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I came across an article about sprouting and I found it interesting and decided to give it a try. I bought specialized sprouting seeds and my girlfriend asked me why I was buying such seeds when she could just get much more beans for cheaper at grocery store and make them germinate. She actually challenged me and bought a package of beans and she's going to grow them... I didn't know what to reply to her! Is she right? What advantages have those seeds over what you can get in grocery store? Are they as nutritious?

Absurdev
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  • Many but not all storebought seeds work. Don't bother with rice. I routinely grow my own cilantro from Coriander seeds found in 4oz bottles at asian or Mexican stores. For some of the bigger thicker coated seeds, like beans, an overnight soak in 1g/L potassium nitrate (nitre from the Asian store) will speed the sprouting substantially. Squash, Cherimoya and Paw Paw seeds sprout readily if you plant them. I've never tried Mango. – Wayfaring Stranger Apr 12 '17 at 09:29

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There may be various factors that affect the germination of the seeds:

-Firstly there is the possibility that supermarket seeds are contaminated, or have been through chemical treatment. This may affect germination or plant growth.

-Secondly there is the problem that you would not know the exact cultivar(type of bean) of bean you would be growing in many cases.

-Third and finally, the special sprouting beans most likely are a special cultivar that sprouts at an accelerated rate, or having certain advantages over the regular store-bought bean varieties (such as nutritional values, growth rate, size etc.)

I am no bean expert :P, however these are just some of the most logical arguments that I could come up with to justify your special beans.

Hammergold
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