I subscribe to the notion that tiny versions of things are cute. Microgreens are cute. These sprouts are young plant seedlings of common vegetables and herbs that we eat when they are mature, such as kale, beets, broccoli and radishes.
The term microgreen refers to how the sprouts are harvested when they grow their first set of true leaves. Their mini leaves will make your meals cuter, whether you add a pinch to your salads, soups or sandwiches. But, if the cute factor alone is not a good enough reason, then consider the following:
- These tiny sprouts will enhance your food’s flavor.
- They take a mere one to two weeks to grow. That’s great news for beginners or people with impatient personalities.
- Microgreens contain four to 40 times more vitamins and beta carotene than their mature forms. (Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry)
I bought a blend of seeds at my local health food store, $2.37 for two ounces. Pick up some seeds of your own and grow ‘em along with me!
What You Need:
- Plastic Tray with Holes & Clear Plastic Cover
- OR a Resealable Plastic Bag
- OR a Microgreen Kit
- OR a Resealable Plastic Bag
- Potting Soil
- Microgreen Seed Packet
- Water
Directions
Step 1
Fill the tray or plastic bag with about 2 inches of soil.
Step 2
Scatter the seeds about 1/8 inch apart, and then cover with 1/8 inch of soil.
Step 3
Gently water the seeds. In the case of the plastic tray, I prefer to water from below. To do this, place the tray in a shallow dish of water until it soaks up into the soil, rather than sprinkling with water from above. Dump the excess water from the shallow dish after about 5 minutes.
Step 4
Set your container in a sunny window that receives at least 4 hours of sunlight or tape your resealable plastic bag in the window. The plastic bag should be sealed. If the microgreens were planted in a tray, then now is the time to cover it with a clear plastic cover. A piece of clear plastic wrap and a rubber band work perfectly if you want to use items you already have around your house.
Step 5
Once the seedlings emerge from the soil, remove the clear plastic wrap covering the tray or open the plastic bag. Allow the seedlings to continue growing. Always keep the soil slightly moist.
Step 6
Once your seedlings form their first set of true leaves (the first set are seed leaves and look entirely different from the true leaves), then you can harvest them. Simply cut the microgreens just above soil level and rinse them.
Step 7
Repeat the process, starting at step 2. There is no need to replace the soil each time you replant microgreens.
Have you grown microgreens? Share a picture on Tamawi’s Facebook!
