Harness The Huge Power Of Microgreens!
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This quarantine season has seen a skyrocketing spike in garden supply sales. With the frantic pace of life hitting the brakes, people are now having some time to stop and smell the roses. quite literally. Besides cooking, people in quarantine are taking up gardening as a past time.
For those who have a spacious enough backyard to work in, growing some food can be fun and fruitful. But for those for whom space is limited, there isnât much chance of growing sizeable foods. For them, microgreens have come to the rescue.
What are Microgreens?
Microgreens are tiny-sized edible greens that have grown to the size of 1- 1/2 to 2 inches long including the stem and the leaves. They shouldn't be confused with sprouts which are devoid of leaves. Sprouts also grow much sooner and have a shorter growing cycle of two to seven days whereas micro greens are best harvested 7 to 21 days post germination.
Microgreens have a single central stem with two completely developed cotyledon leaves and one pair of partially developed through leaves very small in size.
So basically, microgreens fall between sprouts and baby greens.
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History of Microgreens
The mid 90s saw the start of microgreen popularity. They were first produced in Southern California and spread eastward after that.
Today, they are grown in most states in the USA, with many producers in Dallas, Austin, Lewisville etc.
Earlier they were limited to few varieties, but with growing interest today there are a ton of different varieties of microgreens out there.
What are the Easiest Kinds of Microgreens I Can Grow at Home?
To make things clearer, I have divided varieties of microgreens that are easy, intermediate and hard to grow at home.
Easy to Grow Microgreens:
Bak choi
Mustard (how long does mustard last?)
Intermediate Microgreens to Grow:
Anise
Celery
Dill (how long does dill last?)
Leek
Sorrel
Tough Microgreens to Grow:
Basil
Chives (how long do chives last?)
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A Beginnerâs Guide to Growing Microgreens
Choose the Medium to Grow Microgreens In
To begin with, microgreens can be grown on three different media. Soil based, soil less and hydroponic methods.
Soil based growing media: Since micro greens are harvested in a short span of time, it is not very important to have a nutrient rich soil mix. Damp soil is favorable but too much moisture can lead to trouble. Most microgreens can be grown in soil, but it doesn't make it the best choice. Since it is best to harvest your microgreens as near to the media as you can, crops of low height like basil can become quite messy at harvest time.
Soil less growing media: Hydroponic lava rock, coco coir, are some examples of soil less media. Soil less media provide a cleaner growing surface for your micros.
Hydroponic growing media: Using a growing pad like the Micro-mat hydroponic grow pad which absorbs and retains moisture to allow germination freely. This is one of the simplest ways also, and if done correctly can be the easiest to harvest where you can simply pull off the crop from the pad. Do plant larger seeds in a soil media for best results.
Growing Trays: You can use any old tray you have at home as your growing tray (which we recommend at the start / test phase) but if you're serious about growing your own microgreens at home, we suggest getting a pack of garden growing trays that you can clean and reuse. (Plus they make for good conversation pieces)
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Lighting for your Microgreens
Blackout
Obviously, lighting is extremely important for growing microgreens. For the perfect micros however, it is crucial to have a blackout period for at least 4 to 5 days post planting. The blackout period will cut light out which helps maintain humidity that helps seeds germinate evenly.
After 4-5 days the seeds are ready to accept light. A nice way to strengthen the roots of your seedlings is to place an empty tray right on top of the emerging crop for one day.
Light
Make sure the room where you're growing microgreens has good sunlight. Some micros need extra light and some not as much. Read about which crop needs how much before planting. You only want the crop to start making true leaves.
Water
Always presoak your microgreens for best results. But keep an eye on the duration of the soak. Sunflower, chard, buckwheat, beets and peas are best presoaked. âKeep it moistâ is a great rule of thumb to growing microgreens.
As the roots begin to grow, you will need to water your microgreens more often. Use a good âmisterâ to keep your soil top moist.
Any spray bottle can be used as a mister to keep the top layer of your growing media/soil moist, but if you don't have a spray bottle handy, we recommend that you get one of these spiffy Amber Spray Bottles. Not only do they look nice, but the amber-colored bottle prevents algae growth inside.
Heat
A room temperature of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for most microgreens. You can use a heat mat if you feel the temperature is going to dip.
So get your growing trays, growing media, quality water, mister, light source, heat source and good quality seeds in order to get started!
Once your microgreens are of ideal length, the only job that remains is to harvest handle and store!
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Harvest, Handle and Store
Harvesting microgreens is as simple as growing them. Grab a sharp pair of scissors and cut as close to the growing media as you can. Shake off any soil residue from your pick and wash only what you are going to use immediately.
Store unwashed, clean micros as you would any other herbs, albeit very gently.
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Microgreens and Nutrition
Microgreens are packed with potassium, zinc, iron, copper and magnesium. They are also a great source of antioxidants. The concentration of antioxidants in some cases, has been studied to be as much as that found in mature plants, if not more. Some varieties of microgreens are high in vitamin E, vitamin C, K, A and Beta carotene.
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How Do Microgreens Affect My Health?
Put in an active effort to make microgreens a part of your daily diet as they can help fend off many chronic illnesses. Eating antioxidant rich foods such as microgreens which also contain high amounts of polyphenols have been link to a decreased risk of :
How Can I Add Microgreens to My Diet?
There are plenty of fun uninteresting ways to do just that! Add to your breakfast sandwiches or wraps. Toss them by the handful in your salads or chop them into omelets. Finishing your pizzas and pastas with some fresh greens can give that lovely crunch to your bite.
You can even add a bunch to your kidâs breakfast smoothie to pack it with nutrients.
However, you may choose to grow or have microgreens, remember to involve your family and enjoy thoroughly the therapeutic process of growing life from dormant seeds!
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