Are microgreens better than other vegetables? If you have ever eaten a microgreen, or considered trying one, you are probably wondering if this small, flavorful plant is any different from the others that you are used to eating. It’s true that some varieties of dwarf irises and pansies grow wild in some parts of the world, but most greens are grown in controlled environments. That means that they can be harvested at just the right times, grown in favorable soil, and then eaten with as little extra effort as any other vegetable.
But are microgreens better for you than other vegetables like kale? The answer depends on a few factors, including the way you grow and eat them. For example, it would be impossible to say that eating microgreens is better for your health than eating lettuce, spinach, or any other green that has been grown the same way. However, there are some differences in the nutritional content between these plants.
Most indoor vegetable gardens have their roots clogged with a variety of types of debris, including fertilizers, soil, and dead leaves. The resulting mess can become a major health risk to animals and humans when weeds begin to sprout in large numbers. To prevent this, it’s best to use non-toxic weed killers at least once or twice a year. Fertilizers can also cause nutrients to Leach out of the soil surrounding the sprouts, reducing the nutrients available to the plants themselves. And when you’re eating micro greens like kale, a single application of weed killer can destroy all of the valuable protein that the sprouts are designed to provide.
So are microgreens healthier for me than other vegetables? The difference between eating micro greens and other vegetables grown in similar growing environments is subtle but profound. The greens are still full of vital plant-nutrients like iron, phosphorus, copper, and riboflavin. They just don’t have the extra waste products that many other vegetables do.
Another way to think of the difference is this: The growing sprouts of this green, unlike those of other vegetables, are planted directly into a circular compost pile. When the sprouts reach maturity, the soil is left alone for an extended period of time. Then, the crop of microgreens grows in the compost for a couple of years, until it is harvested. The microgreens still contain high levels of these plant nutrients, because they were never exposed to fertilizers or weed killers. At that point, the farmer simply adds organic compost to the soil to help restore the depleted nutrients.
But are microgreens better than regular vegetables? Studies have shown that while they have similar vitamin c and vitamin e levels, microgreens actually have higher levels of those two nutrients. Because they are planted in smaller containers, it takes less water to provide them with adequate levels of those nutrients. That means that each microgreen plant gets an equal amount of vitamin C, as there are in a regular vegetable. They also contain more vitamin E, which helps prevent damage from the sun.
As a result, it’s clear that microgreens are healthier for you. But are they tastier? They are naturally colored, so they don’t change the flavor of the vegetables. But if you prefer a crisp, crunchy taste, you may want to choose another variety. Studies have shown that some varieties of microgreens have a distinct taste, but most of them have a milder flavor.
When it comes to growing microgreens, there are plenty of options. You can try growing them from seed, which is easier and faster, or buy them already grown. Or you can buy pre-packaged mixes of microgreens, which allow you to get the variety that you want, without having to grow them yourself from seed. Or, you can choose to grow your own microgreens in raised beds, using a planter or hanging baskets. Raised beds allow you to control how large a plant you want, because you only take the space that the plant needs. It is up to you whether or not you want to spend time creating a bed, planting seeds, and then waiting for them to grow; or, simply move your plant to a different location and let nature take its course.