It seems like common sense, but when you start growing your own microgreens at home, do you wonder if they need to be washed? The truth is, you probably shouldn’t be washing them at all. Microgreens can survive just fine in a jar with water and a mild detergent, provided you give them the room and time to grow. Washing them would only disrupt their growing process and may even kill them.
So, how can you keep your growing microgreens clean? The best way to go about this process is simply to be consistent with your cleaning routine. If you’re just going to be eating microgreens, then you don’t need to worry about washing them. However, if you’re growing larger plants such as spinach or kale, then it’s very important that you wash your growing microgreens at least once per week.
Microgreens are very sensitive plants. They don’t know the difference between unclean soil and dirty water. And even though they’re very tough, they can still be affected by the elements. Microgreens growing indoors need to go through a vigorous cleaning session twice per week.
This does two things. For one thing, it rids your growing microgreens of any excess dirt or debris that might have gotten on them during the growing process. It also makes sure that nothing is left over after you washes the soil off. Most people don’t think to wash their microgreens with water; they think that washing the plants with water will upset their pH and make the plant become disease-y. This is absolutely false!
So what types of materials should you use when washing your microgreens? The best bet is to make your own solution with tap water. This way, you control the PH level of the water and can be more effective in balancing nutrients and minerals for the micro green. Of course, if you have a really dirty microgreen or a really smelly one, there is no need to wash them at all. You can simply set the solution aside and it will wash itself.
What about if you are growing your microgreens outdoors? Do you need to wash them as well? Well, firstly remember that microgreens don’t like strong water or chemicals. Therefore, using a gentle detergent is probably a good idea. If you are growing indoors, again, try not to use any harsh detergents as this could harm the growing medium.