By  Guest Contributor, Hilda Brucker

During the winter months, one of my main gardening chores is to keep the grass green and growing. No, I’m not talking about the lawn outside – I’m referring to the little pots of oat grass on my windowsill and kitchen counter.

While not nearly as showy as the flowering plants of winter – cyclamen, amaryllis, and paperwhites – these little indoor meadows are a welcome touch of spring, and their lush greenery gives me a spiritual lift as winter drags on.

I first started sowing oat grass seed indoors for a cat that became housebound due to arthritis. The only thing she really seemed to miss about the great outdoors was the time she used to spend grazing on the lawn, so I came up with the oat grass solution to keep her happy.

Then I discovered that I really enjoyed watching the grass grow taller every day; it looked so lush and cheerful in the middle of winter that I was happy to have it in my kitchen. Before long, I was planting my oat grass seed in pretty ceramic containers rather than plain clay pots, and allowing it to keep company with the other houseplants.

Seeds of the common oat (Avena sativa) are readily available not only from seed companies, but from pet shops – a testament to how popular this little grain is with the kitties. I usually order a one-pound bag, rather than buying lots of little packets.

Although I tend to stick with oat grass, there are other grass varieties that will grow just as well indoors, including wheat grass (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare). Annual rye grass (Lolium multiflorum), also known as winter rye, is another option. Most local nurseries carry the grass seeds. (In mild climates, annual rye grass is often used to over-seed dormant lawns so that they stay green all winter.)

All of these grasses are incredibly easy to grow. I fill a pot with potting soil, sprinkle a thick layer of seeds on top, cover them with another very thin layer of soil, and then water well – and in a few days, Voila!

During much of the year, I set the pot outside on my kitchen porch to germinate, and I usually cover it with a garden cloche to keep the birds from snacking on my seeds before they sprout. The (more…)