How to Grow Microgreens The Easy Way
Microgreens are often grown in a "soil like" media. Coir is popular for microgreens as is peat, as are blends of coir or peat with perlite. But for this EASY process, we recommend FibreDust's new, all natural, newly OMRI listed "GreenEase" Jute Seed Pads. Jute is a fibrous plant and our seed pads are a felt-like non woven 100% jute composition that microgreens LOVE! The best part about growing your microgreens on our jute seed pads is that it's very clean. When growing microgreens in a soil-like product, the growing media tends to get splashed up onto the plants during watering. Our jute seed pads eliminate this issue and provide a clean base for effective sowing seed, and growing out to harvest. Sold in packs of 10 pads, you'll have enough to enjoy several crops.
Which Micro Greens Should You Grow?
When deciding what microgreens to grow, FibreDust recommends that if you are inexperienced as a micro-green grower or consumer, you chose some greens that are known to be an easy, fast and great tasting crop. Seeds germinate and grow at different rates depending on the characteristics of the plant. But here is a list of some favorites that we know will please you, not only by taste, but also by success rates.
Fast Growers: Harvest in 10 to 15 days
- Radish Micro Greens are loaded with flavor that taste very similar to the well known and well loved root crop. A blend of "Red Rambo" and "Daikon" radish is colorful and is a spicy treat on salads and great in sandwiches!
- Cabbages, pak choi, collards, kale and mustards are also an excellent and fast growing choice.
Slower Growers: Harvest in 16 to 25 days
- Cilantro: Add this Mexican favorite to dishes like salsa, guacamole or any Mexican dish. Cilantro micros are extremely high in nutrients too. Expect 16 days minimum to harvest.
- Beets: Bulls Blood variety adds color and beet flavor without chopping roots.
- Basil: Intensely flavored and a favorite as a garnish to Italian dishes. It is also packed with nutrients and a great choice for salads as well.
- Arugula: A popular and a high end crop for many growers, Arugula microgreens are wonderful in salads, and on sandwiches.
Forage Micros
There are many folks worldwide who use microgreen growing practices to grow forage for cats, chickens, goats, pigs and more. Wheat grass is popular for this and also popular for those who want to juice it. Wheat grass grows voraciously as a microgreen. Eight days and done!
Preparation and Supplies You'll need for Micro Greens
Select a good spot for your micros. You want a location that has good light and ventilation. You want the temperature to be comfortable, not too hot or too cold. A heated pad can be used if temperatures will be chilly. Optimum temperature for germination is 75 degrees, for growing; 60 degrees. Humidity is required for germination but not so much after the seedling has started the growing process. You'll want to remove any dome or cover after the first few days unless the environment is extremely dry. Fans are often used to keep air circulating through the microgreens. This reduces the chance you'll have mold growing on your micros.
You'll want two 10x20 nursery trays one with drainage holes and one without. You'll use the tray with the holes for your sowing and growing tray. The other can be use to bottom water your growing tray and as a cover for the first few days. To water after the initial sprouting phase, you'll just dip the grow tray into the water in other tray, remove it and let excess water drain. No fertilizers are necessary for most microgreens.