Growing Microgreens

GROW THOSE (micro) GREENS!

Microgreens are so much more than the trendy ‘vegetable confetti’ you see on foodie Instagram accounts!

Beyond being photogenic, microgreens are the poster child for the phrase “Good things come in small packages”.

• They Pack 10-40 times as much nutrition as their full-grown counterparts
• They are ready to harvest in 2-3 weeks
• They don’t require any extra equipment to grow

In case you’re wondering what I’m talking about… Microgreens include a wide variety of edible immature plants. Varieties of greens, herbs, flowers and vegetables lend themselves to being eaten while small. You do not eat the roots like with sprouts. You harvest by cutting above the soil level and eating the stem and leaves.

It is no secret that I LOVE my microgreens… and I want to share with you how easy it can be to grow your own nutritious and delicious micros! So let’s go over the basics of getting started!

Location

Like with any gardening project, starting with the best location sets you up for success! South facing windows will usually keep you growing. I will say that I don’t have much space in my sunny windows, especially in the darkest part of winter my plants benefit from a grow light. I grow mostly with these Full Spectrum Grow Lights that I bought a few years ago. They are an investment, but do pay off over time. *Consider splitting the 4 pack with another friend if you’re just getting started.*

I’ll also suggest that you grow these in a place you see daily, as these babies grow FAST and you don’t want to miss the best harvest date.

Trays

You can keep it as simple as reusing take out containers, which is exactly what I did for the first winter I grew these. If you find you’re growing more, I really like these Shallow Microgreen Trays from Bootstrap Farmer. Just make sure you’ve got at least one tray that is water tight, and preferably something that can sit on top of it because for growing these cuties, we keep them in forced darkness for a few days.

Soil

There are a LOT of different seed starting soil mixes out there. Mixes with coconut coir tend to be better for the environment. My favorite all around potting soil is for Microgreens is the Pro Mix Mycorrhrizae. There is a real difference in seed starting mixes and potting soils, so pay attention to what you’re buying.

Microgreen Seeds

You can try to grow any kind of seed as a micro – but buying the right seeds is going to be much more rewarding. My all time favorite Microgreen Seed Supplier is High Mowing Organic Seeds – the seeds from this place are the highest quality, giving me the best germination rate, and the best overall final harvest too! I have grown good micros from Johnny’s Seeds and Botanical Interests too. I keep adding new varieties to the mix all the time.

And I’ve fallen in love growing micros on a hemp pad – I use the MicroGreen Grow Kit. from ‘Farmer You’ Use code: FORKSINTHEDIRT at checkout for a 10% off discount this November and December.

Get Growing!

• Place an inch or so of soil in the bottom of a tray, press it down so it isn’t fluffy, making as smooth as possible. Keep in mind how small these are going to be! Dampen soil.
• Scatter seeds on top of soil, so they are almost touching each other is optimal. Firm into but not covering with soil. Soaking some seeds is also recommended, like pea shoots (read seed packet for specifics). *I soak my pea seeds in a diluted hydrogen peroxide solution for 24-48 hours before planting*
• Spray seeds to moisten and adhere to soil.

• Cover and weigh down seeds. This helps them germinate and forces them into the soil, and gets them ready to really shoot up once exposed to the light.
• Remove cover + weight after day 2-3. Place in sunny window or under a grow light.
• Keep seeds watered until harvesting. I have found that mixing a small amount of hydrogen peroxide into the water really helps keep mold down in my microgreen trays too.
• Harvest by cutting (either with a sharp knife or scissors) above the soil level and rinse.
• Storage: I keep a tray going and cut as I need. Or if I want to harvest the rest of a tray I just place it all *without washing* into a container in the fridge that won’t squish them.

Big Options for Microgreens

Beginners often start by growing one type of seed, such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, radish, mustard and arugula. These are the easiest-to-grow varieties of microgreens.

Microgreen FAQ’s

Do the Microgreens regrow?
NO- when a plant is that immature and you cut off 80% of it, it doesn’t have the energy to regrow.
*Exceptions, you can sometimes get a decent second harvest from pea shoots and bunching onions*

Can I reuse the soil?
NO- We use such a thin layer of soil to grow for a short time to use that resources wisely, but the root mass overtakes any chance of being able to reuse the soil.

Same is true with the hemp grow pads, they are a one and done but add great organic matter to the compost pile!

But please recycle the spent soil, and if you have backyard chickens, they will gladly clean off any bits of green before you bring it to the compost pile 😉

Specs On Micros

Cabbages, Radishes, Mild Mix:
Plant, weight + cover 2 days, high light 15-20 days, harvest.

Arugula:
Plant, weight + cover 1-2 days, high light 6-9 days, harvest.

Pea shoots:
Soak minimum 1-2 days, then plant, weight + cover 2 days, then high light 10 days, harvest.

Fresh Greens = Good Food

These are a fast and fun way to keep growing inside- even in the depths of our Minnesota winters. The variety of flavors, textures, grow times and colors make these so fun to grow its easy to forget just how good they are for you! If you are interested in growing salad greens a little further than the microgreen stage, I’ve got you covered in Grow a Container Salad Garden as well.

*I like the Pea Shoots with ranch, Sunflower Shoots all on their own and Mild Mix on my tacos**

my pickiest eater, age 13

Have we convinced you to give it a try, or at least seek them out at a farmers market soon?

Dig In!
Michelle