Microgreens are the seedlings of vegetables and herbs that are harvested less than a month after germination. The greens might be tiny, but they’re packed full of nutrients. Grown year-round, they’re an excellent source of tasty and nutritious greens that can be used in salads, smoothies, or as a garnish.
Getting started with sprouting microgreens at home is easy and rewarding, and you don’t need a green thumb to do it successfully. This guide will show you how to grow your own microgreens at home, with easy-to-follow steps, tips, and information.
Materials Required for Sprouting Microgreens
1. Seeds: Obtain high-quality seeds intended for sprouting or growing microgreens. Common choices include broccoli, radish, kale, chard, beet, mustard, and spinach.
2. Container: Most microgreens can be grown in any shallow container. You could recycle a container from your kitchen, like a plastic salad box or similar.
3. Soil: Use organic seed starting mix. Normal garden soil is too heavy and may also contain disease organisms that could harm the sprouts.
4. Spray Bottle: This is for watering your microgreens.
Preparing The Container
First, be sure to clean the container you plan on using to grow your microgreens. Once the container is cleaned, you can begin adding your soil. Fill the container about ¾ of the way full, lightly patting down to slightly compact the soil but not so much that it becomes rock hard.
Soaking and Planting Your Seeds
Before you sow your seeds, soak them overnight. Soaking before planting helps to speed up germination.
Spread your seeds as evenly as possible over your soil. Don’t worry if they are tight together. Microgreens can tolerate being packed in more closely than regular plants as they don’t stay in the soil for an extended period.
After spreading your seeds, add another very thin layer of soil on top. This needs to be just enough to cover your seeds but no more than that.
Watering
Watering is the trickiest part of the microgreen’s lifecycle. The goal is to keep your soil moist but not soaked or flooded which can lead to rot or mold.
Utilize a spray bottle for this step. Simply spritz your newly hilled hills until they are well moistened. This may need to be repeated up to twice a day.
Creating The Optimal Growing Environment
To create the optimal growing environment, you need to consider location, light, and temperature.
Location: Place your microgreens in an area with good air circulation. Stagnant, humid air can encourage diseases like damping-off.
Light: Microgreens need plenty of light. Place them near a south or a southwest-facing window if possible. If you don’t have a spot with good natural light, fluorescent or LED grow lights work very well.
Temperature: The optimal temperature for growing most microgreens is between 60 and 70°F.
Caring for Your Microgreens
Over the next week or two, maintain the humidity, keep the soil moist, and ensure there’s enough light. Within days, you should start to see some seedlings emerge.
After your microgreens have developed their first set of true leaves, you can use a pair of scissors to cut them at soil level when you are ready to use them.
Troubleshoot Common Problems
Despite your best care, you may sometimes run into problems with your microgreens. Here’s how to troubleshoot them:
1. Mold: Too much humidity or poor air circulation is a common cause. Thinner planting, less watering and ensure good air circulation.
2. Poor germination: This could be due to old seeds, lack of water, or extreme temperatures. Make sure your seeds are fresh, keep the soil moist but not soaked, and maintain a temperature between 60° and 70°F.
3. Leggy seedlings: If your seedlings are reaching for the light and look straggly, they need more light. Make sure to provide 12-16 hours of light per day.
Understanding Nutritional Benefits
Microgreens are not only easy and fun to grow, but they’re also nutritious. They often contain higher nutrient levels than more mature vegetable greens. This makes them a great addition to any meal, contributing vitamins A, C, and K, along with other vital minerals.
Benefit From Multiple Harvests
One of the greatest benefits of growing microgreens is that many varieties can be harvested in just one to two weeks. And many types of microgreens, such as peas and radishes, can be reharvested several times before needing to replant.
Now you’re ready to sprout microgreens at home, a rewarding and nutritious activity that can be done year-round. So start your microgreen adventure today and enjoy the benefits of this healthy and delicious hobby.
