They may be small but they certainly pack a healthy punch. Microgreens are full of antioxidants and because the microgreens are small, these are in a concentrated form. In fact, microgreens have nutritional value five times higher than their mature forms.
So, by simply adding microgreens to your meals your daily vitamin and mineral intake will have a massive boost.
How to use Microgreens
Sprinkle them on top of salads, soups or stews. Add them to your breakfast eggs or put them in your sandwiches. Having them at-the-ready in your kitchen is so beneficial because you can harvest them immediately before consumption, maximising their nutritional value.
Microgreens are grown from seeds from all sorts of vegetables and herbs such as basil, spinach, broccoli, garlic, chard, mustard, radishes, beetroot and onion. It is best to use organic seeds if you can. They can be harvested once they have grown to about 1 – 3 inches and this usually takes 3 weeks after germination.
Growing them couldn’t be easier and can be done all year round. All you need is a sunny window sill, a shallow container, a good quality, chemical-free seed raising soil and water.
How to Grow your own Microgreens
- Soak the seeds to help germination.
- Line the container with a moistened piece of kitchen towel.
- Fill the container to ¾ full of potting soil (try to find an organic seed compost or better still, make your own from scratch).
- Place on a drainage tray or saucer on your kitchen bench in a warm spot.
- Sprinkle the seeds generously over the soil and cover with a thin layer of compost.
- Water by misting with a spray bottle so as not to dislodge the seeds.
- Water regularly to avoid the seeds drying out, but don’t drown them.
- To create a humid environment, cover the tray with a recycled plastic lid from a fruit punnet or use a shower cap with holes snipped to allow air flow.
Ready made kits
Want to get started but not sure how? We absolutely love Urban Sproutz, a great source of materials and advice.
You can choose to buy specially selected seeds or one of the starter kits, including their signature Eco Coco Bed grow mats.
Happy planting and snipping!
