How to Grow Nowruz Sabzeh / Sprouts

by Rachel Kashef February 24, 2026

Nowruz Sabzeh (sprouts) are one of the most recognized symbols of Nowruz and are a centerpiece on a traditional haft-sin table.

If you've been researching how to grow Nowruz sabzeh (Persian word for sprouts), you'll want to check out these five tips.

Step 1: Soak Seeds

Soak your wheat seeds in a bowl of cool water for two days, changing the water once each day.

Step 2: Keep Seeds Moist

Strain the seeds, place on a plate and cover with a damp paper towel. Keep the paper towel moist at all times for two days.

Step 3: Move to Dish

Choose the dish you will use to display and cut a paper towel to fit it. Transfer the seeds to this and continue to spray each day.

Step 4: Water Each Day

Move dish to a warm sunny spot and continue to water with a spray bottle each day. Keep a balance so that the grass never dries out but do not over-water.

Step 5: Wrap With a Bow

When you are ready to set up your haft-sin, wrap the sabzeh with a red ribbon. Keep it looking good until the 13th day of spring when it is time to throw it in a river for Sizdah Bedar.

Tips:

Plan on two weeks to grow the sprouts to peak fullness.

Start them a little later if you'd like them to look their best through the 13th day of spring, when they will be tossed...in a river. (more about that here)

Use wheat seeds (berries) with a high germination rate

Want to guarantee results? Follow the day by day checklist in our Nowruz Sabzeh Seed Kit and grow a lush plate of sprouts by taking out the guess work.

Find more resources about Nowruz for children here as well as the Hands-On Haft-Sin™️, Nowruz Activity Kit and FREE Nowruz Classroom Kit which are all parts of our larger Nowruz Collection.

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