This is a very common question being asked mostly by beginners. As a beginner, many would not be very familiar with growing microgreens. As such, usually the first question being asked is microgreens easy to grow.

Q. Is planting microgreens fun to do?

A. Yes! Quick and simple to plant, taking only a few minutes a day to monitor moisture levels. They are the perfect accompaniment to any salad and they are a delicious addition to any juice mixes as well.

Q. How do you know if your seeds are germinating?

A. Germination is an important factor when working with seeds. When microgreens sprout they will have small, red, fragile leaves.

Q. Is it necessary to moisten the seeds thickly prior to planting?

A. No – moisten the microgreens after they have been germinating for about 2 days in a hot water potting mix.

Q. How should I store my microgreen crops for harvesting?

A. Keep your growing microgreens out of direct sunlight and store them in a dark covered container in a cool, dark place during the growing season.

Q. How long do microgreens take to mature?

A. Usually about a month after planting

Q. How many sprouts do I need to harvest from each plant?

A. Typically between one and four sprouts are needed for each garden plot, but you may experiment and use less or more if your plan permits.

Now you know some information about microgreens, including how to grow them, the best times to plant them, and how to harvest them. It is important to note that microgreens are considered to be perennials, which means that you have to plant them every year in your garden. However, there are microgreens that are considered annuals, which mean you have to plant them each year or even earlier. Since microgreens are considered to be an exotic plant, you might want to consider planting other colorful flowers in your flower bed during the summer to provide contrast and interest to your micro green sprouts.

You can purchase microgreens seed from most garden centers. Microgreens seed are usually available in bags of six. The bag will tell you what variety the seed is, but rest assured there are no stupid mistakes when purchasing these types of seeds. Make sure you also get details about germination times. Some seeds can sprout within just a few days to a couple weeks.

Microgreens should be planted in loose soil in a sunny location. Good potting mix for growing microgreens is a potting soil with potting media that contains plenty of nutrients and water retention properties. This potting mix will help to ensure proper germination and thick growth. Make sure you plant your seeds thickly because microgreens tend to form large clusters that can get tangled together if planted haphazardly.

It’s best to plant your microgreen crops around four to six weeks before your main crop, as this is the approximate time where they’ll begin to form. For successful planting, make sure you’ve located your harvest spot earlier than usual. It’s best to plant microgreens when the soil is still moist; this can make for a better microgreen crop yield. Another added bonus to early planting is that you’ll have the benefit of harvesting your plants the following day. If you harvest at night, however, the microgreens will dry out and die.

In addition to using good quality microgreens for planting, the best way to ensure good yield and good quality is to make sure your soil is just the right temperature and moisture level to encourage plant growth. Keep in mind that it’s a good idea to mulch your plants after they have been planted. Don’t let your plants sit in their own wet soil for extended periods of time. If you do not mulch your plants, they will tend to get heavy and rot. By using a quality potting mix with the correct amount of organic materials in it you’re sure to have success growing any number of varieties of leafy greens.

You can purchase green house or garden kits that contain everything you need to grow up to four plants of herbs, vegetables or fruits all from the same product. These kits contain everything you need to grow an assortment of microgreens and other chicory, beets, lettuce, fennel, alfalfa, basil, carrots, cabbage, cress, chervil, ginseng, kale, lettuce, maitake, peonies, prunes and more. There are also kits available that contain additional recipes for foods that are great to eat while planting your new garden. Grow an entire row of edibles and add fresh produce to your table all year round with a kit like this.

A final consideration when starting to grow microgreens is what you use as your growing medium. Typically, people use coir or straw for this type of planting because of their ability to hold moisture. If you want to try using a different material for your growing medium, it’s best to test the soil first. Many herbs and vegetables do very well in perlite or vermiculite and you should find that most of your troubles are dealt with when growing microgreens in these types of mediums.