How to grow microgreens at home (the easy way)

You’ve probably seen tiny green plants at your local farmers market or at a farm-to-table restaurant. These small green plants They resemble budsAnd full of nutrients. Growing microgreens at home is really easy and offers many health benefits!

What are microgreens?

Microgreens are miniature plants of greens, herbs, or other vegetables. Like budsThey are a concentrated food source full of beneficial enzymes thanks to their rapid growth. While sprouts are grown without soil and are sprouted seeds, microgreens rely on soil or another growing medium.

Microgreens are very popular in gourmet restaurants due to their distinctive flavor and presentation. You don’t have to go to a fancy restaurant to be able to eat microgreens! Our local health food stores sell them, but I often grow my own microgreens because they are much cheaper.

They’re simple enough to grow so you can easily have a fresh vegetable source in your kitchen year-round. One downside to sprouts is their potential Bacteria grow (which is rare) because it grows in the air and not the soil. With microgreens you eat the stem and leaves, not the seeds and root.

Is microgreen good for you?

In a word, yes. Research shows that microgreens contain 4-40% more micronutrients than whole-grown herbs and vegetables. Microgreen benefits include getting the fibre, minerals and vitamins our cells need to thrive. The benefits of microgreens do not stop there. You’ll also find antioxidants to fight free radical damage.

Types of microgreens for growth

The plants most used for growing microgreens are:

• lettuce
• Kale
• spinach
• Radish
• beet
• Watercress
• Herbs
• The greens
• cabbage
• Mustard
• Shea
• sunflower
• buckwheat
• Clover
• Colabi
• Peas

Technically any edible plant that is completely edible (from root to leaves) can be used, but the plants listed above are the most common and taste best. If you’re looking for the best microgreens for beginners, broccoli and radishes are the best.

Can I grow microgreens in potting soil?

Yes, potting soil works well for small green plants, but it can get a little messy. I prefer Organic soil To avoid unwanted pesticide residue. Potted soil usually has some fertilizer mixed in for a faster growth time. Just make sure when you trim the young green plants that dirt does not get in with them.

Another option is coconut or coconut coir. Made from fibrous coconut husk, it holds up to ten times its weight in water and is naturally resistant to fungi. It doesn’t have a lot of nutrients so you can mix in a little fertilizer or use a 50/50 mix of soil and coir.

If you want to grow small green plants at home without soil (hydroponically), a hemp mat is a great option. You can grow baby green plants hydroponically using a tarp mat and sow the baby green plant seeds directly on it. In this tutorial, I focus on planting seeds in soil (which can transport more nutrients).

How to grow microgreens in a mason jar

You can Seed sprouts grow In a jar, but you can also grow young green plants this way. Simply follow the same steps as below, but instead of using a shallow container, use a wide-mouth jar. The downside to using a jar is that depending on the size of the jar, you may not get as many greens and it may be difficult to harvest.

How to grow microgreens in a tray

This is my favorite method. You just need a shallow and sturdy tray. Some people use small plastic trays, but you can also use glass or biodegradable trays.

Here’s how to grow your own microgreens!

What you need to grow microgreens at home

How to grow microgreens:

1. Find a south-facing window with plenty of sunlight or install a grow light. I have found that a grow light mounted under kitchen cabinets works perfectly for growing vegetables on the counter if you have the space to do so. In the warmer months, they can also be easily grown outside.
2. Place an inch of organic potting mix in the bottom of a tray or shallow bowl. You can also use a 50/50 mix of soil and coir. Smooth the soil evenly.
3. Scatter the seeds thickly and evenly on the surface of the soil.
4. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil and spray the surface with clean, filtered water. I use a glass spray bottle.
5. Place it on a heating mat, if using, and under a grow light or near a sunny window.
6. Mist the seeds several times daily to keep the soil evenly moist while waiting for the seeds to germinate. You can also put a small fan on it to give it a nice breeze, prevent mold and improve growth.
7. Greens are usually ready to harvest within 2-4 weeks, depending on the type of seed used.
8. To plant another crop, remove the roots and replant or toss the entire tray in compost and fill with more soil mix to replant. If you throw away the fertilizer, some of the outlier seeds will usually volunteer and produce a crop of their own after a few weeks.
9. Cut small vegetables just above the soil level using kitchen shears. Store in the refrigerator and rinse immediately before use.

Tip: Soaking the seeds overnight will speed up their germination time, but makes them more difficult to disperse.

You will spread more seeds than you would if you planted seeds to grow to full size. Since they are only 1-2 inches long you want to harvest as many as possible from each tray.

Troubleshoot common Microgreen growth errors

My seeds won’t germinate – They may not get enough light or the temperature may not be right. Small plants are versatile, but the ideal soil temperature for seed germination is 60-75 degrees. The air temperature surrounding the soil should be between 60-70 degrees. Microgreen plants take 7 to 21 days before they are ready to harvest. Or your seeds may be too old to germinate.

Why are my buds fuzzy? – Seed roots are often naturally fuzzy, which does not necessarily mean it is mold. If it is sticky, cannot be washed, and grows on vegetables, it is mold.

There is mold growing on the soil – If you have mold problem, This could be due to too much water or a drainage problem. Microgreen trays also need good airflow to prevent fungal growth. Mixing some coco coir into the potting soil helps improve drainage, too.

Do I need plant grow lights? – You don’t need it, but it can be useful, especially on Dark winter days. If you don’t have plant light, choose a very sunny windowsill.

My young plants are tall and falling over – If you use a light source that is much louder than your microgreens or is of poor quality, this may cause them to become “leggy”. The stems must extend very high to have access to the plant’s growth light.

Do microgreens grow after cutting?

Some seeds may give you a little yield after harvest, but not much. It is best to compost the soil medium after harvest and start again. Experts generally recommend not reusing the same soil to grow young plants due to the risk of disease and low productivity. If you have a compost pile in the backyard, you can incorporate some of the finished compost into your microgreen soil mix.

How to take microgreens

You don’t need any special microgreens recipes to use them. It works well on top of any salad and most dishes. Try them on top of each other Grain-free eggs BenedictA Burger bowlOr for decoration Some soup. Microgreens can be used on top of almost any savory dish!

Have you ever grown your own herbs or plants indoors? What are your favorite ways to use microgreens? Leave a comment and let us know!