Grow great microgreens: a mini how-to guide

Microgreens are a great way to eat local fresh vibrant food all year, and they provide an opportunity to get your hands into the soil while it’s still too cold to garden outdoors. They are a living food, packed with nutrition, since they are harvested when each plant is at the peak of germination and the start of it's leafy growth.  Microgreens can be grown in very small space - for example, a kitchen counter, a bookshelf, a windowsill, the top of the fridge. And microgreens are quick to grow, generally ready for harvest in about 10 days.  Microgreens are full of diverse flavours and textures, giving us that crunchy leafy satisfaction.  There are so many benefits to microgreens, so let's dive in.

WHAT MICROGREENS CAN YOU GROW?

A surprising amount of vegetable seeds can be grown as delicious microgreens.   Some of our absolute favourites are radish, beets, basil, cilantro, cabbages, kale, swiss chard, kohrabi, arugular, daikon, bok choy, chives... 
We also grow lots of peas, certain beans, buckwheat, and sunflower seeds as leafy microgreeens.

Most people are familiar with pea shoots.  These are probably the easiest to start with, and give great results.  After mastering peas, it's perfect to move onto various other microgreens.  Stay away from squash and nightshades (whose leaves are not edible!), and do your research to make sure what you are growing is an edible green.

KEYS TO GROWING GREAT MICROGREENS:

• proper air flow (to avoid mold or other diseases)
• proper watering (to avoid seeds drying out, or getting too wet)
• sterilized starter soil (do not use heavy garden soil or compost, which will contain weed seeds)
• temperature (this determines germination rate)
• good quality seeds (use seeds that are no more than a few years old for a good germination rate)

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

• trays with drainage (nesting trays are great - one with holes, one that has a solid base)
• lids for trays (or plastic wrap), which helps seeds stay moist and warm pre-germination
• heat mat, optional
• sterilized seed starting soil (not garden soil)
• water (just enough to moisten the soil, so one drop comes out when soil is squeezed)
• good quality seeds

HOW TO GROW MICROGREENS STEP BY STEP:
1) Larger seeds (e.g. chickpeas, beans, peas) are soaked for about 12 hours to soften seed coat, then drained.
2) Smaller seeds do not need to be soaked (in fact, it's easier if you don't).
3) Layer a thin amount of moistened soil evenly in the tray, about 1 inch to cover the bottom well.
4) Sprinkle seeds evenly across the soil, leaving the approximate width of the seed between each seed (ie. smaller seeds are closer together, larger seeds have a bit more space).
5) Now sprinkle a light dusting of moistened soil ontop of the seed layer, just enough to lightly cover.
6) Set lid on tray, set tray on heat mat (optional).  Seeds do not need to be in sunlight or under grow lights.
7) Water each day as needed, either misting lightly from above, or bottom watering in the lower tray.
8) When seeds have germinated, remove lid.  Continue to water daily as needed.
9) Ideally place trays of microgreens under grow lights or in a sunny window once germinated.
10) Microgreens should be ready for harvest in about 10 days, depending on temperature of your home.
11) Pea shoots or other larger leafy greens can be cut, and regrown for a smaller second harvest.
12) Cut microgreens as needed (just before a meal), then store any harvested microgreens in the fridge in air-tight containers.  Make sure microgreens are DRY when storing them, so harvest them a few hours after watering (or don't water from the top on the day you plan to harvest). 

TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS:

• If there is any mold, bad smell or spoilage, discard the microgreens and do not eat them.  Mold comes from seeds/microgreens being overwatered, inadequate drainage, or over-crowding in their growing conditions.
• Note that radish family seeds have small white hairs on their stems, so don't confuse that with mold!
• To keep microgreens growing steadily, start a new tray every few days!
• After they have germinated, microgreens do best under grow lights or in a sunny window.