Microgreens Gardening

Wow ... that's great, yolos. 

Update on my microgreens.

Sunflower ..



Arugula and Daikon Radish ... the radish are sparse because I disturbed them when I changed the self-watering wicking system.

trolleydriver wrote:Marc ... the difference is that microgreens are harvested after they get their first set of true leaves. Cheers.

Thanks, TD. Learn something new every day, here.

trolleydriver wrote:Marc, sorry but I'm not sure what you mean and how it relates to my experiments with growing microgreens. 

I first soaked the seeds in water and some were already starting to crack open (sprouted) when I transferred them to the paper towel. Now they are rooting into the paper towel. I can hold onto the microgreens by their leaves/stems and pull the wet paper towel right of the top of the container. This will make it easy to clip off the microgreens near the paper towel which is easier and cleaner than trying to cut them just above the soil or MM when grown in that soil.

BTW this paper towel method is working OK for radish microgreens but I don't think it would work for larger seeds such as sunflower. Those I will grow in MM. As well, since their are no added nutrients in the water (unlike with true hydroponics) growing this way most likely does not produce the best microgreens since they only get the nutrients they started out with in their seeds.

Here are some good explanations of sprouts versus microgreens.

http://steamykitchen.com/32446-grow-microgreens-sprouts-and-baby-greens.html

http://theherbman.ca/5-differences-between-microgreens-and-sprouts/

http://www.cuesa.org/article/raw-truth-about-sprouts-and-microgreens

This link was at the bottom of the first article -- well worth repeating.
https://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20120831/tiny-microgreens-packed-nutrients#1

yolos wrote:I just have to get started on this.  I planted some daikon radishes in my garden to try to break up the clay under my beds.  I just broadcast them around the bed as if I was planting grass seeds.  But of course they are way too thick.  I was not trying to grow micro-greens but just get good coverage in the bed.  They are just starting to form their first set of true leaves so I decided to snip off one and it was delicious. Who woulda thunk that they tasted just like a radish.  And you don't even have to wait until they form a bulb to get a radish taste.  I can't wait until my cover crop of winter peas that I planted in another area gets growing to try a few as micro-greens.

What a fabulous idea! I've always hated thinning seedlings. Seems such a waste of time and seeds. "micro-greening" is the perfect answer. 

yolos wrote:

sanderson wrote:Oh.  I thought it was a Christmas gift, or do you have a second one?  Looks delicious,.

Yes it is an edible Christmas gift to my daughter who lives with me.  Even though some of the varieties are ready to harvest, they will be fine to wait a few days to serve on Christmas Eve.  But yes, I also have a second one.

I LOVE THIS FORUM! What a great idea to give microgreens as Christmas gifts. You folks are awesome!  I'm all over this idea!

Cool. A microgreens thread. I started growing them earlier this year, but stopped for a couple months since so much was coming out of the main garden. But I've just started again soaking seeds this morning! Later today I'll also set up my main microgreen growing area next to the window.

I only grow pea and sunflower shoots since both are mild tasting. They make a great addition to a salad.

When I have time later, I'll come back and read the preceeding 9 pages.

Rue Barbie wrote:Cool. A microgreens thread. I started growing them earlier this year, but stopped for a couple months since so much was coming out of the main garden. But I've just started again soaking seeds this morning! Later today I'll also set up my main microgreen growing area next to the window.

I only grow pea and sunflower shoots since both are mild tasting. They make a great addition to a salad.

When I have time later, I'll come back and read the preceeding 9 pages.

I never tried it before, but I had a few cilantro shoots that qualified, so I tried them out on the family. They were pronounced "awesome" so I'll be adding those and Daikons to the mix, to spice things up a bit.

I've tried a number of seeds, but not cilantro for microgreens.

After doing some experimenting, I settled into a routine for growing mine. I wanted a system that was easy and efficient so I would actually do it.

As mentioned, I settled on pea and sunflower shoots. I got some small plastic containers and premeasured the seeds I would use for each. I put the plastic containers with seeds and put them in the fridge. All I need to do to start is get a container of seeds and fill it with water. Process begun.

Initially I started germinating in all sorts of different containers. For efficiency, I decided to use only one sort of little tray so I ordered them. Not ideal, but they work well enough. These have 2 inch high sides, and I would have preferred one inch. I fill two each (total of 4) with moist planting mix with coir. The soil level in each container is flush with the top.

I then press half of each soaked seed container into the top of the soil surface. These will not be covered with soil. There are four containers - 2 of peas, 2 of sunflowers. I take these outside and water them with a gentle shower, let drain, and bring back inside.

I don't cover them with soil since they really don't need it... and the microgreens are kept cleaner without, so there is very little washing required.

Next, with all for containers in one tray to catch any water, I put a ceramic tile (one foot square) on top of all of them, side by side. The containers are not stacked on top of one another. After they start to grow and begin to push up the tile in a few days, it's time to put them in more light. At this stage, I can either put them directly into the sunlight, or if desired, just remove the tile and let them be in less light for another day. This depends on how tall I want them, and if I am rushed.

Eventually they are put in a bright window. Full sun is better. In summer I would carry them outside to get some sun. In winter, the sun is lower so I won't have to.

I prefer my microgreens on the stocky side. I cut the sunflowers before the first true leaf forms. And the peas, I pick when they are large enough, and above the lowest node so another sprout will grow. Sunflowers get only one cutting, Peas, 2,3 and sometimes 4. Though usually the next round is ready, and I don't bother.

Generally they don't need watering unless the weather is hot and dry. Then I carefully spritz them making sure they are in a larger container to catch any runoff.

I reuse the mix. I do toss sunflower hulls into the trash. The pea sprouts are great raw, but also amazing if lightly sautéed with butter.

Great post, Rue Barbie. I didn't realize we could harvest pea sprouts more than once. 

countrynaturals wrote:Great post, Rue Barbie. I didn't realize we could harvest pea sprouts more than once. 

I tried regrowing pea microgreens last year and it worked real well.  I cut them so there was at least one branch below the cut.  

This is the regrowth.  I cut them about 2 inches above the soil for the first cut.

This morning I bought some organic Red Radish seed, a packet of Mild Aromatic Mix (Lentils, Mung bean and White Radish) and another packets of Alfalfa.

A job for tomorrow as I have too much to do today.

I done some Microgreens a few years back and need to get back into it. It's so easy






I really like doing bean sprouts and Alfalfa sprouts mores so.

I love them, don't know why I don't grow more
Best in stir fry.

WAAAA! I still don't have mine set up. I'm still fooling around with my 2nd new computer in 4 days.  If this one doesn't work . . .   (I can't even think about it. )

DEEEEEPPPP breath, Suz..... DEEEPPP breath..... It'll work. Think positive....

Has anyone tried the mason jar lids for sprouting that you can get at Pinetree & some of the others? I know I could just use paper towels or cheesecloth or something...

AtlantaMarie wrote:DEEEEEPPPP breath, Suz.....  DEEEPPP breath.....  It'll work.  Think positive....

Has anyone tried the mason jar lids for sprouting that you can get at Pinetree & some of the others?  I know I could just use paper towels or cheesecloth or something...

Just use a mason jar with the lid ring and a piece of screen.


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,


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,

OOooohhhhh.... Screening, I have!

Thanks SQWIB!

Bump - a good thread about microgreens.

I was just thinking about this thread yesterday after reading about microgreens and sprouts in the "How Not to Die" book.

Thanks for the bump.
CC

It is that time of year to grow Micro-greens.  I planted these on 11/10 and 11/11.  I am planning on serving these in a salad the Wed before thanksgiving to my family which will be gathering at my house for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Although I will have a large volume of microgreens, for some reason, my most favorite (sunflower and buckwheat) are doing poorly.  I hope they catch up with the other greens before Wednesday.  Maybe old seeds.???

Just saw this video on growing microgreens appear in my mailbox this afternoon ~

The micro-green salad was a success.  I did have to throw out the romaine lettuce I was going to serve with it and substituted with Baby Leaf Spinach (purchased).  Home grown tomatoes also.  Planted 11/10 and 11/11 and harvested 11/21.