Microgreens For Landscape: Learn How to Grow Microgreens in Your Home Garden

Microgreens are an exciting new plant cultivar, developed in Europe and introduced to the US for the nursery trade, by a European producer. Like all true microgreens, it was developed to be small enough to fit into regular-sized containers, yet with a beautiful, fresh look and feel.

While it is easy to see its commercial uses as an ornamental plant, it is also grown for its growing qualities. If you grow microgreens, you’ll find that the various ways you choose to grow them, will determine how long your plants live and which of their unique characteristics you want to highlight.

Like other plants, you’ll need to start the microgreens from seed. To get started, select one of the seed packets that will come with your packet of microgreens and leave the seeds in a dry, dark place. Cover the seeds with Saran wrap to prevent moisture loss.

Next, take two large pots or boxes, one filled with soil, one with sunflower or wheat muck. For a more authentic look, use two smaller pots, filled with such materials.

You can start the plants in pots, but it’s much easier to water them in larger pots than in smaller ones. Keep in mind that small plants will tend to dry out more quickly.

Light is an important consideration. To grow microgreens in your home garden, plant them in brightly lit spots so that the light shines directly on the plants.

If you’re growing microgreens for pleasure or for commercial use, there’s nothing worse than poor light conditions. You need to make sure that they receive as much light as possible to keep the leaves looking full and healthy.

The best time to plant microgreens is early spring so the day when they become active is also the best time to water them. However, don’t be surprised if the plant’s leaves start to turn yellow before it rains. This is common among new cultivars.

Just remember that the next season you water them should be the time when the plants receive most of their light. If you’re growing microgreens in a windowbox, some of the light should be directed onto the plants.

You may decide to work with a fluorescent light to get more light to the plants. They’re available at most nurseries and home gardening stores.

It’s always a good plan to put your plants in windows to get their best light. If your windows are wide, you can bring some of the plants inside to direct the light directly onto them. This will help you avoid losing water.

The flowers and fruits of your microgreens can be a great feature in your landscape, if properly cared for. They’re more prone to being eaten by birds or having insect problems than other plants are. You’ll want to keep this in mind when deciding which types of plants you’d like to grow in your garden.