How to Start Microgreens

Hi friends! Today I want to share a quick tutorial on starting microgreens. Microgreens are a really easy way to grow indoors during the winter, and produce nutrient packed greens to put on salads, sandwiches, bowls, and pretty much everything! They are so delicious, really easy to grow, and can allow you to continue gardening, even if you live in a cold, winter climate like we do.

One thing about microgreens is they require a high density of seed planting, which means a lot more seeds than you might be used to planting in one space. This can feel a little unnatural if you are like me, trying to make each and every seed count. The good news is, because you won’t be growing the seed to its full size, you don’t need to thin out at all, in fact you shouldn’t thin out, so in some ways it is even less wasteful.

It can get expensive if you use seeds that come in low quantities and are a few dollars per pack, so I went with seeds from MIgardener. For $10, I purchased 10 different packs of seeds, that are especially suited for sprouting and for microgreens.

Brassicas are a great choice for microgreens, as are radishes, beans, peas, and lettuce greens. The first time I grew microgreens I even used triticale wheat, not realizing this would product wheatgrass and not a traditional sprout. This was a classic newbie gardener mistake, but I am so excited to find ways to use the wheatgrass!

Steps to Starting Micgrogreens

1. Grab a seed starting tray and fill it 60-75% with seed starting soil or even potting soil.

You want the soil to be fine. Use what you normally use for starting seeds indoors. Make sure to pick an organic seed mix if you want to ensure your sprouts and microgreens are in fact organic.

2. Add water to the tray.

I added about 4 cups, and mixed the soil around using my hands to saturate the soil with the added water.

3. Remove the seeds from the seed packets and DENSELY plant the seeds in the soil.

Don’t worry about planting the seeds deep in the soil, putting them right on top will suffice.

4. Press the seeds into the soil and spray with water.

Using a wood block, your hands, or another flat object, press down on the seeds and soil to make sure the seeds have good contact with the soil. Spray the seeds and soil with a spray bottle to add sufficient moisture, which is necessary for germination. You want moist soil, but you don’t want it to be completely saturated or wet.

5. Use another seed starting tray to act as a black out dome & wait for germination!

This will replace the need of adding a fine layer of soil on top of the seeds. Simply turn the tray upside down and place it on top of the tray you planted in.

* If you are doing this in your basement, use a seed starting heating mat to keep the seeds warm enough for germination.

Next Steps

1. Spray the tray every 1-2 days to keep the soil moist and support good germination

2. Check the soil every couple of days for germination. Once most of the seeds are germinated, remove the black out dome.

3. Once germinated, add your grow light to provide sufficient light for the sprouts to grow well.

Microgreens are ready to eat once the first true leaves start to appear.

I hope this post was helpful to you! Let me know all about your experience(s) starting microgreens in the comments below!

That’s all for now friends.

All my best,

Jenn