Right: Example of 10' 30' tray with and without drainage holes at the bottom. Microgreens can be added to sandwiches, salads, sushi, and smoothies, and can be used as a pretty garnish for really anything, from pizza to avocado toast. If you dont have a lot of space, or if you want to grow microgreens year-round, growing them indoors is a great option. After harvesting your microgreens, if your growing medium is organic you can compost it, while you can wash and re-use your planting trays or containers. We've been Growing Microgreens in Sprouting Trays and have had a lot of. For best growing results, soak the mat in the tray for several hours before seeding. You can use any type of microgreen seed, but some of the most popular varieties include radish, kale, and arugula. Moisten your seeds with a spray bottle of water to promote germination. Sprouts are young seedlings that dont have any true leaves. Botanical Name: Daucus carota. You will know when it is time to harvest your microgreens by the length of their stems. But because this type of container does not have drainage holes you can run into problems if you overwater your plants. Features: Sprouting trays are well-ventilated, easy to root, and have a high germination rate. Loosen the soil and rake it smooth. Visit Home Microgreens to see hundreds of microgreen articles.The Home Microgreens Store has all of the seeds & supplies to grow microgreens.Facebook Trays are a great option for an indoor urban gardening project because they are inexpensive and take up very little space. You can use any type of microgreen seed, but some of the most popular varieties include radish, kale, and arugula. Note: if you are growing microgreens from larger seeds, such as sunflowers, peas, or wheat, soaking them overnight in warm water will assist with germination. After harvesting, immediately rinse your microgreens with clean water and pat dry. Spread seeds out evenly across the container as much as you can. Photos: Francesco Di Gioia, Penn State, Use a spray bottle for misting water on the seeds after seeding. Good luck and happy growing! It can be a large novel or two, a rock, a weight, anything with some mass to push the lid down on the seeds. Next, use an appropriate tray for indoor and outdoor growing. How To Grow Microgreens Indoors In Trays In 7 Easy Steps 1. A container with drainage holes in the bottom for water to drain out of. There are lots of perks to growing microgreens not only are they ready for harvesting in just a week or two, but they also provide a burst of flavor, micronutrients, texture, and color to a wide variety of dishes. Finally, growing microgreens in trays is a great way to get started with this type of gardening, since it is relatively low-maintenance and easy to learn. Give it a try! We recommend and use sturdy Heavy Duty Potting Trays. You can tell they are sprouted by the small root that is visible. Microgreens should be watered once or twice a day, depending on how dry the soil is. In the case of sunflower and other species, maintaining the weight on top of the shoots during the germination process also facilitates the detachment of the seed hulls from the cotyledons. Soak seeds well as directed on the package for 6-8 hours, or longer if necessary. 2. If you look after a few days, the seeds will have sprouted. They are thinner and solid and they are cut to fit directly into your 1020 sprouting tray. You will place the tray with holes inside the tray that has no holes. Victory Tip:Keep an eye on moisture levels. This can take up to 2-3 weeks, especially in the winter months. The growing time for microgreens varies depending on the type of seed, but on average, they are ready to be harvested after 10-14 days. They are packed with nutrients and have a more intense flavor and nutritional value than their mature counterparts. The method is essentially the same as hydroponics, just using soil as the growth medium instead. 7. Victory is now yours! This weekend you'll be learning how to grow your own delicious, nutritious microgreens. Harvest your microgreens when they are 2-3 inches tall. Continue with Recommended Cookies. 2. If you are growing indoors soil can be messy and using coco grow mats is an easier and cleaner option. The planting tray is the container in which the microgreens will grow. Carrot. Day 2. Many popular vegetables are in the nightshade family. How To Get Bountiful Harvests, Using Decorative Garden Bridges In The Landscape, Urban Gardening In Small Spaces: Success Tips And Tricks, 5 Surprising Benefits of Indoor Urban Gardening, Transform Your Outdoor Space With Stunning Outdoor Wicker Patio Furniture, Resin Outdoor Wicker Furniture Wicker Without The Worries, Growing Dwarf Citrus Trees Indoors (Citrus Success Tips! This keeps the roots from touching water directly, minimizing the risk of root rot and other problems. They are a perfect crop to grow indoors if your space is limited and you want fast results. Seeds can be soaked in water overnight for 8-12 hours. Right: Seeding sunflower after pre-soaking in water for about 10 hours. When most of the seeds sprouted this can take upwards of 3-5 days to complete- peel off the lid. Cucurbitaceae family: Melon, cucumber and squash. It means that theyre alive until you cut them much longer than sprouts. Microgreens are a type of vegetable that is harvested when the plant is young usually when its 2-3 inches tall. Look for the cotyledons the very first set of seed leaves as a sign that the microgreens are ready for harvest. Photo: Francesco Di Gioia, Penn State, Left: Growing trays may be stacked to put some weight on larger seeds and kept in the dark. 2. If your container doesn't have a lid, you can use a newspaper or breathable fabric. Potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants are all common nightshades. Shallow tray with a depth of 1.25 inches I prefer the shallow trays for four main reasons: Microgreens don't require deep soil for their roots. Remove cover and move to a sunny area. Heat mats. You can use it with or without soil. In general dark leafy greens such as arugula, kale and spinach will do well in the light conditions found inside a home. Drain the water (I pour the seeds into a fine mesh strainer ), rinse the seeds and drain well. Remember that you have no control over outdoor conditions. Photos: Francesco Di Gioia, Penn State. You can add microgreens to almost any dish How to grow microgreens at home They are organic and non-GMO. Microgreens can be grown without soil as they need little nutrients. For big & very succulent micro-greens, sow sunflowers. If you want to opt for a hydroponics setup, you don't necessarily need a tray with holes. If you want to grow more than just a few microgreens, an in-home hydroponic could be the right fit for you. They make for a quick and easy DIY gardening project. If you plan to grow microgreens continuously, for a more efficient production, it might be convenient to buy some growing trays and small tools specifically designed to produce microgreens. We've been Growing Microgreens in Sprouting Trays and have had a lot of success using them! Hold the top leaves of your microgreen, then snip them off easily at the base of their stems. Make sure to leave room to put a thin layer of soil on top after planting the seeds. Spoiler alerthemp mats are our top . The watering tray is the container used to water microgreens from the bottom. [8] 2 Look at the instructions on the seed packet. If you want to grow microgreens hydroponically, you will need indoor space, a light source, container, seeds and a growing medium. This fascinating food is easy to grow, tasty on salads and soups, and packed . You can buy seeds online if your grocery store doesnt have any you like. Otherwise, Tesolin suggests supplementing with a fluorescent grow light. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/microgreens. We tend to use coco coir matting, not soil. Tesolin recommends using water that's at least drinking quality. If you do overwater you can drain the bottom tray. It doesn't need to be very deep - just a couple inches will do. Left: Harvesting microgreens. Yes, including the winter. We use a sturdy grow tray and plastic cover, so its reusable time after time. Having a cover means that you can preserve heat and moisture, making the microgreens grow faster. The suggestion is to use what is easily available and relatively not expensive, making sure that it is environmentally sustainable and that it is clean and safe. To get a better idea of when to harvest your microgreens, its helpful to understand how leaves develop on a plant. Use sharp scissors or a knife to cut them just above the soil level. You dont need a lot of special equipment or supplies, and you can get started with just a few basic materials. Note: Microgreens are often confused with sprouts, but they're different. Alternative materials are used as a base for growth, such as hydroponic grow mats, coconut coir matting or other non-soil growth mediums. How to Grow Microgreens for Beginners: Planting Instructions Using your scale, measure your seeds into a plastic cup. Microgreens usually need about seven days before being ready for harvest, but they can be harvested every day or twice a week depending on what you are growing them into. Plus, they are easy to grow at home, can easily be incorporated into your daily routine and can be harvested throughout the winter. You can use any type of tray, pot with drainage holes or even an old shoebox as long as theres enough room for the plants. Generally speaking, their flavor is considered strong and concentrated. Potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants are all common nightshades. Add the lid to maintain a warm, moist environment and place the container in a low-light area. 3. Related microgreen & indoor growing articles: I am an avid gardener living in the Northwest Territories. Planting instructions vary depending on what types of seed mats or soil mix pots you use. Microgreens are also a great source of beneficial plant compounds like antioxidants. The kits contain the seeds, soil, and usually a self-watering tray, giving you a good introduction to the world of microgreens. Microgreens are versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes, from salads to soups to sandwiches. Microgreens may be harvested using a clean sharp knife or a pair of scissors right before being used for any preparation. Bari: ECO-logica srl. A few tablespoons of broccoli seeds per flat. The closer to the top of the tray the better aid to air circulation. All supplies provided. How To Grow Microgreens With Coco Grow Mats Here are some tips for growing microgreens in coco grow mats: 1. I decided to roll up my sleeves, quit complaining, and do something about it. Many sandwiches are heavy or fatty. Microgreens and sprouts are the same seeds at different stages of development. If you're still not sure if growing microgreens is right for your farm, consider a microgreens seeds kit. We recommend that you soak your seeds in water for a couple of hours to twelve hours before planting. Well also go over what tools you need for both methods as well! Caring for the microgreens Because microgreens grow so fast there is no need to fertilize them. For some species that require to be pre-soaked, you may need a few cups for soaking the seeds in water and a small colander to rinse the seeds once or twice before germination. If you do not have space for a garden, believe that you do not have a "green thumb," or are discouraged by your previous gardening experiences, do not despair! 5. Similar to the setups above a hydroponics system uses water and sunlight . As mentioned above, you can skip this step for smaller seeds or if you are short on time, but this does help speed up the growth process. See previous post. Microgreens are packed with nutrients. One of my favorite ways to use microgreens is to add them to tacos and sandwiches. Add potting soil and fill up with water. If you found this and other episodes of the Microgreens Podcast helpful consider supporting the show.Support the showThank you for listening!Please Support the ShowGet a Free Microgreen Growing Guide! With proper care, you can enjoy fresh, homegrown microgreens all year long! You can use a low-tech grow light for small plants, or they can sometimes grow well on a sunny windowsill. When growing microgreens you want to cover the entire tray with plants so its important to sow your seeds evenly.