Basic Tips & Tricks For Growing Microgreens

Looking for an easy way to enjoy fresh healthy greens all year round? Then we recommend growing microgreens! Microgreens are a rewarding crop to grow, as they harvest quickly and don't require extensive care. Plus, they're a quick way to add a burst of flavor and nutrients to your meal. We'll breakdown how to grow them yourself, and the ways that you can enjoy eating them, as well!

What Are Microgreens?

Also referred to as "vegetable confetti," microgreens are young edible vegetables and herbs harvested within weeks of sprouting. But, they're not sprouts. You can think of microgreens as being baby plants that fall somewhere between a sprout and baby green. 

The Mighty Benefits of Microgreens

Easy To Grow: Microgreens only need minimal space and light to grow, making them an ideal crop to keep on your kitchen windowsill.

Harvest Quickly: Most microgreens harvest within 1-3 weeks!

Nutrient Dense: Immature plant leaves are more nutritious than mature leaves, as all of the plant's vitamin and mineral content is concentrated within the tiny greens.

Great Flavor Booster: From sweet to bitter tasting microgreen varieties, you can use this foliage as a great way to spruce-up any dish.

Types Of Microgreens To Grow

Microgreens seeds are cheap, which means that you experiment with growing a wide variety of vegetables and herbs. Here are some ideas of microgreens that you can grow at home:

Arugula Microgreens: Peppery flavor and a crunchy texture. Arugula microgreens harvest in 10-14 days.

Broccoli Microgreens: Perhaps one of the most healthy of the microgreens, the broccoli leaves slightly bitter in taste. Harvest ready in 10 days.

Cabbage Microgreens: Beautiful in color, and slightly sweeter than cabbage in their taste,  add some crunch o your lunch with these beautiful little seedlings. Harvest ready in 10 days. 

Radish Microgreens: One of the quickest and easiest microgreens grow! Like arugula microgreens, are strong and peppery in their taste. Harvest ready in just 7 days. 

* The possibilities are endless when it comes to the varieties of microgreens that you can grow. Just know that different seeds take different amounts of time to germinate. 

Supplies Needed

- Shallow containers or seeds trays (recycled yogurt containers, or produce trays work well).

- Organic potting mix 

- Vegetable or herb seeds of choice 

- Spray bottle 

- Humidity dome 

- Sunny windowsill or grow lights

Growing Instructions

Step 1: Wash your containers and poke little holes at the bottom. Make sure to place the containers in a seedling flat or tray to catch excess water and to keep the humidity level up. 

Step 2: Pre-moisten the potting mix by mixing in a little warm water into the soil to make it slightly damp. Then place the damp potting soil into the containers filling about 2/3 of the container. * Prepare separate containers for each seed variety. 

Step 3: Sprinkle the microgreen seeds evenly across the top of the soil. Seeds should be scattered thickly with little space in between them. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of potting soil. Gently press the seeds into the potting soil and mist the surface. Cover with a humidity dome to lock in moisture and place the tray in a warm bright location away from direct sunlight.

Step 4:  Check the trays daily to ensure they have enough moisture. Seeing condensation on the inside of the humidity dome is a good sign of plenty of moisture. If there is no visible condensation, remove the dome, mist the soil with warm water, and re-cover.

Step 5: Once the seeds start to sprout, remove the humidity dome and place the microgreens under grow lights or in a sunny location (4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily). Soil should stay moist, not soggy.

Step 6: Note that the first leaves to emerge on the soil are seed leaves, which nourish the plant until the leaves grow. The second set of leaves that unfurl are the "true leaves," which means it's time to harvest your microgreens! When the true leaves appear, snip the stem just above the soil line. 

Ways To Eat Your Microgreens

Microgreens are extremely versatile in the ways that you can enjoy them! Below are just a few of the many ideas to eat this delicious and nutritious foliage. 

- On top of a Chef Soraya Plant-based macro meal! Make a quick, tasty, macronutrient- micronutrient dense meal by adding some microgreens to your favorite Chef Soraya bowl! Or, add some microgreens to this Buddha Bowl recipe. 

- Toss in salads

- Add to sandwiches 

- Mix into an omelet or stir-fry 

- Scatter on pizza fresh from the oven

- Garnish on soups and posted veggies