Learn How to Grow Nutrient-Filled Vegetables, Microgreens, and Herbs. This article offers suggestions about how to grow plants indoors and outdoors, how to grow microgreen varieties, and a great way to harvest your plants. This article also tells you what you need for a very small-scale vertical or innovative farm to grow the microgreens, vegetables, and herbs you want to enjoy eating.
Microgreens, as the name implies, are young seedlings of leafy green vegetables and herbs. They’re also high in nutrients, including antioxidants and vitamins C, K, and E. According to Sabrina Currie, writer, photographer, and owner of West Coast Kitchen Garden, these microgreens are fantastic in anything from soups, salads, and smoothies, to pesto and sandwiches.
Currie argues that there are numerous advantages to growing these plants yourself. She claims that microgreens are unusual in that the majority of the energy required to grow is contained within the seed itself, and that they are also more nutrient dense than their full-sized counterparts. Because of this, they are ideal for growing on a sunny, south-facing windowsill or beneath a tiny grow light.
Indoor Microgreens Growing Instructions
According to Nathan Heinrich, a floral designer and gardener, because microgreens do not require a lot of light or room, they’re surprisingly easy to cultivate indoors.
What You Will Require
A waterproof shallow tray with no drainage holes
Medium for growth (potting soil or a grow mat)
Seeds
Bottle of water spray or mist
A sunny location or a grow-light system
A temperature that is higher than 60 degrees
Shears or scissors for gardening
How to Plant Microgreens
To avoid mold and fungal growth as your microgreens sprout, Heinrich recommends using a growing mat instead of garden soil—but you can also use all-purpose potting soil.
Lay down your pre-soaked grow mat or distribute your potting soil in your growth tray, leaving at least a half-inch from the tray’s top, according to Heinrich. Place two (2) cups of water into your tray before filling it with potting soil. Heinrich claims that if you place your soil on top of the water, you will have a higher chance of keeping the dirt from becoming waterlogged.
Next, he says, spread your seeds out all on top of the soil or mat without clumping them together. He also says not to bury the seeds.
He recommends watering the seeds lightly with a spray or misting bottle. You’re only attempting to offer some moisture.
Your seeds will need to germinate in a dark place for two to three days with a temperature that is higher than 60 degrees.
Once they start sprouting, relocate them to a well-lit spot, such as a windowsill with indirect sunlight or under a grow lamp for 12 hours per day. Heinrich claims that the more light they receive, the faster the microgreens will grow.
How to Grow Microgreens in the Garden
While it is possible to grow microgreens outside, it is not recommended: According to Heinrich, controlling your surroundings might be tough. If you’re determined to include microgreens in your garden beds, Heinrich recommends following the identical techniques indicated above, with a few exceptions. He suggests that you should plant seeds directly into garden soil unless you have a cold frame or a particularly sheltered setting. He also recommends that you protect your seedlings from any bad weather such as heavy rain, frost, intense heat, wind, and sun.
Heinrich recommends making a makeshift greenhouse out of old windows, plexiglass, or other recyclable materials for optimum outside growing, so the seedlings get sufficient sunlight without becoming too hot, cold, or wet. He recommends covering the trays in sheer gardener’s netting to protect your microgreens from insects, birds, rats, and dogs.
Growing Instructions for Microgreens
Microgreens come in a variety of kinds, with some requiring more sophisticated care to develop. According to Margo Clayson of The Mighty Microgreen, broccoli, sunflower, peas, radish, buckwheat, and cruciferous vegetable mixes are the most common microgreens. These cruciferous microgreens are usually, kale, cabbage, broccoli, kohlrabi, and other cruciferous kinds. Each has a unique nutrient profile and flavor, and they are all simple to grow.
Buckwheat, Sunflower, and Peas
However, Clayson recommends soaking large seeds, such as peas, sunflowers, and buckwheat in cold water for six hours before planting. According to her, this reduces the growing time by roughly a day and promotes all of the seeds to germinate simultaneously.
Basil and Popcorn
Some microgreens, such as basil and popcorn, are grown in different ways. Popcorn microgreens may be consumed after only eight days and are super-sweet when grown in perfect darkness, but bitter when exposed to light, according to Clayson. Set the trays in a dark environment with sufficient airflow after you plant the popcorn. For a tasty, nutritious treat, turn off the lights till harvest.
According to Clayson, basil must be covered with clear plastic wrap, stored under bright light, and misted daily for five days before being uncovered because it is a mucilaginous seed.
How to Pick Microgreens
Currie says that you’ll want to taste your sprouts as soon as they appear, but you will also need to be patient before you can use them in your cooking. Once your seedlings appear, uncover them and spray them every day till harvest, she advises. Depending on the sort of seeds you plant, this could take anywhere from one to three weeks.
She believes seedlings are ready to harvest when they have their first pair of genuine leaves. Simply cut them above the soil level to prevent contamination and thoroughly wash them. If you want to rip them out and eat their roots, make sure to wash them fully before eating. People from the Roze are very familiar with planting microgreens, fruit, vegetables, and herbs. When these edible products grow properly, you will enjoy delightful food products that may be able to grow and be enjoyed year-round. This article provides ways that you can grow good food indoors and outdoors, regardless of the time of year. Bon Appetit!