Skip the Grocery Store & Grow Some Microgreens

Skip the Grocery Store & Grow Some Microgreens

It may still be below freezing outside, but that doesn't mean we can't be gardening indoors!

That's right, for those of us that are dying to get outdoors and get our hands dirty OR are just craving something homegrown, microgreens are the way to go!

And they can be super simple - just grab some seeds, hydroponic pads or soil (seed starter or potting soil), and a container with drainage holes and one without.

Ready to get started? Let's go!

My Top Seed Choices for Microgreens

You can use just about any seed to grow microgreens, but the following varieties are better choices because they have quick germination (when the seeds sprouts) and growth rates.

  • Beans / green pea - delicious (a kid favorite), easy, long-lasting in fridge, regrow after cutting
  • Mung beans - thick, juicy, crunchy, mild taste
  • Alfalfa - small, crunchy, mild taste
  • Sunflower - delicious, dense, great yield, long-lasting in fridge
  • Radish- spicy, flavorsome, great yield, colorful
  • Salads (kale, kohlrabi, broccoli, cabbage, rocket/arugula) - small, lightly flavored, colorful
  • Basil - rich, sweet taste, great yield
  • Cress - fast-growing, peppery taste
  • Wheatgrass - thin grass-like shoots, highly nutritious

Supplies

Although Sprouts require the least amount of supplies are super easy to grow, microgreens are arguably just as easy! You may need a few more supplies, but once you've "sown" the seeds, it's a pretty hands-off process.

Here's the Process

  1. Get your tray with drainage holes and put a shallow amount (about an inch) of soil medium in the tray, or if you're using hydroponic grow mats, place those inside the tray.
  2. You can go ahead and place the tray with holes inside the tray without holes BEFORE you sow the seeds (this will help with seed displacement).
  3. If you do use a soil medium, make sure it is moistened (though not dripping wet) BEFORE you sow the seeds.
  4. If using a grow mat, moisten it BEFORE adding seeds.
  5. Distribute the microgreen seeds evenly across the soil or grow mat. You will want to make sure they're in an even layer (not clumped) so as to not encourage mold, mildew or weak growth.
  6. Label your seeds, if you're growing more than one variety, and cover the tray with a humidity dome.
  7. Set on a grow rack, counter or wherever you are growing you microgreens.
  8. I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE the use of grow lights to produce stronger and healthier greens. You can try to place your microgreens in a sunny window, but they'll take longer to grow and will likely not be as healthy. You can get grow lights at all different price points, but I encourage you to think long-term and pick something that will last.
  9. Keep the soil moist by spraying it once or twice daily. Seeds should sprout within 3 to 7 days. Once sprouted, continue to spray the seedlings, keeping the soil moist but not soaking wet. Alternatively, you can put water into the drainage tray (the one without holes), just be careful not to drown your seedlings.

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When to Harvest Your Microgreens

Unlike sprouts, you will want to wait to harvest your microgreens until the first set of true leaves have emerged, generally around the two-week mark. Seedlings will stand about 3-5 inches tall, depending on the variety. At that point, you will take your clean scissors and cut the stems of the microgreens at the soil level. And voila, MICROGREENS!

Cut them fresh as you need them, or harvest them all and store them in the fridge in a clean, dry container. They may spoil quicker this way, so be watchful. Additionally, if you take too long to harvest (and eat) your growing microgreens, they will eventually die due to lack of nutrients and/or overcrowding.

How to Eat Your Microgreens

Once you realize all the ways you can use microgreens in your snacks and meals, your reliance on store-bought greens will all but disappear! Imagine the savings! Check out all these fantastic recipe ideas:

  • Salads (make a microgreen salad, especially if you've grown different varieties)
  • Sandwiches & Wraps
  • Avocado Toast or Toasted bread with Cream Cheese, yum!
  • Atop Pastas and other dishes (add them last minute to a dish you've cooked, so as to not destroy the nutrients)
  • Stir fries (add them at the very end)
  • Smoothes & Juices
  • Microgreen Pesto! (just substitute the parsley or do half-and-half)
  • Anywhere you use baby spinach or baby greens, you can use microgreens!

Seeds That Can Be Grown for Microgreens

You'll be amazed at how many seed varieties you can use to grow microgreens! You can buy microgreen seed packets just about anywhere these days and there are all kinds of fun varieties and mixes (spicy greens mix, Asian mix, and so forth).

If you're on a budge, my suggestion is to hit the dollar stores in the spring and see what seeds you can buy for super cheap and use those for microgreens! The possibilities are endless!

  • buttercrunch lettuce
  • romaine lettuce
  • sunflowers
  • kale
  • mustard
  • radishes
  • arugula
  • broccoli
  • cauliflower
  • kohlrabi
  • basil
  • carrot
  • dill
  • parsley
  • cilantro
  • spinach
  • beets
  • swiss chard
  • peas
  • nasturtiums

And Don't Stop Here...

Learn how to grow Sprouts as well! They're just as easy and don't require dirt or lights!