Microgreens
Here are the things you need to know to grow your own microgreens.
Tools of the trade
You’ll be happy to know you won’t need a shovel, hoe or trowel. Depending on how serious you want to get with this and how addicted you are to gadgets, you can go as simple or as advanced as you want. If you’re a first-time micro gardener, you can purchase a microgreens kit that includes everything you need, right down to pre- seeded mats that you just roll out and water. But if you’re going all DIY, here’s what you’ll need.
A TRAY WITH DRAINAGE HOLES >> You can purchase seed flats, but Christy recommends using the container that your roasted chicken came in. Lake suggests making use of all those take-home food containers you’ve been collecting. Just make sure to punch holes in the bottom and place something under the tray to catch the overflow of water.
SOIL >> You can find specially formulated soil for growing microgreens, but Christy says regular potting soil works just as well.
SEEDS >> This could be your biggest ticket item for microgreens as you plant the seeds densely, and you need to reseed after each harvest. You can certainly buy the seed packets sold in garden stores, but that will get pricey very quickly. Instead, purchase high- quality organic or untreated seeds in bulk from a nursery or seed company.
WARMTH >> After planting, it’s important to keep the seeds warm. You can do this by finding a warm spot in your house. Or you can buy a seed starting mat, which is sort of like a heating pad, that will go beneath your tray and provide warmth from below.
HUMIDITY >> Cover the container with plastic wrap or a plastic bag to help hold in the humidity. Some microgreen trays include a plastic cover to place on top of the tray. Once the seeds have germinated, you can remove the cover.
The fine print
Once you have your trays, line them with paper towels to let the excess water seep out, but keep the soil in. Fill them with an inch or two of soil, sow the seeds on top and press in lightly. You don’t need to worry about spacing, planting seeds too close together or thinning the seedlings, because you’ll harvest them before they have the chance to become overcrowded.
After sowing, water well with a spray bottle and then cover. When the greens pop up, Lake recommends watering the soil carefully to avoid getting the leaves wet. You don’t want to grow mold.
Keep the seeds warm and damp. For the seeds to germinate, the soil needs to be 75 to 85 degrees. Depending on what you’ve planted, germination should take three to five days. At this time, they’ll need sunlight, so place them in front of a window, in a sunny spot in your home or outside during the day to soak up the light.
When the seedlings are 1 to 3 inches high, harvest them by snipping them off at soil level, then replace the soil and replant. If you aren’t sure if they’re ready to harvest, taste them to check. Delicious? They’re ready. Handle your harvested microgreens gently and use them as soon as you can — they don’t store well.
The inner workings
During seed germination, the cotyledons or seed leaves emerge from the soil first. The seed leaves of one type of plant will look identical to those of other types. It’s not until the second set of leaves, known as the true leaves, emerge that you’ll notice differences.
For the most flavorful microgreens, harvest them before the true leaves emerge. If you miss the deadline, don’t worry. Your microgreens are still edible, but the flavor might not be as strong.
Microgreens kits
You’ll find a variety of growing kits for microgreens at garden stores and online. Hamama’s starter kit ($35-$49), for example, includes a reusable grow tray and three seed “quilts,” with options such as a super salad mix, kale and broccoli; www.hamama.com.