To plant microgreens successfully, spread the seeds evenly on a pre-moistened growing medium. Gently press the seeds into the medium to ensure good contact. Cover the seeds, mist the surface to moisten, and provide adequate light. Maintain consistent moisture levels and monitor the growth closely.
What You'll Learn
Choose a Suitable Growing Medium
Choosing the right growing medium is essential for successful microgreen cultivation, as it provides the necessary nutrients and moisture to help your seedlings grow. When selecting a medium, consider the nutrient balance that will be best for your specific crop, as well as whether or not it can meet light requirements.
While many people use soil to grow their microgreens, there are several other options available such as compost, rice hulls or coir. A good quality potting soil mix should also provide enough nutrients and moisture for a successful harvest. Alternatively, you can purchase pre-mixed media specifically designed for growing microgreens.
Regardless of which type of medium you choose, make sure it is free of weeds and disease before planting so that you don’t end up with any nasty surprises down the line. Ensure that whatever medium you select is able to retain adequate moisture but not become waterlogged – if it’s too wet then your seedlings may suffer from root rot or mildew. Additionally, make sure that it has plenty of drainage holes in order to avoid overwatering.
When using a pre-mixed media specifically designed for growing microgreens, check the ingredients list carefully – some brands may contain extra additives such as fertilizer or lime which could affect the pH balance in your soil and adversely impact your plants’ growth potential.
Once you have chosen an appropriate growing medium for your needs and checked its suitability, spread about one teaspoonful of seeds evenly over each square foot of surface area before lightly covering them with additional media and misting them with water until they’re damp but not soaking wet.
Once planted correctly in an appropriate environment with plenty of light (at least 6 hours per day), your microgreens should germinate within 4-7 days depending on temperature and humidity levels. After this point, they’ll require regular watering to prevent drying out whilst still allowing oxygen to reach their roots so they can continue developing into healthy adult plants!
Prepare the Growing Medium
Before planting microgreens, you need to prepare the growing medium. To begin, pre-moisten the medium with a watering can so it’s evenly moist.
If desired, you can add fertilizer to the mix for added nutrients, but this step is optional.
After pre-moistening and adding fertilizer (if desired), your growing medium is ready for planting!
Pre-moisten the medium
Before planting microgreens, it’s important to pre-moisten the growing medium to ensure optimal growth.
The desired moisture level depends on the type of soil or hydroponic medium you’re using for your microgreen garden.
If you’re using organic soil, it should be moist enough that a handful of soil can easily form into a ball when squeezed in your hand, without any excess water dripping out.
For hydroponic mediums such as coconut coir and vermiculite, they should be thoroughly soaked before planting.
Once fully saturated, the water should be allowed to drain before sowing the seeds.
Pre-moistening is important because doing so helps create a hospitable environment for germination and allows for better seed-to-soil contact during sowing.
Add fertilizer (optional)
If desired, you can add fertilizer to your microgreen growing medium for an extra boost of nutrition. Fertilizers are a great way to give your microgreens the nutrients they need to grow healthy and strong.
There are two popular techniques for fertilizing your microgreen plants: top-dressing or side-dressing. When top-dressing, sprinkle a small amount of fertilizer onto the soil surface before watering. When side-dressing, scatter the fertilizer around the sides of the container prior to watering.
In either case, be sure to use fertilizers with lower nitrogen concentrations that are specifically designed for seedlings. Additionally, take care not to overfertilize as this could damage delicate young plants.
In addition to adding fertilizer, pay close attention to other aspects of caring for your microgreens such as watering techniques and light source selection in order to ensure their health and growth success.
Spread the Seeds Evenly
Spread the microgreen seeds evenly across the pre-moistened growing medium to ensure your plants have enough space to grow and thrive! When selecting your seeds, make sure they’re of high quality and not expired.
Planting depth varies depending on the type of seed you’re using, so be sure to check the instructions for planting depth prior to sowing. Cover the seeds lightly with a thin layer of soil or other growing medium after they’ve been spread out, as this will help protect them from pests and keep them moist.
Lastly, don’t forget to provide adequate light once your microgreens have germinated – without it, your plants won’t grow properly! Place them in a bright location that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight per day for best results.
With proper care and attention, you’ll soon be enjoying delicious homegrown microgreens right from your own garden!
Cover the Seeds
Once you’ve spread the microgreen seeds evenly on a pre-moistened growing medium, it’s time to cover them. This can be done in a variety of ways depending on what type of microgreens you’re planting and your own personal preference.
One popular alternative is to use newspaper and/or paper towels to cover the soil and protect the seeds from being disturbed. Make sure that there is enough overlap between the sheets so that all of the seeds are adequately covered. Additionally, ensure that there is adequate space between each sheet for proper seed spacing.
Another way to cover the seeds after spreading them evenly is by using plastic wrap or an old plastic lid to trap moisture and keep out light until germination occurs. If utilizing this method, make sure to secure the lid tightly around edges of your container so as not to disturb any of your newly planted microgreens during this delicate stage in their growth process.
In addition, many people prefer utilizing vermiculite as an alternative covering for their freshly planted microgreen seeds. Vermiculite traps moisture, which helps keep soil temperatures consistent over long periods of time and also prevents weeds from sprouting up alongside your young plants before they get established in their new environment. To utilize vermiculite as a covering material, simply sprinkle it lightly on top of the soil until no more than 1/4 inch thick layer remains above where you’ve sprinkled your microgreen seeds.
No matter which covering option you end up choosing, it’s important to remember that this step will play a major role in determining how successful your crop will be once fully grown. Therefore, it’s best practice not only to take extra caution when deciding on what kind of material you’ll be using but also to ensure that all steps leading up to this one have been completed properly beforehand.
Provide Adequate Light
Once your microgreens have germinated, it’s time to give them the light they need to thrive! Providing adequate illumination is essential for healthy growth and development of microgreen plants.
Your seedlings will need a minimum of 8 hours of light per day, but the intensity and duration can vary depending on what type of light sources you use. Natural sunlight is always preferable, as it provides the most balanced level of illumination, but artificial lighting can be used if necessary.
When using artificial lighting, make sure to keep an eye on the levels of illumination provided by different types of bulbs. LED lamps are often recommended for growing microgreens since they provide a more intense and consistent level of lighting than other types. You should also pay attention to how far away you position your lights from the seedbeds; too much or too little distance can affect the amount of light that reaches them.
Another important factor in providing adequate light for your microgreens is ventilation. Good air circulation helps maintain the right temperature and humidity levels which are crucial for optimal growth conditions. Make sure that there are no obstructions blocking airflow around your seedbeds, such as walls or furniture; this will help ensure that all areas get enough light and fresh air at all times.
Finally, remember that while providing sufficient amounts of light is important for healthy microgreen plants, it’s just as important not to overdo it! Too much direct sunlight or excessive levels of artificial lighting can damage delicate plant tissue – so make sure you find a balance between these two factors when setting up your grow area.
Harvest the Microgreens
Harvesting your microgreens is the final step in the process! Once they reach maturity, you can begin to harvest them for use in salads, sandwiches, or other dishes. To do this properly, it’s important to have a good understanding of watering techniques and soil composition.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when harvesting:
- Cut your microgreens at the base with scissors or a sharp knife.
- Make sure you cut them evenly so that each plant has an equal chance of surviving and growing back.
- Avoid over-harvesting – only take what you need from each plant.
- Gently shake off excess soil before storing in an airtight container or bag for up to a week.
- If possible, use freshly harvested microgreens as soon as possible for optimum flavor and nutrient content.
When harvesting your microgreens, it’s important to remember that proper care must be taken during every step of the process – from planting to harvesting – in order for them to thrive and provide maximum nutritional value.
Taking into account things such as watering techniques and soil composition will ensure your microgreens grow healthy and produce abundant harvests season after season!
