Microgreens at Home Step by Step Guide

Microgreens at Home: A Step-by-step Guide
PREPARATION & PLANTING

Gather Materials
You can grow microgreens in a variety of containers. Get creative and use what you have on hand!
 Shallow container with a lid (recycled berry containers work really well)
 Growing medium (potting soil or a soilless mix works well)
 Untreated seeds (preferably specific to microgreen growing)
 A sunny space indoors
 Scissors
Prepare the Container

You can use anything that is shallow and will not break down when wet. Upcycle your take out or berry containers, or look
for a microgreen growing trays at a local nursery.
 Ideally, containers will be 1-3 inches deep and have drainage holes in the bottom. You’ll also need a lid or a
shallow dish to place under the container for bottom watering (see Caring for Your Microgreens section below .
 Recycling containers: If you have a plastic container without holes in the bottom, use scissors or the tip of a
kitchen knife to gently poke holes in the bottom. Be careful to point the tip of the blade away for you as you make
holes.
Select Your Seeds

Many, but not all, seeds can be grown and consumed as microgreens. Below is a table of easy to grow microgreens from
Mark Mathew Braunstein’s book Microgreen Garden: An Indoor Grower’s Guide to Gourmet Greens.
Microgreen Characteristics Taste and Appearance
1. Napa Cabbage Grows quickly and easily Beautiful and flavorful
2. Radish, red and daikon Grows quickly and easily Tastes like the root vegetable
3. Turnip Grows quickly and easily Leaf varieties taste like the root vegetable
4. Bok choy Grows quickly and easily Many different varieties vary in taste and color
5. Sesame (choose buff or Germinates rapidly Tastes better when cooked (a rare exception)
beige, not black)
6. Cress Grows quickly Very spicy hot; best eaten sparingly as a condiment
7. Lettuce, most varieties Fragile upon harvest Beautiful and delectable
8. Asian greens (especially Tolerates both heat and Has a mild mustard flavor
Komatsuna) cold
9. Endive Grows easily but slowly Beautiful bouquet of leaves
10. Mustard and many Grows quickly and easily Very spicy hot; best eaten sparingly as a condiment
mustard greens
 It’s best to start with small quantities of seeds, that way you can learn what grows best for you and what you like
to eat. Once you’ve decided on the varieties you’d like to grow more frequently, purchase seeds in bulk to help
reduce cost
 Purchase untreated seeds since you’ll be eating the plants soon after they sprout. This will reduce the risk of
consuming harmful chemicals. Organic or naturally grown seeds are preferable, but not essential.
 Consider soaking larger seeds prior to planting. This will encourage a faster germination.
Prepare Your Growing Medium

Growing medium is what we’ll grow our microgreens in! For most plants, this is soil - for microgreens, it’s a mix that
includes soil.
 Since we’ll be harvesting these plants so young, it’s ideal to use either a sterile potting soil or germination mix.
These are usually more porous than topsoil and are less prone to harden when spread in a shallow layer.
 A sterile mix helps prevent any soil-borne disease from damaging the seedlings. If your only option is soil from
your yard or garden, bake it at 212 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 30 minutes.
 You can make your own or get a pre-mixed bag from a local nursery or hardware store.
Plant Your Seeds!

Place some newspaper or an old towel on the floor or table and get ready to plant your microgreens.
 Fill your chosen container with the growing medium. The growing medium should nearly reach the top of the
container.
 Dampen, but do not soak the growing medium. It should have the dampness of a wrung-out sponge. You may
find this is easier to do before adding it to your container.
 Sow your chosen seeds in a single, complete layer. Most of the growing medium should be covered with seeds.
 Very gently press the seeds into the growing medium.
 Cover the seeds with a thin (⅛ inch) layer of soil and damp towel or paper towels. This will help keep the seeds
moist until they germinate. Seeds don’t need direct sunlight to germinate, but they do need to be warm and
damp. Once the seeds start to grow, remove the towel and allow the small plants to grow.
 Find a sunny windowsill or table to place your microgreens. I like to keep mine in the kitchen, that way I don’t
forget to water them.
 Seeds need to stay warm and damp to germinate, and small seedlings need at least 6 hours of sunlight each day
to grow.
CARING FOR YOUR MICROGREENS

Watering
Consistent water is essential for microgreen production. We aim to water the soil, so top watering is not an option.
 Use filtered water. Chlorinated tap water can cause yellowing of your microgreens. Don’t have a filter? Fill a large
mouthed jar or pitcher with tap water and let it sit on the counter for 24 hours. The chlorine will evaporate.
 Water from the bottom or side of the container, not the top.
 Bottom watering: This is ideal for microgreens, it ensures that the seedlings get the water they need without
damaging them. Place a shallow tray beneath your microgreen container and pour a little water in the bottom
tray. Make sure that the water reaches the holes in the bottom of your container. Allow the microgreens to sit in
the water for at least 10 minutes to soak up the water, then dump the excess into the sink or outside. Replace the
tray beneath the microgreens. Do this as often as the soil dries out.
 Side watering: With this method, you’ll water your microgreens from one side of the container with a gentle
stream of water. It’s easiest to bring your microgreens to the sink and hold the container at a slight angle. Using a
very gentle stream of water, water all around the edges of the container, close to the soil. Do not water on top of
the seedlings, this can damage them. Leave the container in the sink for 5-10 minutes to allow the excess water to
drain out, then place it back in the sun. Do this once daily or as the soil feels dry.
After Germination
Seeds will germinate (sprout) 2-7 days after planting.
 After the majority of the seeds germinate, remove the damp towel from the surface. Seedlings need light to
photosynthesize!
 Now it’s important to monitor your microgreens daily, ensure the growing medium (soil) stays moist, but not
soaked and they are getting enough sun.
Harvest
Most seedlings will be ready to harvest in 7-14 days. They’re ready when the first set of ‘true leaves’ begin to grow.
 If you’re using a smaller container, you’ll likely want to harvest all of the microgreens at once. Grab your
microgreens and hold your container at a slight angle above a large bowl or dish. Trim the stems of the greens
and allow them to fall into the dish.
 Cut above the soil, keeping the harvested microgreens clean. Most microgreens are very fragile, so it’s better to
avoid washing them if possible. If you’ve watered and harvested, washing shouldn’t be necessary.
 Only if necessary, wash the greens. Microgreens are very delicate, so take care to use a gentle stream of water
when washing. Avoid vigorous shaking or patting to dry them.
Enjoy!
Microgreens are a great addition to salads, atop pizza, or even as an afternoon snack.
 Microgreens can be refrigerated in a glass or food-safe plastic container with a lid for up to a week. If you plan to
store your greens it is imperative that you’re very gentle when harvesting. Bruising them prior to storing will
shorten their shelf life.
Clean Up
This is the key to successful microgreen production!
 Repurpose the growing medium. The remaining roots will break down and add organic matter to your garden
beds or compost.
 Clean your containers thoroughly. Rinse away any remnants of soil or plant material and set the containers in the
sun to dry. The sun will help disinfect the surfaces before planting another crop of microgreens.

Microgreens at Home Step by Step Guide

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Microgreens at Home Step by Step Guide

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Microgreens at Home Step by Step Guide

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Microgreens at Home: A Step-by-step Guide

PREPARATION & PLANTING

Prepare the Container

Select Your Seeds

Microgreen Characteristics Taste and Appearance

1. Napa Cabbage Grows quickly and easily Beautiful and flavorful

7. Lettuce, most varieties Fragile upon harvest Beautiful and delectable

9. Endive Grows easily but slowly Beautiful bouquet of leaves

Prepare Your Growing Medium

Plant Your Seeds!

CARING FOR YOUR MICROGREENS

You might also like