Microgreens are not only tasty, attractive, and delicious but also one of the best ways to keep your seed inventory fresh and ready for planting.
Did you know? Microgreen seeds are the exact same seeds you would plant in the garden, just harvested at a much earlier growth stage. This means you can use any leftover seeds to grow as micros and add a fresh garnish to your meals.
What seeds can be harvested as microgreens?
- Any vegetable with edible leaves and stems, including lettuce, arugula, swiss chard, beets, peas, and radishes.
- Popular herbs like dill, cilantro, and basil.
- Some people will argue that tomatoes can be harvested as microgreens; however, as a best practice, we do not recommend growing plants of the Solanaceae family as their flavor is not as attractive, and consuming large amounts may cause an upset stomach.
Microgreen Seed Mats are easy to use, fast to plant, and provide evenly spaced microgreen seeds.
Basic Supplies for Growing Microgreens
To start your microgreen journey, all you need are some trays, growing media, seeds, and water.
- Trays: While 10×20 trays are the most commonly used, smaller 10×10 and 5×5 trays also work well for growing a sampling of different seeds. For those who are short on time or don’t want to keep a close eye on their grows, self-watering trays are a great choice. Self-watering trays work by wicking up water from a basin through strands of rope into the soil.
- Growing Mediums: As for the best growing mediums, coconut coir is king. Any seed being grown as a microgreen will perform best in a soil-like media, as this is the closest to traditional growing conditions. However, with some practice, many seeds also grow well on hydroponic mats, such as bamboo, biostrate felt, micro mats, jute fiber, and ecotone pads.
- Light Needs: Like any other crop, light plays a vital role in growing microgreens. While they can be grown with simple window light, it is best to provide a more direct source with indoor growing lights. When shopping for lights, select ones with a full or sun-white spectrum, as this will best support chlorophyll and nutrient development. While grow tents can be helpful, microgreens can easily be grown from the comfort of your kitchen counters.
Pre-sown Microgreen mats are efficient, clean to use, and organically approved.
The ground-breaking base layer ensures moisture is retained around the dense, even seed distribution and effectively guarantees a successful crop.
How to Grow Microgreens
Microgreens are some of the easiest crops to grow because there are no strict planting practices. It really is as simple as hydrating the growing media, spreading your seeds, covering, watering, and harvesting.
Each of these steps is further explained below with a few tips and best-growing practices.
1. Prepare the Trays and Growing Media
While microgreens can be grown in any tray size according to your preferences, it is important to always have a way for excess water to drain away. This will keep your roots happy and healthy. Nestling a tray with holes inside one without holes will allow for drainage and easy access for bottom watering.
Before planting, always hydrate your growing medium. This will ensure your seeds have a great source of water during the germination process while also preventing your seeds from bouncing or rolling around as they are spread across the planting surface.
2. Broadcast the Seeds
Unlike traditional seed sowing, microgreen seeds are planted by broadcasting evenly across your entire tray. While some seeds don’t like to be “shoulder to shoulder,” others don’t mind being a little snug. Most seeds sold for growing as microgreens will list a seeding rate; however, many growers tend to settle into their own preferences as they become more experienced with each seed.
As a general rule, it is best to see some growing media exposed between seeds.
3. Cover
When seeds are traditionally planted into the ground, they are buried, creating a dark environment for the germination phase. This can be replicated when growing microgreens by placing another tray nestled on top to create a blackout environment and good seed-to-soil contact.
Some growers like to stretch the stems a little for better access when harvesting. To stretch the stems, turn the covering tray over into a dome shape for an extra day or two following germination.
4. Expose to Light
After germination, it is time to expose the microgreens to light. Before being exposed to light, it is normal for the stems and emerging cotyledons to appear white or yellow in color. After a day or so, you will notice the leaves starting to turn green or red according to the variety’s natural tendencies.
If you notice a red or pink microgreen not developing as much color as anticipated, such as Red Garnet Amaranth, you may want to consider using a grow light with greater spectrum coverage.
5. Watering
From planting time through germination, it is best to overhead water to provide a humid environment. But be watchful for signs of mold. Mold will appear with a gray color and spidery texture. Root hairs are commonly confused with mold because of their thin and fuzzy appearance. However, root hairs will lose their fuzzy appearance when sprayed with water, while mold will only appear more like a spider web.
To reduce the chance of mold developing, it is best to start bottom-watering your microgreens once the seeds take root in the growing media. To do this, simply add some water to the bottom tray.
6. Harvest
Most microgreens are ready to harvest in 7-14 days; however, some may take longer. The top 10 must-grow microgreens mentioned below can be harvested within approximately 14 days from planting.
Most microgreens are harvested after the cotyledon leaves have unfurled and have developed their green color but before true leaves start growing.
Top 10 Microgreens to Grow
1. Waltham 29 Broccoli
Broccoli microgreens are most commonly grown because they have been featured in many studies regarding the benefits and nutrient value of microgreens compared to vegetables at mature harvesting. Broccoli sprouts and microgreens are known to contain up to 40 times the nutrient value as their flowering heads.
With a mild earthy flavor, broccoli micros can easily be mixed into salads, smoothies, soups, eggs, toast, hummus, and sandwiches.
2. Speckled Pea
Speckled peas are fast-growing with a delightful sweet flavor, just like a fresh snap pea. They can be mixed into salads and sandwiches or added to stir-fries. Just be sure to add them once everything is done cooking to preserve their flavor and texture.
While other microgreens are best harvested before true leaves develop, peas can be harvested at your preferred height and flavor level. Some people like to let them grow until tendrils start to appear.
3. Basic Salad Mix
This mix features broccoli, kale, kohlrabi, arugula, and cabbage seeds for a balanced and flavorful staple you will want to keep around all year long. With a blend of color and flavor, this is the perfect staple for infusing the taste of spring and summer into your daily meals wherever leafy greens are used.
4. Rambo Radish
Unlike most radish varieties, Rambo radish develops stems that vary from white to pink-purple with a mix of green and mostly dark purple leaves. Its spicy and fresh flavor make this microgreen a perfect choice for mixing into green salads, sandwiches, burgers, or adding a touch of color as a garnish.
5. Black Oil Sunflower
Sunflower microgreens are juicy with a delightful crunch that sets them apart from other microgreens. With a mild, sweet, and nutty flavor, these seeds are perfect for the beginning microgreen grower.
To help shed the hard shell, cover these seeds with a layer of soil or coconut coir and stack a tray on top through germination to provide some resistance as the stem and cotyledons emerge. Before planting it is best to soak the seeds for 3-6 hours in cold water.
6. Slow Bolt Arugula
Arugula, also known as Rocket, is a fast-growing microgreen that is favored for its spicy and peppery flavor that becomes less intense the larger it grows. Because of its intense flavor, it is best used as a garnish or mixed with other more mild greens like lettuce or cabbage. For a delightful burst of flavor, use it as a replacement for lettuce on hamburgers or to garnish other red meat dishes.
7. Red Acre Cabbage
Red Acre Cabbage microgreens offer unique purple-white stems with bright green leaves. It has a strong broccoli-cabbage flavor common to the brassica family. This is a popular seed featured in many microgreen mixes because it pairs with other brassicas, including broccoli and radish seeds. Performs well on soil or hydroponic growing mediums.
8. Red Garnet Amaranth
Red Garnet Amaranth is a high-protein microgreen with a stunning pink-red color that appears with white through the stems and deepens into the leaves. This degree of color is not common in other microgreens making it popular for use as a garnish or mixed into salads.
When growing amaranth microgreens, be sure to place your containers in a warm area or under lights that put off a little heat.
9. Dark Red Detroit Beet
Beets are considered a seed for experienced microgreens growers because they can be a bit picky about their growing conditions. However, they are well worth the effort as their bright red color and bold, sweet, and earthy flavor are very rewarding. Beet microgreens are great for adding color when used as a garnish or mixed into salads, wraps, and sandwiches.
Be sure to cover your beet seeds with a layer of soil to help shed the seed hull as it pushes to the surface. The seed hull is very hard and is best left behind when harvesting. Soaking the seeds before sowing can help them soften and encourage even germination times.
10. Daikon Radish
While any radish can be grown as a microgreen, the classic Daikon variety is known for its bright green leaves, white to pale green stems, and a refreshing crunch and bright, classic radish flavor. As a fast grower, this microgreen can be harvested in as little as 6-10 days.
Radish microgreens are typically used to add a flare of spice to salads, sandwiches, and burgers or as a garnish to pasta and soups.
Written By: Ashleigh Smith
NGB Member: True Leaf Market
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