Microgreens
All hail micro-greens! These tiny crops can be grown indoors all year round, take as little as 1-2 weeks to grow, and pack a big flavour punch. Microgreens are the perfect indoor growing companion as the nights draw in, and can keep you in nutritious, flavourful fresh greens throughout the winter.
About Me
Light
Direct Light, with as much sun as possible. In winter, you might want to use grow lights to speed up your microgreens.
Water & Food
Water lightly every time the compost surface looks dry. You don't need to worry about plant food - your baby greens don't need it.
Care Level
Easy. You can't go wrong with microgreens. Follow a few simple steps, and you'll have fresh produce straight from your windowsill.
Getting Started
Get Your Compost Ready
Put enough compost to fill your containers into a bowl, and make sure there aren't any coarse particles or lumps that could make it difficult for your microgreens to grow. If there are, break them down with your fingers, or you could use a potato masher!
Fill Your Container
Fill the terracotta pots in your kit with compost to a depth of around 4 cm. Level out the surface of the compost to create an even surface, and water it finely. Because your pots don't have drainage, be sparing. You need to avoid excess water pooling at the bottom.
Sow Your Seeds
Sprinkle your seeds thickly and evenly across the compost. Don't use them all up at once, as you'll want to re-sow after your first harvest. If you like, you can mix up different varieties if you think they will work well together. After you have sown your seeds, cover them with a light scattering of compost (around half a centimetre). Water them lightly again, and then place the pot on a sunny windowsill. They'll germinate after a couple of days, so look out for your first sprouts!
Caring for Your Microgreens
When the surface of the compost feels dry, water your microgreens carefully, taking care not to water with too much force which could damage them. Every day or so, turn your container around so that your seedlings don't bend towards the light and grow evenly.
The Harvest
When you see the first real leaves form, so the microgreens look like mini versions of the adult plant, you're ready to harvest. Cut your microgreens at the base with a sharp pair of scissors, and add them to stirfries, salads, soups or use as garnishes- whatever you fancy! After your first harvest, the rest of the tray will keep growing. Once you've harvested the majority of the microgreens, tip the tray out into your compost pile (or into a bag if you don't have a garden- you can keep this and use it again in future), brush out your tray, and get ready to sow again.
AMAZING MICROGREENS
Mini Plant Power
Pea Shoots
Full of fibre and protein, alongside vitamins B3, B5 and B6.
Radish Rambo
High in potassium. Use to garnish humus and dips for an extra kick.
Rocket
Full of vitamin C and antioxidants and perfect for winter. Scatter over an omelette for something different.
Broccoli
Lots of antioxidants. Great sprinkled over winter soups.
Beetroot
Sprinkle over a mozarella and tomato salad for a beautiful colour combination.
White Mustard
Great in sandwiches and wraps. Traditionally, white mustard seeds have been applied as a cream to inflamed areas.
Pak Choi
A source of iron. Delightful in stir fries and scatttered over spicy soups.
Mung Bean
A source of amino acids and antioxidants. Add to a smoothie for an extra boost.
Plant Power Up. Some hacks to take your growing to the next level.
