It all started when we ordered house salads. On top was a garnish of arugula microgreens, crisp, green, and with a nutty flavor that left a hint of sweet peppers.
While at dinner with my sister-in-law Lisa last Friday, she asked me, “How do I start growing microgreens at home?”
Microgreens are convenient to grow, as I don’t need a lot of equipment. I grow them on my windowsill. Like any good recipe, here are your ingredients:
- Choose one variety. I’d say Radish or broccoli microgreens. They germinate in one to two days and grow quickly.
- Get some good-quality seeds, preferably the GMO-free, organic ones.
- Get a container. I got a glass jar.
- Get some good organic soil.
- Get a spray bottle for watering.
- Fortunately, my kitchen faces north, and I get about 6 hours of sun a day. If you’ not so lucky, go get an ultraviolet lamp from the hardware store.
This post shares instructions on how to grow microgreens in your home, that are delicious, tasty, healthy, and safe to eat.
Ready? Let’s get started.
How to Grow Microgreens | Ask This Old House
Types of Microgreens You Can Grow
So, the next day, Saturday, I headed over to Lisa’s. I rang the doorbell and Alia my niece opened the door. “I want to learn how to grow microgreens!”, she said.
Growing microgreens are great for new gardeners, even for gardeners looking for new crops. “Okay, let’s get to it,” I said.
The first thing we want to do is choose the variety of microgreens to grow. I wanted seeds that were big enough to make sowing them easy and would sprout fast, in one to two days. They needed to be flavorful, crunchy and we could cut and eat them in time for dinner next Friday.
Only two varieties fit the bill: radish and broccoli microgreens. We chose broccoli, but Alia wanted to grow the arugula microgreens she had the night before. You won’t find arugula on anybody’s list of easiest to grow microgreens. They take about 5 days to germinate and another 5-7 days to harvest. But, they’re great with salads, scrambled eggs, and burgers and sandwiches!
Growing microgreens that are healthy and yummy starts with the best seeds. Try to purchase your seeds in small quantities, enough to last 3-4 months. I keep my leftover seeds in a glass jar in a dark cupboard. You might consider the crisper tray in the fridge if you have space.
Most varieties of organically grown seeds are available via mail order or upscale grocery stores in your area.
Many seed companies carry microgreen seeds in their catalogs.
If you can’t find organic, at least look for non-GMO kind. Buy from a reputable company, one with the Certified Naturally Grown label.
If you buy broccoli, don’t spend money buying cauliflower or kale or cabbage.
They are from the same family, Brassicaceae, and near-identical as microgreens.
Of course, I brought along packets of seeds.
Containers and Soil
Should I use soil or hydroponics? That’s a big word, isn’t it? So, here’s the Wikipedia definition:
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil by using mineral nutrient solutions in a water solvent.
Roberto Lopez over at Porch, “the people who make improving your home simple,” has a great article, How to Create Your Hydroponic Garden: Tips from the Experts, where I and others show you how to start your hydropic garden.
As Roberto states, “The size of a hydroponic system can range from a single pot up to a string of greenhouses used in commercial agriculture. Combined vertical planting techniques and hydroponics can reduce the amount of space needed by as much as 99%. One of the reasons for this is that in a hydroponic system, the plant roots do not need to spread out to find food because the system surrounds them in the water they grow. This allows for the cultivation of more plants in a given area.”
I started experimenting with clear plastic salad-mix boxes, milk jugs cut in half, and even a cake tray. Now, I use either glass jars or food-safe, biodegradable plastic salad boxes to grow microgreens.
While some home gardeners have developed elaborate urban growing systems such as hydroponics, you can repurpose plastic food containers.
Microgreens will grow in any container you can find around the house.
Now that Alia and I have our nice glass jar selected, it’s time for the soil. We jump in her Mini and head to the hardware store down the street.
Potting soil or seedling mix works well for microgreens. But you want soil that is easy to wet, that doesn’t hold too much water, and can give results a little faster.
We go with a starter mix. Don’t add any fertilizer as it encourages rot!
Planting and Growing Microgreens!
Get your glass jar or plastic container and fill it with soil. Add about one to two inches of that clean, seedling mix. Make sure you pack the soil loosely. Lightly water the soil.
One of the main issues with growing microgreens is getting enough seed. To get enough microgreens you will need to spread it across the soil. To give you an idea how much seed to start with: 1/4 to 1/2 cup for a 4” X 4” space is a lot. For smaller seeds, like the broccoli and arugula, you want 1/4-inch spaces between seeds.
Sprinkle your microgreens seeds as evenly as you can without letting any of them overlap. Barely cover the seeds with more soil—just enough to hold moisture. Mist your seeds and soil with your spray bottle until the soil surface is damp. This will nuzzle the seeds into the soil.
Next, cover the jar with a plastic lid. In early germination, your microgreens seeds don’t need any light. Keep the trays in a warm place (between 72-75 degrees). This maintains humidity, moisture, and consistent temperature.
Check on the jar daily. Mist as needed, to keep the seeds moist. Many people make the mistake of over-watering seedlings. Be sure the soil is damp, not too dry or wet.
Once your microgreens seeds sprout (about 1-2 days), put the jar on your windowsill (or turn on the disco light). They’ll need about 8-10 hours of light a day. Leave them uncovered. They wilt in humidity as I learned.
Getting Water, Light, Air and Warmth
When they emerge, the first leaf or the pair of leaves to show are the cotyledons, which can look very different from the leaves that follow, called “true” leaves.
The developing chlorophyll is what transforms palatable broccoli sprouts into tasty broccoli microgreens.
Seek at least ten hours of light.
While direct sunlight fosters the most succulent growth, indirect sunlight can suffice.
Use artificial lighting as a supplement, maybe in winter when sunlight is shorter and weaker.
Rotate the trays every few days so that all the seedlings get equal exposure to sunlight. Move the jar from window to window if you need to follow the sunlight.
And, just as you need at least six hours of sleep, plants need a minimum of six hours of darkness.
Water them once a day and watch them grow and change color. Use the spray bottle to keep the soil moist, not soggy.
Plants, including microgreens, need air to grow. And just like plants the young microgreens will oxygenate and clean the surrounding air. Open your window or put your jar when it can get some fresh air one or two times per day.
During cold winter days with fewer daylight hours, broccoli can take up to 10 days to grow—double the five days in summer!
You can encourage germination by using a seedling heating mat or a heated cabinet.
Alia and I place the jars under our grow lights to warm up the soil before sowing.
Harvesting
Three to four days after sprouting the microgreens will be 2-4″ tall and ready to harvest. Don’t let them get much taller than that, or they’ll lose their sweetness.
Harvest with clean scissors or shears. Cut the stems just above the soil line.
Rinse in a small salad spinner, serve, and eat. Add to salads, sandwiches, and wraps, or snack on them plain. Yum!
Store dry microgreens in the refrigerator in a sealed container.
Once you harvest the microgreens, compost the soil and roots as they will not regrow. To make a new batch, wash the jar, use clean seedling mix, seeds, and start again.
Avoiding Common Problems
Alia and I learned some things about growing microgreens that first week. Here are some suggestions to observe:
- When sowing, make sure each seed is in contact with the soil surface (otherwise they will not germinate).
- Too much water will cause the roots to rot and fungus growth.
- Always buy seeds from a reputable company to guard against soil-borne contamination from pathogens such as E. coli.
- Rinse seeds to be safe.
- If you have a garden sieve, use it to remove any debris from the soil.
- Check the soil you buy. Avoid microbes, bacteria, fungi and other harmful soil additives that can cause mold to grow.
- Use an organic seedling mix. You need soil that will stay moist but not soggy.
And just as important, like any raw vegetable (even greens labeled “triple-washed”), rinse your microgreens before eating.
I Love My Greens
You can grow microgreens year-round without outdoor space or even a balcony.
City dwelling doesn’t always lend itself to planting, seeding, and harvesting and microgreens are never going to fill you up.
But when it comes to flavor, health and nutritional value they can liven up just about any dish.
Source: Fix.com Blog
You can store your microgreens in the fridge for up to a week. Although, I just grow and harvest as I need.
Compost the soil (with red worms) and recycle it too.
But if growing microgreens is not for you, you can find ready-to-eat microgreens at your local upscale supermarket or farmer’s market.
Related Questions
Where in my home can I grow microgreens?
Microgreens are convenient to grow. You don’t need a lot of equipment. You can grow them on your windowsill, in your kitchen, and in your garden.
My post, Growing Microgreens at Home in Containers, shares instructions on how to grow microgreens in your home that are delicious, tasty, healthy, and safe to eat.
Is there a demand for microgreens?
Chronic diseases constitute a significant health problem around the world. Research shows that eating more fruit and vegetables, including microgreens, not only reduces the risks but may even help to reverse them. Learn more when you read my post, Why Eat Microgreens?
How do I start incorporating the health benefits of microgreens into my nutrition?
I’ve learned a lot about microgreens, how good they are for you, and what you can do with them. Check out my guide, “The Beginner’s Nutritional Guide to Incredible Microgreens.”
