It may seem like we’re giving trade secrets away here, but growing microgreens for personal use is easy and fun, and we think you should try it out! You can skip this whole blog post and go buy a quick growing kit, but you can also gather supplies individually pretty easily and grow a small batch to try!
To start, pick a type of seed you want to grow, and be aware that some varieties are easier than others to grow successfully. We recommend kale or radish microgreens which are both nearly foolproof. (Fun fact: almost any kind of plant can be grown as a microgreen!) You can purchase seeds online from reputable sellers like True Leaf Market or Hamama, or even better… keep it local and check out your nearby garden store; they will most likely have a selection to choose from.
Once you’ve got seeds, you’ll need something to grow (tip: microgreens can grow in just about anything!), a cover of some sort, and soil or hydroponic grow pads. If you’re not sure which to pick, it’s important to note that there is less of a learning curve if you use a growing medium like light potting mix or peat moss before you attempt a hydroponic medium. The shallow trays pictured here are reusable food containers available at Costco.
Put a thin layer of soil (or use hydroponic grow pads) into your containers and spread the seeds on top. Don’t cover them with soil. Lightly mist with water from a spray bottle, don’t drench the seeds, then cover and keep sunlight off the seeds for 3 days—this helps speed up germination. Here’s one easy way to keep the light out with an item you probably have readily available: an aluminum baking tray.
Continue to mist as the soil dries out, but be careful of overwatering and drowning the seeds or encouraging mold growth. After 3 days, remove the cover and give the seeds ample sunlight. You’ll probably already see growth when the cover comes off.
Total germination time depends on the type of seeds you’re working with, but expect your microgreens to be ready anywhere from 10-15 days after you first plant them. If you’re a frequent consumer of microgreens, you’ll surely notice when they’ve reached the stage where you prefer to enjoy them.
When you’re ready to harvest, grab a pair of scissors and carefully trim the greens at their base and store in a container. Trim them higher and many varieties will regrow! Consume within 5-7 days.
Have you had luck with growing microgreens at home? We’d love to hear about your experience in the comments!
