Are you interested in learning how to start eating microgreens? Microgreens, a delicious Asian vegetable, are highly nutritious and filling, especially when steamed or eaten raw. They’re also easy to grow (just start planting seeds in the spring), making them an excellent “go to” for adding more vegetables to your diet. It’s not uncommon to find yourself eating microgreens every day.
How do I start growing microgreens at home? You simply need to find an indoor plant that suits your growing habit. Indoor plants are easier to care for than outdoor ones, so take that into consideration before planting anything new. Some common indoor plants include alfalfa, lettuce, snap Beans, lettuce, cabbage, sprouts, zucchini, mushrooms, carrots, cabbage, broccoli, basil, cress, parsley, dill, tarragon, marigolds, mint and more. Just try and stay away from yams, peanuts, or soybeans, as they have too much water content to sustain a healthy crop. Other suggestions are peas, mushrooms, beans, cucumbers, squash, spinach, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, Swiss chard, bok choy, turnips, squash, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kale, or any other green that will thrive indoors.
The next step is to fill your microgreen seed tray with your chosen microgreen variety. Microgreens need a generous amount of water, so you’ll want to purchase a tray with holes drilled in the bottom for drainage as well as a few holes in the side for ventilation. Your seeds should be within reach of the tray and can then be spread out on the tray as instructed by the seed dealer. If your seeds require more humidity, you may consider purchasing a piece of perlite or a humidifier to enhance growth.
Once your microgreens have been spread out and have begun to germinate, it’s time to move them into their containers. It’s important to keep in mind that microgreens don’t love being crowded. You’ll want to place several cuttings of each variety on separate trays. After about three weeks, you can transfer the trays into their garden boxes or large pots and just let your plants go to work.
Harvesting your plants is easy and straightforward. Simply remove the seed from its container and dig a hole inside the earth. Then place your microgreen seedlings into the hole and gently cover the soil over with the loose soil. This will help the seeds absorb as much water as possible while they germinate. If you are harvesting from a sunny area, consider placing a small plant pot directly in the hole or tarp your seed trays before you dig the hole.
When you are ready to harvest your microgreen plants, remove the plant from its own tray and transfer it directly to your harvesting bin. If you are harvesting from a warm area, use a heating pad to germinate your seeds. Microgreens will germinate in approximately ten days. Harvest your tiny greens approximately two weeks after they have sprouted. If you’re harvesting for personal consumption, consume them within two weeks of sprouting.