You may have seen microgreens at your local farmer’s market or farm-to-table restaurant. These are small green plants Same with sproutsAnd just full of ingredients. Growing microgreens at home is very easy and offers many health benefits!
What are microgreens?
Microgreens are green, leafy or other vegetables that are tiny plants. Like a sproutThey are a concentrated source of nutrients and full of beneficial enzymes for faster growth. While sprouts grow without soil and become germinated seeds, microgreens depend on growing in soil or otherwise.
Microgreens are popular in gourmet restaurants because of their distinct taste and presentation. You don’t have to go to a fancy restaurant to eat microgreens! Our local health food stores sell them, but I usually grow my own microgreens because it’s cheaper.
They are easy to grow so you can easily find a fresh source of herbs in your kitchen all year round. One downside to sprouting is their potential. Growing bacteria (which is rare) because they are in the air and not in the soil. With microgreens, you are eating the stems and leaves, not the seeds and roots.
Are Microgreens Good For You?
In a word, yes. Studies show that microgreens contain 4-40% more micronutrients compared to herbs and vegetables. The benefits of microgreens include getting the fiber, minerals and vitamins our cells need to thrive. And the benefits of microgreens don’t stop there. You also get antioxidants to fight free radical damage.
Types of microgreens to grow
The following are the plants commonly used to produce microgreens.
- Salad
- Kale
- Spinach
- Radish
- bit
- Watercress
- Plants
- Greens
- Cabbage
- Mustard
- Chia
- Sunflower
- Buckwheat
- Clover
- Kohlrabi
- Peas
Any plant that is completely edible (from the roots to the leaves) can technically be used, but the ones above are the most common and have the best taste. If you’re looking for the best microgreens for starters, broccoli and radishes stand out.
Can I grow microgreens in potting soil?
Yes, clay soil works well with microgreens, but it can be a bit messy. I prefer. Organic clay soil To remove unwanted pesticide residues. Clay soil often has compost mixed in for faster growth times. When cutting the microgreens, make sure that the dirt does not come into contact with it.
Another option is coconut coke or coconut coke. Made from fibrous coconut shells, it holds up to ten times its weight in water and is naturally fungus resistant. Since it doesn’t have a lot of nutrients in it, you can mix in a little compost or use a 50/50 mix of soil and coco coir.
If you want to grow hydroponic microgreens indoors, hemp mats are a great option. You can grow microgreens in water with a hemp mat and sow the microgreens seeds directly on it. For this tutorial though, my focus is on growing seeds in soil (which can provide extra nutrients).
How to grow microgreens in a mason jar
can you Growing seed sprouts In a bottle, but you can grow microgreens that way. Simply follow the same steps as below, but instead of using a shallow container, use a wide mouth pot. The downside to using pots is that you may not get as many greens as the pot size and they can be difficult to harvest.
How to grow microgreens in a tray
This is my preferred method. You just need a shallow, sturdy tray. Some people use plastic microgreen trays, but you can use glass or compost.
Here’s how to grow your own microgreens!
What you need to grow microgreens at home
How to grow microgreens.
- Find a south-facing window with plenty of sunlight or install a grow light. I find that if you have the space to do a grow light mounted under the kitchen cabinets, it works really well for growing greens on the counter. In the warmer months, these can easily be grown outdoors.
- Place an inch of organic potting mix under a shallow tray or plant. You can also use a 50/50 mix of soil and coco core. Moisten the soil evenly.
- Spread seeds well on the surface of the soil.
- Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil and sprinkle the surface with clean filtered water. I use a glass spray bottle.
- If you use it, place it on a heating mat and under a grow light or near a sunny window.
- While you wait for the seeds to germinate, water the seeds a few times a day to keep the soil evenly moist. You can put a small fan over them to give a gentle breeze, prevent mold and improve growth.
- Greens are usually ready to harvest in 2-4 weeks, depending on the type of seed.
- To produce another crop, remove the roots and replant or throw the entire tray into the compost and fill with more soil mixture to replant. If you drop them in the compost, some straggler seeds will usually voluntarily produce their own crops after a few weeks.
- Cut microgreens above soil level with kitchen shears. Store in the refrigerator and wash immediately before use.
Tip: Sowing the seeds overnight speeds up germination, but makes them more difficult to disperse.
If you plant the seed to grow to full size, you will spread more seed than you can. Since they only get 1-2 inches tall, you want to collect as much as possible from each tray.
Troubleshooting common microgreens growing problems
My seeds won’t grow. – You don’t get enough light or it may not be the right temperature. Microgreens are versatile, but the ideal soil temperature for seed germination is 60-75 degrees. The air in the soil should be between 60-70 degrees. Microgreens take 7-21 days before they are ready to harvest. Or your seeds may be too old to germinate.
Why are my buds dull? – The seed pods are usually faded naturally, but this does not mean it is moldy. If it is thin, not washed and growing on the green, then it is mold.
Mold grows on the soil – If you have mold problem, This can be a problem with too much water or drainage. Your microgreen trays need good air flow to prevent fungal growth. Mixing some coco cores into the soil will help improve drainage.
Do I need grow lights for plants? – You don’t need them, but they can be useful, especially on Dark winter days. If you don’t have plant light, choose a sunny window.
My microgreens are long and drooping – If you are using a light source that is too far away from the microgreens or of poor quality, it can cause them to get “leggy”. The seeds have to be spread very high to reach the growing light.
Do microgreens grow back after being cut?
Some seeds may give you a small crop after harvesting, but not much. It is best to fertilize the medium soil after harvesting and starting anew. Experts advise not to reuse the same soil for microgreens due to the risk of disease and low yield. If you have a compost pile going in the yard, you can incorporate some of your finished compost into your microgreens soil mix.
How to eat microgreens
You don’t need any special microgreens recipe to use them. They work well on any kind of salad and most dishes. Try them on some Grain-free Eggs BenedictA Burger bowlor decorate Some soup. Microgreens can work on any dessert!
Have you ever grown your own plants or herbs indoors? What are your favorite ways to use microgreens? Leave a comment and let us know!
