When most people hear the term “microgreen vs. sprouts,” they usually focus on the microgreen being smaller than a sprout. While that is true, microgreen does have its advantages over larger growing vegetables. Microgreens can be planted directly into a garden and have very good results. When you plant microgreens, you can also enjoy better soil structure and pest control than with other vegetables.

While both are quite small and do not qualify as vegetables, there are many differences between micro green and sprouts. Microgreens: germinate quickly in either soil or water. Harvest within 1-3 days. Sprouts: Grow best in well-drained, nutrient-rich soil-less medium. They also need a lot of sunlight to thrive.

So, what makes eating microgreens different from growing them? They’re not growing in water; they’re eating an organic, soil-less medium. Unlike growing vegetables in a soil-based growing medium, which can be a very productive way to grow a garden, using a hydroponically grown microgreen will ensure a continuous supply of fresh, healthy produce throughout the growing season. This will save you time and money because you won’t have to purchase seeds or have to wait for soggy, damp soil to provide nourishment.

Another advantage of using a hydroponic growing medium is that it will save you money on the cost of purchasing expensive hydroponic nutrients. Since microgreens don’t require any sort of soil to grow in, there’s no need to purchase soil, seeds, or fertilizers. There are kits available that will do the job for you, but if you’re dedicated to growing a quality crop each year, these kits won’t save you money. On the other hand, seeds from reputable seed catalogs usually come with soil that you can grow with the seeds. That’s more than half the cost of using the kits.

Although most soggy, wet growing media are nutrient-deficient, a good growing medium such as microgreens will add just the right amount of nutrition to your plants. By growing a variety of high quality vegetables, you’ll increase your chances of getting high quality produce with minimal effort. You can also grow your favorite vegetables from home-free of the cost and trouble of purchasing seed packages, which can be costly and have poor nutritional content.

In addition to saving money and increasing produce yields, growing microgreens organically also helps protect the environment. Because micro green sprouts have little guys running around them, they go through the countryside quickly, so soil erosion is minimized. If you grow large quantities, you can even get your veggies certified and cross-certify them with organic certification, so your produce is healthier and better for the environment.

Microgreen growing medium is a great way to make sure that your garden gets all the vitamins and nutrients it needs, without spending a lot of extra money on specialized nutrients. However, when choosing your seeds, you need to make sure that they are true leaves. Some seeds are only half true leaves, so look carefully at the sprout and see if there are any true leaves or buds forming. Even minute difference can make a huge difference in taste. It’s better to select your seeds based on whether they are true leaves or not.

After planting, just make sure that you water well. Microgreen growing medium tends to dry out very quickly, so watering often will help keep the soil moist and prevent drying out. Check your plants regularly, and check to see if they have either dried out or have the appearance of mold because mold will quickly spread if it is exposed to moisture too long. If you have trouble seeing mold on your plants, call a specialist to look at your growing microgreens. Make sure you follow the proper procedure when planting and you will be able to enjoy healthy produce for years to come.