Growing microgreens is an easy and quick way to add more vegetables into your diet. Packed with vitamins, minerals and plant-based proteins, these tiny seedlings add vibrant color and fresh flavors to meals – such as salads, sandwiches, soups or stews, or simply as garnishes! However, it is key that you choose high quality seeds when starting this project; quality seeds have an impactful impact on how well the greens grow as well as on their nutritional value.
Starting your garden from scratch requires using high-quality seeds that have been stored properly and remain in optimal conditions for planting. Furthermore, make sure the seeds you choose are suitable for sprouting and microgreen production as they have different germination requirements than full-grown vegetables. The best seed companies will provide information such as germinability test dates and harvest timeframes on their packaging as well as be organic or at least non-GMO and free from pesticides and herbicides.
For beginners starting out with microgreens, starting off simple is key. Arugula (also known as rocket or roquette lettuce) is an easy and quick option that adds peppery bite to salads, sandwich fillings and dips alike. Just two to four days should suffice to reach maturity while up to seven or ten may take to reach full bloom.
Radishes are another great pick, being both easy and delicious to grow. Their texture and taste resemble that of cabbage while having more bite than broccoli or cauliflower, and can even be steamed or grilled! To grow them as microgreens, put an inch or two of good potting soil at the bottom of a container covered by plastic wrap or lid; place in a sunny location; mist lightly using either misting tools or low grow lights until seeds start sprouting – usually 3-7 days.
Sunflower seeds are an easy crop to cultivate, packed full of essential vitamins such as E, folate and zinc. Plus, their heat tolerance makes them the ideal winter garden option! Sunflower microgreens take slightly longer to germinate but still typically reach harvest within four or five days!
Try some brassica microgreens. Broccoli and kale are relatively easy to cultivate, as are mustards, mizuna, and kohlrabi mustards. For an exciting gardening adventure, grow some outdoor in your home garden; just be sure to protect the delicate seedlings from weather extremes, drying winds, or hungry garden pests!