Growing microgreens is a fun, rewarding hobby that’s perfect for seasoned gardeners and novices alike. Loved by many for their vivid colors, intricate shapes, and intense flavors, these miniature plants are harvested just after the first true leaves appear. This tutorial will guide you on how to grow a variety of microgreens at home, from seed to harvest.
### Choosing Your Microgreens
The first step in your microgreen adventure is to decide which species of plants you’d like to grow. There is a wide variety of plants suitable for microgreen production, ranging from herbs like basil and dill, vegetables like broccoli and radish, and even edible flowers like sunflower and nasturtium. Many seed suppliers sell specialized microgreen seed mixes that contain a blend of species carefully chosen for their harmonious growth rates, complementary flavors, or visually pleasing color palettes.
### Gathering Your Supplies
You’ll need a few supplies to start your microgreen garden. First, you’ll need a container. Almost any shallow dish or tray will work, provided it has drainage holes. If it doesn’t, you can easily make your own by poking holes in the bottom of the container with a nail or a drill.
Next, you’ll need growing media. Microgreens can be grown in a variety of substrates, from specially formulated potting mixes to yarn mats and coconut coir. Avoid garden soil as it tends to compact easily and may contain pests and diseases.
Lastly, you’ll need a spray bottle for watering, a clear plastic lid or wrap to cover your tray, and a source of light, either natural sunlight, or artificial grow lights for indoor gardeners.
### Sowing Your Seeds
Disperse the seeds evenly across the surface of your selected growing media. It’s okay if the seeds are touching, but seeds stacked on top of each other will have a harder time sprouting. No need to bury the seeds, microgreens are surface growers. Once your seeds are sown, mist them gently with water until they’re thoroughly damp but not swimming in water.
Cover the tray with your clear plastic lid or wrap, ensuring it’s not touching the seeds. The cover will create a humid, greenhouse-like environment that helps the seeds germinate.
### Germination
Most microgreens will begin to sprout in 3-7 days. During this time, keep the growing medium moist by misting the seeds 1-2 times per day. Once you see sprouts, you can remove the cover. Your plants will be very delicate during this stage, so it’s vital to water them gently to avoid causing damage.
### Lighting
Once your microgreens have sprouted, they need 12-16 hours of light per day to grow. If you’re growing them indoors, ideally, you would use a specialized grow light, though, in a pinch, a desktop lamp with a daylight bulb would do just fine. Microgreens like a relatively cool environment, so avoid placing your tray in direct, hot sunlight or close to a heat source.
### Watering
At the sprout stage, your microgreens will not yet have developed true leaves—the larger, more mature leaves of the plant. Once they do, they will require more water. Never let the growing media dry out completely. As a rule of thumb, water your microgreens once a day, or when the top 1-2 inches of the growing media is dry to the touch.
### Harvesting
Most microgreens are ready to harvest in about 10-14 days, sooner for fast-growing species like radish, and later for slower ones like parsley. The best time to harvest your microgreens is right after their first true leaves have fully developed.
To harvest cut the stems with a pair of clean, sharp scissors, as close to the growing media as possible. The harvest period tends to be quite short, often just 1-2 days. Thus, it’s best to plant new seeds every week to keep a steady supply of fresh microgreens.
### Cleaning and Storage
After harvest, it’s best to consume your microgreens immediately for the freshest taste and texture. If you must store them, give them a gentle wash in cool water and pat dry with a towel. Stored in a plastic bag in the fridge, microgreens should stay fresh for 5-7 days.
### Pest Control
Microgreens can fall prey to pests such as aphids, spider mites, and fungus gnats. These pests can often be controlled by increasing ventilation around the plants, reducing water if the substrate is overly wet, or introducing beneficial insects such as ladybirds.
### Conclusion
Microgreens offer an array of health benefits and can enhance the taste and presentation of dishes. Easy and quick to grow, they are an excellent way to incorporate fresh greens into your diet. With a small investment in supplies, you can have fresh, home-grown microgreens on your plate in just two weeks.
With this guide, you now have the knowledge to start your own microgreen farm at home. Get started today and enjoy the fruits of your labor in just a few short weeks. Happy planting!
