Microgreens impress with their taste and colorful appearance. The cultivation of microgreens is not difficult at all and succeeds on almost every windowsill.
Trends often spill over from America to Europe and Germany. It is no different with microgreens: They are now also conquering the upscale gastronomy and are becoming increasingly popular with hobby gardeners. No wonder: After all, you can grow the nutritious plants in mini format in a particularly space-saving way.
What are microgreens?
Microgreens are considered leafy greens, but they are actually seedlings of different types of vegetables that are not otherwise necessarily eaten as leafy greens. The cotyledons are always fully developed and there may be other leaves. A wide variety of vegetables and herbs such as peas (Pisum sativum), sunflowers (Helianthus anuus), broccoli ( Brassica oleracea var. italica), Radish (Raphanus sativus), Parsley(Petroselinum crispum ) and many others. Most plant species can be harvested after 7 - 21 days. To harvest, the microgreens are simply cut off just above the ground and eaten with the shoot. Due to the easy care and the fact that microgreens enjoy the reputation of being a particularly he althy food, microgreens are being cultivated by more and more people Even a significantly smaller amount Microgreens are good for a more balanced diet, but like many other so-called "superfoods" should not be taken as a miracle cure.In the following we will show you how easy it is to grow microgreens.
By the way: Many people know a type of microgreen and have already planted it. We are talking about garden cress (Lepidium sativum). Cress has a hot and spicy taste and is harvested when the cotyledons are fullare developed.
Growing Microgreens
Microgreens are not only he althy and delicious, but also easy to grow. Most of the materials needed to grow microgreens can be found in almost every home.
Seeds or seed pads?
Normal seeds, which are also planted in the garden, can also be used to grow microgreens. However, these are usually very expensive and for a bowl of microgreens you need a lot of seeds. Special microgreens seeds, which are available in larger quantities and cheaper, can now also be found in some garden centers and hardware stores. For some types of microgreens, such as peas, sunflowers or beans, you can also use the plant seeds, which are actually intended for cooking. It is important that the seeds are not seasoned, roasted, boiled or otherwise processed. Specialized online shops offer a larger selection. There you will also find seed pads: These are mats in which the seed is already worked. The pads only have to be placed in a bowl and poured. This means you don't need additional soil, but you have to spend a little more money.
Tip: If you have leftover seeds from your garden, you can also use them to grow microgreens.
Suitable seed trays
In principle, any flat dish is suitable for growing microgreens. It doesn't matter whether it's an old casserole dish, flower pot saucer or plastic bowls in which fruit or vegetables were previously packed. Of course, there are also special seed trays for microgreens that make cultivation a little easier.
Grow microgreens with or without soil?
There are also many options for the plant substrate. In addition to potting soil, such as our high-quality and organically certified Plantura organic herb and seed soil, hemp or coconut mats can also serve as a cultivation medium. However, these mats store water less well than potting soil and therefore have to be watered more frequently. Alternatively, place several layers of kitchen paper in the seed tray and sow the seeds on it. If you use soil, the layer should be 3 to 4 cm deep.
Tip: Reuse microgreen substrates? No, the soil cannot be reused for microgreens after cultivation, because some of their roots give off growth-inhibiting substances. However, you canSpread the substrate over a large area in the bed or on the compost.
The right location
The suitable place for microgreens is a warm, bright windowsill without direct sunlight. If you place the pot on a small pedestal for better air circulation, the microgreens have optimal site conditions. Depending on the type of plant, the optimum germination temperature is between 15 and 22 °C, so cultivation in apartments is usually successful.
How much light do microgreens need? Unlike sprouts, microgreens need light to fully develop. But you don't need a lot of light. If you want to grow microgreens regularly or there is not enough light, you can resort to LED grow lights to provide enough light. A bright window sill is usually sufficient for small quantities and the first attempts.
Step-by-step instructions
Once you have found a suitable seed tray and seeds for microgreens, you can start sowing. Here's a step-by-step guide to growing microgreens successfully:
- Fill the planter about 3 - 4 cm high with potting soil, such as our Plantura organic herb and seed soil. Alternatively, you can also cut a hemp mat or several layers of kitchen paper to the size of the bowl.
- It is best to water the substrate before sowing so that the seeds are not washed away. If soil is used, it should be watered vigorously. Hemp mats can be placed in a bucket of water for a few minutes.
- Now the microgreens seeds can be sown. The seeds should be very close together here, but the substrate should still be visible in between. The seeds should be distributed as evenly as possible. You can often find more detailed information on the seed quantity on the seed packaging.
- You should then carefully press down the microgreen seeds.
- The shells are covered for better germination. This increases the humidity and the seeds germinate better. This works best if you put two of the same bowls together. The seeds are sown in the lower one, and the upper bowl is placed directly on top to cover. With many species it is also useful to weigh down the upper shell a little. Thathelps the young plants to find more support in the substrate.
- The cover will be removed after 3 - 4 days. By this time most of the seeds should have germinated and the top shell should be slightly lifted from the seedlings. Without the influence of light, the plants have a rather yellowish colour. This is normal and changes very quickly when plants are placed in the light.
- Depending on the plant and substrate, the microgreens must be watered every 1 - 2 days. Gently pour some water into the tray until the soil is well moist again.
Tip: Large and hard-shelled seeds such as peas (Pisum sativum) or sunflower seeds (Helianthus annuus ) should be soaked in water overnight before sowing. This accelerates germination because it washes out germ-inhibiting substances and activates the germination process by absorbing water.
Water microgreens properly
It only takes 7 - 21 days for most microgreens to be ready for harvest. But even in this short period of time, the seedlings need careful care. The only difficulty in growing her is finding the right amount of water: the seedlings grow best in an evenly moist environment. You should avoid dryness. If it is permanently too wet for the seeds, they can start to get mouldy. Fresh tap water that is not quite lukewarm is best. The frequency of watering depends on the type of plant and the substrate and should be adjusted accordingly. It is common to water microgreens every day or two.
Harvest microgreens
The seedlings are ready to harvest when the cotyledons and sometimes the first true pairs of leaves have formed. When harvesting, the plants are cut off about a finger's width above the substrate. Large scissors or a sharp knife will suffice. However, you shouldn't harvest too much at once: Since the microgreens quickly start to rot, they have to be processed immediately. So only harvest as needed.
