If you’ve been watching the gardening and farming world the past few years, you’ve likely noticed that just like the rest of our lives, that need for near-instant gratification has crept in. But in this case, it may well be one of the best things yet. Microgreens are an incredibly hot topic in farm and garden circles right now, being used by home cooks and Michelin starred chefs alike. These tiny plants, grown just until they get their first true leaves, are packed with nutrients, uniquely flavorful, and incredibly fast growing. Some microgreens can go from planting to eating in just a week!
One of the biggest benefits of microgreens is that it can add another layer of food and nutrition security to your home or homestead. Especially as we stare winter in the face, the prospect of fresh greens can bring a lot of joy to life when the days are short and cold. Micros can be grown on the counter, in the broom closet, in any small space with ease. As long as you have a sturdy surface and a good light source, you can grow microgreens!
Let’s start with what to grow. There are easily 50+ varieties of microgreens, but the top five, those that can be found in specialty grocers and most farmer’s markets include:
- Sunflower: Usually marketed as “sunshoots” these are among the “meatiest” of microgreens, with thick stems and fleshy cotyledons. They have a light nutty flavor and are a top seller for many commercial growers.
- Peas: Several varieties of peas (I use boring Canadian Winter Peas) are grown to about six inches tall with several leaves and tasty tendrils. These pea shoots are great in salads and wraps.
- Radish: One of the quickest growing micros, radish shoots sport a great crunch and a spicy flavor that adds zing to sandwiches and pasta dishes.
- Herbs: Micro herbs can have amazingly intense flavors compared to their mature counterparts. Cilantro, basil, and fennel are among the top herb microgreens.
- Mixes: Many of the top suppliers of microgreen seeds have developed salad mix-type seed packages that contain 2-5 varieties that grow well together and create a complete salad mix.
What do you need to grow microgreens? Not much. A tray of some kind, the industry standard is black, plastic “1020” (10 inches by 20 inches) trays commonly used in nurseries and garden centers, will hold your growing medium and seeds. No need to get fancy. A worn-out cake pan or shallow Tupperware works great too. You’ll need a light source. Since we aren’t growing these for very long, it doesn’t have to be a high-quality greenhouse light system. I’ve used 100-watt bulbs in a shop light and repurposed aquarium lights to grow, and they both worked fine. For growing medium, any good potting soil or well-conditioned compost will work. You don’t need much, just about an inch per tray and it can all go into your compost when you’re done. Some people will use sterile media like rockwool or coir mats, but for a home grower, its more hassle than it’s worth. Water, seeds, and a sharp knife are really all that is left for you to be ready to grow!
Buying seeds to grow can be easier than you expect. I’ve got a list of resources at the end of this article with great places to find info and buy seeds, but I’ll share my top place right here. My local co-op! For the three main categories of microgreens, sunflower, peas, and radish, my local co-op is the cheapest place to go. Sunflowers are around $15 for a 50/lb sack, radishes $0.99/lb, and peas the same. Birdseed and cover crops can feed you just as well as wildlife! These may not be the fancier varieties that some people grow, but daikon radish and Canadian winter pea are very good. I’ve also learned I actually prefer black oil sunflower shoots to the larger, striped seeded variety. For herbs and other varieties, Johnny’s Selected Seeds is a great resource.
Time to grow! Each type of micros has slightly different planting steps, and I’ve got links below to some comprehensive guides. For space’s sake, I’m going to cover sunflowers here, and let you research the rest. Sunflowers are great to start with, as they can go from seed to harvest in as little as 12 days.
- Start by measuring out your seed (you’ll need about 2 ½ cups for a standard 1020 tray, or about ¼ cup for each 5×5 inch space) and soaking it overnight in a mason jar with a tight lid. Some people will rinse seed in vinegar or hydrogen peroxide before soaking to prevent mold growth. I’d say start without that, and only pre-rinse if you notice mold issues.
- Drain and rinse the seeds after 8-12 hours of soaking and leave them in the jar, rinsing twice or three times a day in cool water. After two to three days, small roots should appear cracking through the seed hulls.
- Once roots have appeared, give the seed a final rinse and pat them firmly onto a one-inch layer of potting soil or compost. Make sure the medium is moist, but not wet. Do not cover the seeds with additional soil, just leave them as-is.
- Take a second 1020 tray (or whatever vessel you are using) and lay it on top of the seeds. If your container is clear or opaque, cover the whole thing with a sheet or tarp to block out light.
- Keep moist, but don’t allow water to pool, which can contribute to mold growth. After a few days, you should notice the growing sprouts start to push up on the top tray.
- When that occurs, remove the top tray and place the growing greens into a sunny window, or under your grow light. Makes sure to brush off the seed hulls as you can over the next couple days.
- When the microgreens reach about 4 inches tall, cut them off just above the soil with kitchen shears or a sharp knife. Add the soil to you compost and store the greens in a bag or airtight container in your refrigerator for up to five days. Wash the greens as you use them, not when you harvest.
A 1020 tray of sunshoots should yield about a pound and a half of microgreens, so it may make sense to plant smaller trays unless you know you can eat a lot of them. You can also leave the greens alive, and harvest them as you need them, but they will continue to grow and after they reach about 6 inches, they will lose flavor and be less appealing. But, if you have a batch that goes too far, your chickens would still love them!
Microgreens are not only easy and fast to grow, but also make a great addition to your diet. Most microgreens are packed with potassium, iron, zinc, and other macro and micronutrients, as well as having higher levels of antioxidants than their full-grown counterparts. They are great additions to salads and sandwiches but can make a beautiful and tasty addition to stir fry’s, soups, and as a flavorful garnish on many dishes as well. If you are into smoothies or juicing, many micros can be added to those meal replacements to fortify nutrients and add flavor.
With such a variety of uses, the ease of growing, and the quick turnaround, microgreens are a great way to put control of your food closer to home and ensure fresh greens year-round. In addition, they make for a great side-income for many people. Growing microgreens for sale at farmer’s markets, grocery stores, or directly to chefs and restaurants can be lucrative, and a couple of the resources below will talk about how to do that.
It seems evident now that microgreens should be a must have for most people. They take up as much or as little space as you would like and are a great project no matter the size of your “operation.” These are a perfect kids project too! Little ones will love the quick results from microgreens, and it is something to do even on the dreariest winter days. Find some counter space and get growing!
Resources:
Johnny’s Selected Seeds- Johnny’s is a go-to for most microgreens growers, offering a huge variety of seed for growing, as well as top notch educational content at no-cost.
Urban Farmer Curtis Stone- Curtis is an amazing resource for both the home grower and anyone looking into micros or other garden crops as a business. His YouTube channel has hundreds of videos on a variety of subjects.
Bootstrap Farmer- This website/blog has tons of great information, including their “Ultimate Microgreens Cheat Sheet”
Small-Scale Microgreens Growers- This Facebook group community shares tips and tricks for growing small scale commercial microgreens and has great info for home growers as well.
Photo credits, Saad Ringa, admin/founder of Small-Scale Microgreens Growers.