Microgreens are baby versions of vegetables and herbs which are harvested at a very young age because they are found to be much more nutritional than their matured version.
Also, growing them is very easy and requires minimal things & space.
How to Grow Microgreens at Home? (Quick details)
- Get a flat tray with a few drainage holes.
- Fill it with potting soil.
- Sprinkle the seeds and keep them in indirect sunlight and maintain moisture in the soil.
- Within 2-3 weeks it will be ready to be harvested.
Table of Content
Things Required to Grow Microgreens
How to grow Microgreen at Home – Step by Step
List of Microgreens you can Grow In India
What are Microgreens?
Microgreens are simply vegetables and herbs which are harvested in their seedling age, as they are found to be much more nutritional. (Reference)
Microgreens are actually like sprouts; you already know the benefits of sprouts. Don’t you?
Sprouts are the first thing we are asked to eat in the morning as they have so many health benefits.
All we have to do to grow sprouts is soak them overnight in water and the next day we can see some roots growing and that’s it. We eat it raw. Such a fast process.
Right???
The difference between Sprouts and Microgreens is that:
Microgreens are allowed to grow till the time they develop their first two leaves. On the other hand, sprouts are only allowed to form roots.
Things required to grow Microgreens at Home
Before you start growing microgreens at home, you will require a few basic things.
So, let’s see what are these:
High-quality Microgreen seeds that are chemical free ( You can order from here)
A flat tray (like this one)
Tissue Paper to cover the holes so that only water can drain and not the soil.
Potting Mix (coco peat, garden soil & compost) (You can use this one)
Gentle Water Sprayer (good quality like this one)
Seaweed Fertilizer (This is the best one)
Or you can simply order this microgreen kit which comes with all the essential items.
How to Grow Microgreens at Home (Detailed Steps)
Steps of Growing Microgreens
Firstly, you need a flat tray to make 3-4 drainage holes at the bottom for proper air circulation and to allow excess water to pass through.
Then you need to cover the bottom of the flat tray with some tissue paper or any other filtering paper.
And fill it with nutrient-rich potting soil.
The tissue paper at the bottom will ensure that only water drains out and not the soil.
Spray the soil with some water and just water it enough so that the soil gets moist.
Then you need to sow the microgreen seeds at an adequate distance according to the size of your tray.
And place the tray near a window so that it can receive bright but indirect sunlight.
That’s it.
Now, all you have to do is to keep the soil moist at all times by spraying it with water regularly and not let it dry out.
When the seeds start to germinate this is the time, they are hungry for nutrition so spray some seaweed solution to satisfy their nutrition hunger.
When they start to grow stems and the day they develop their first two leaves this is the time they can be harvested.
To harvest microgreens just cut them a little above the soil.
Other Popular Read:
How to Grow Rajnigandha in Pots
How to save the tulsi plant from dying
List of Microgreens Grown in India?
Best microgreens to grow in India:
- Wheatgrass (the most popular one)
- Radish (Mooli)
- Broccoli
- Beetroot (chukandar)
- Parsley
- Basil
- Spinach
- Sunflower
- Rocket microgreen
Its seeds are available online and you can also find them in your local nursery as well – enquire them to give you chemical-free seeds.
FAQ
You might be having a few frequently asked questions regarding microgreens in your mind?
Are Microgreens safe to be eaten raw? Are they treated with some kind of chemical?
Yes indeed, they are safe to be eaten and when you are growing them at home it is totally up to you that you don’t add any chemicals to grow them.
They are just harvested at the seedling age of regular vegetables, not different from them just harvested way much earlier.
But make sure that you wash them thoroughly before eating as they are eaten raw and not cooked to avoid eating the soil they are grown in.
What are the best time to harvest (cut) microgreens?
When they develop their first two leaves that is the best time to harvest them.
After this point, its taste might start to turn bitter.
Don’t try to pluck it off from the roots use sharp scissors to cut them a little above the soil.
Wrapping Up
Microgreens are one of the healthiest foods that you can grow easily at home as they don’t require much space, as well as indirect sunlight, is adequate for them.
Take advantage of this guide and start growing them at home.
Make sure to share your experience with us.
If you face any problem, share that as well.
