Growing microgreens yourself is an easy and cost-effective way to get fresh, healthy greens at home without paying steep prices for organic store varieties. All it takes to start growing microgreens at home are some basic supplies (potting mix and seeds) plus an area like a windowsill or fire escape – that’s it!
While many opt to use traditional potting soil when cultivating microgreens, this garden soil may not meet all their crop’s requirements in its short lifecycle in a tray. Therefore, it is vital that they select an optimized mix designed specifically for microgreens that provides sufficient amounts of both oxygen and water to their seedlings.
The ideal microgreen soil typically consists of peat moss, coconut coir and perlite. Some commercial growers add compost or worm castings for added nutrients; however, such additions may be too costly or contain pathogens to be suitable for home growing environments.
Sifting or mesh screening your microgreen mix ingredients to obtain smaller particle sizes is critical in creating optimal conditions for microgreen growth, as this allows their roots to more readily access moisture and nutrients needed.
Coir is a byproduct of coconut production that has many different uses, from gardening to ropes and fishing nets. To prepare it for microgreen cultivation, the natural salt must be removed by washing multiple times, with large fibers removed during this lengthy process – all necessary steps that lead to producing top-grade soil for growing microgreens.
Once processed coir has been mixed with peat moss and perlite, vermiculite or powdered limestone may also be added as buffering agents to maintain an appropriate chemical pH in the mixture, as some materials tend to be highly acidic and need an alkaline material as a buffering mechanism.
Commercial growers usually create custom microgreen soil mixes tailored specifically to the nutritional requirements of their crops, which home growers who possess both time and equipment can also do themselves.
Microgreens should remain moist throughout their germination and growing cycle. You must take special care not to overwater them as doing so could deprive their roots of oxygen, leading to root rot or diseases. A good balance can be struck by inspecting microgreen trays daily and keeping them damp but not soggy.
Seed packets or instruction sheets generally state if your microgreen seeds require pre-soaking for quicker germination and sprouting, however misting with water after pre-soak may help them sprout faster as well as keep damp during germination and growth periods. Once they sprout you should move them to their appropriate tray(s) and begin feeding regularly with organic fertilizer to maintain optimal growth.