. Green peas being bulkier for example than alfalfa and 7 days growth being a bulkier than 3 days growth. The ¾ of a gallon estimate was done with lentil sprouts grown for 5 days. When I dumped the sprouted lentils into a gallon jar it filled three-fourths of the jar. Of course, this kind of measurement is not a perfect science because one could squish the sprouts down or fluff them up. My lentil sprouts completely filled the bag and I had to yank them out into the sink, wash them, and then inserted them into the jar. That’s how the ¾ gallon equivalent was measured.

For sprouted wheat, we say soak 1-2 cups and sprout them for 2-3 days in the Sprout Bag. You may be able to squeeze in a little more. Please experiment and see. Typically, sprouters who need more volume will work 2 or 3 bags simultaneously. This increases your volume without increasing your workload because you’re dipping and hanging in one motion. Unlike jars where handling 3 jars, filling, emptying, angling, draining, and finally placing on a shelf or even finding a place to put multiple jars consumes much more time and space.

Once upon a time, I did make a larger size bag that was equivalent to the 3 bags size I mentioned. Unfortunately, it was not popular enough to continue manufacturing and the versatility of adding a bag or two to suit everybody’s individual volume needs was a more ideal solution. Today, you’ll notice there is still a discount package price when buying 3 sprout bags. This goes back to the days when I was still selling the super-size Sprout Bag which cost almost 3 times the price of the single bag.

Dave, I believe that Sprout Bags are a much more elegant replacement to sprouting in jars. And working with hemp and supporting the development of more hemp products, particularly in America, is both pleasurable and rewarding. If you still have issues making the transition between jars and bags, please give me a call and I will gladly help.