Did you know you can grow some pretty awesome mini-plants right in your own home?
Growing Microgreens Can Be Easy
Microgreens are just miniature plants of greens, herbs, or other vegetables. Like sprouts, they are a concentrated nutrient source and packed with beneficial enzymes because of their rapid growth. They are simple to grow on your own and cost very little once you have the supplies. With the right tools, you can have a year-round vegetable source on your kitchen counter.
What to Grow?
At Fresh Start Nutrition, we carry Mung Beans, Alfalfa Seeds, Broccoli Seeds and a Sprouting Mix that has Clover, Fenugreet and Radish Seeds.
Microgreen Growing Supplies:
- A shallow tray to plant your seeds in
- Organic soil to fill the tray
- Microgreen Seeds – Fresh Start carries these in our store
- You may also want to get a growing light and warming mat
How to Grow Microgreens:
- Find a south-facing window with plenty of sunlight or install an inexpensive growlight. In warmer months, you can plant your mini garden outside.
- Place an inch of organic potting soil in the bottom of a shallow tray or planter and smooth out to be as even as possible. Alternately, clear an area of your garden for growing microgreens.
- Scatter seeds over the surface of the soil evenly. You will spread more seeds than you would if just planting the seeds to grow to full size, since they will only get 1-2 inches tall and you want to harvest as many as possible from each tray. TIP: Soaking the seeds overnight will speed sprouting time, but make it more difficult to scatter them.
- Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil and spray the surface with clean, filtered water.
- Place on the warming mat, if using, and under the grow light or near the window.
- Mist the seeds a couple of times a day to keep the soil evenly moist while waiting for the seeds to germinate.
- Greens are usually ready to harvest in 2-4 weeks, depending on the type of seed used.
To use: Cut microgreens right above soil level with kitchen shears. Rinse with filtered water and add to salads or to garnish almost any dish.