How to grow microgreens at home

What is microgreens

Microgreens are young shoots 1. How to Grow Microgreens at Home / All that grows
2. Everything you want to know about microgreens! herbs and vegetables. The crop is harvested when the first pair of small leaves is formed on the stems. This occurs on average 12-14 days after disembarkation. In this case, the sprout itself can reach 5-7 cm in height.

Microgreens taste the same as mature crops. For example, if you eat radish shoots, they will taste like the vegetable itself.

Microgreens are very useful: they are rich in vitamins and carotenoids. You can eat it just like that, add it to salads, sandwiches, smoothies and other dishes.

How to choose seeds for microgreens

There is no definite answer. Some sources claim that the crop can be grown from ordinary horticultural seeds.Do You Need Special Seeds for Microgreens? / Do not disturb gardening. Other articles note that such material is treated with fungicides and insecticides.

Their concentration is safe if you eat ripe fruits, but these substances can be harmful if you eat small sprouts. Therefore, you need to ensure that the seedsChoosing Seeds for Microgreens 101: Everything You Need to Know / Nickgreens have not been processed - manufacturers indicate this information on the packaging. Another option is to buy only those that are intended for microgreens.

More than 80 herbs and vegetables are suitable for growing greenery. Here are some examples:

• arugula;
• beet;
• carrot;
• peas;
• onion;
• radish;
• spinach;
• cilantro;
• cucumber herb;
• Dill;
• sorrel.

Remember the rule: crops are not suitable for microgreening, the seedlings of which are inedible. For example, sprouts of eggplant, tomato and pepper can cause poisoning in humans. Beans are also toxic, and the shoots of pumpkin plants are bitter.

Also be aware that large seeds are soakedComplete List of Main Types of Microgreens You Can Grow / Grocycle before planting: this helps to soften the shell. And the sprout eventually comes out faster. For example, cilantro and coriander are kept in water overnight, while barley, oats, or alfalfa are kept for 1-2 hours. Basil and arugula, on the other hand, do not need to be soaked.

How to choose a place to grow microgreens

Sprouts need at least 6 hours of natural sunshine.How many hours of light do microgreens need? / Plant hardware light a day. Some crops, such as sunflowers, may need more. Therefore, do not choose a window sill or a balcony overlooking the shadow side. If this is not possible, consider purchasing an LED seedling light. Gardeners recommend keeping plants under it for at least 12 hours a day.

Optimum temperatureGuide to Profitable Year-Round Microgreens Production: Recommendations from Johnny's Research Team / Johnny's Selected Seeds for microgreens - 18–24 ° C. If the room is warmer, the seeds of some crops may not germinate. And if it is cooler, it may take longer for them to ascend.

For planting microgreens, you can use a special germinator. There are quite a few varieties of this device, but the manufacturer applies instructions to each. So it won't be difficult to understand the process. If there is no germinator and you do not want to buy it, you can grow the crop with the help of improvised means.

How to grow microgreens on paper towels

What is needed

• Small jar;
• water;
• paper towels without patterns;
• plastic container 25 × 50 cm;
• a spoon;
• seeds;
• spray.

What to do

Wet paper towelsGrow Microgreens on Paper Towels in 7 Simple Steps / GroCycleand then squeeze them well. If the material is too dry, microgreens will not sprout. And with too much moisture, mold will appear.

Fold the towels in several layers and place them on the bottom of the container. Spread the seeds over the surface with a spoon gently and without pressure. Spray them with a spray bottle and cover with a clean towel.

Place the container in a dark place. This will help simulate natural conditions in the ground. After about 24 hours, the sprouts should hatch. Check the seedlings periodically. If the towel seems to be too dry, add water with a spray bottle.

After germination, move the microgreens to light - then the process will start photosynthesis. Leaves that may have appeared pale yellow will begin to take on a green tint. Add water to the towel as needed.

How to grow microgreens in a glass jar

What is needed

• Seeds;
• glass jar;
• water;
• gauze or a small piece of cloth;
• bank gum or rope.

What to do

Place the seeds in the jar and cover them with a little water. Place gauze or a piece of cloth on the neck. Secure with a bank rubber band or rope. Wait until sprouts begin to emerge from the grains, and immediately drain the liquid. Rinse the workpieces carefully and put them back into the container.

Cover the container with a cloth and place it at a 30 ° angle, leaning against something. This will help drain off excess fluid. Rinse the grains every day to remove mucus from them.

How to grow microgreens in soil

What is needed

• Plastic container (depth not less than 5 cm);
• priming;
• seeds;
• water;
• spray.

What to do

Fill the container with soilGrowing Your Own Microgreens / The spruceand then smooth out the ground. Scatter the seeds as directed on the package. If there are no instructions, plant them at a distance of at least 3 mm. Sprinkle on top with a thin layer of earth.

Water the seedlings gently but abundantly, and then set them up in the light. Spray the sprouts with a spray bottle several times a day.

How to grow microgreens on a substrate

What is needed

• Substrate;
• scissors (optional);
• water;
• plastic container 25 × 50 cm;
• spray;
• seeds;
• opaque cover (optional).

What to do

SubstrateHydroponic Microgreens: How To Grow Microgreens Without Soil / Grocycle sold in the form of briquettes and rugs. There is also a loose option. Briquettes need to be soaked and loosened, and then placed in a container. And cut the rugs with scissors to the size of the container.

Soak the material in water and then let the liquid drain. Put it in the tray. Spread the seeds over the area of ​​the substrate. If the package indicates the distance to be observed when planting, follow the recommendations. If not, try not to place the seeds too close - keep at least 3 mm between them.

Cover the container with a lid or store in a dark place. Try not to check the seeds more than once every 12 hours. After five days, put the litter box on the light. From this point on, microgreens can be watered. Add water on the substrate, and not on the sprouts themselves.

How to care for microgreens

The main thing is not to let the soil or soil substitute dry out. No need to use water with a high chlorine content for irrigationHow To Water Microgreens / Practical growing: from it microgreen can turn yellow. If unsure of tap fluid, use bottled water.

Avoid water that is too cold. The optimum temperature is 10-15 ° C. The maximum value is 21 ° C. Hotter water can damage the sprouts.

If weeds appear on the ground, they need to be pulled out. Then microgreens will not compete for nutrients with other plants. Pests on sprouts are almost never found: they simply do not have time to attack the seedlings.

What problems can arise when growing microgreens

It's a fairly straightforward process, but if you are waiting for the harvest for the first time, you may run into trouble. Here are the most common ones:

• Withering. Leaves look withered or tilt under their own weight. This is most often due to lack of water, lack of sunlight, or inaccurate watering.
• Bad smell. Normally, microgreens smell fresh. The opposite suggests that bacteria have appeared on the crop. Throw it away without trying to continue growing.
• Mold. Not worth trying delete her. Throw out the container or jar with sprouts. The cause of the problem is most likely in a too humid environment. If the situation repeats the next time, try using containers with holes in the bottom and do not add a lot of liquid to the glass container.
• Uneven growth. Microgreens will be drawn towards the light. If you notice higher yields on one side of the container than on the other, turn the tray. Undeveloped sprouts should be exposed to sunlight. Repeat the procedure every day.
• Yellow leaves. This is normal when the seedling container is in a dark place. As soon as you rearrange them closer to the light, the leaves will turn green.
• Poor germination. Within 2-3 days after planting, sprouts should begin to hatch. If this did not happen, most likely you bought low-quality seeds or did not soak large seeds before planting. In the first case, try seedlings from another manufacturer, and in the second, follow the technology next time.

How to harvest microgreens

When the sprouts have reached the desired length, cut them off with scissors or a blade at the root. Rinse crops under running water and add to food.