Are you one of those people who just love to eat fresh vegetables? If you are, then you should consider planting microgreens. They are also known as cabbage greens and can be found easily in your local supermarket. But why are they called cabbage greens?
Microgreens come from the seed of cabbage plants. These seeds are small but when planted, these tiny seeds will sprout and bloom. Microgreens are extremely fragile, so it is important that you take special care of them. When growing microgreens from seed, keep in mind that you should not puncture the seed package. This can cause damage to the inside of the seed package as well as to the microgreen seeds themselves.
To start planting microgreens from seed, dig a hole a foot deep and two feet long. The hole should be in a place where it is difficult for pests or animals to enter. This way, you can ensure that your new plants won’t be affected by predators. Make sure that you have covered the bottom part of the hole with a large piece of wood or something similar to keep soil in place. After digging, plant six to twelve small seeds at a time.
Microgreens are best planted in partial sun. Full sunlight will not be healthy for these little plants and they will most likely not thrive. However, if you plant them in shaded areas, you should be alright. You will need to give them adequate light for at least eight hours during the day, but they probably won’t need any additional lighting.
If you would like to have fresh, delicious cabbage right out of your seed packages, you need to learn how to grow and harvest microgreens properly. Like most other vegetables, microgreens need approximately six hours of sunlight each day. If you live in a place that does not receive enough sunlight, you may have to add an outdoor bulb or fluorescent light. There are also special blue lights that work well for this purpose.
Harvesting microgreens can be very rewarding and can be done without too much trouble. After harvesting, carefully remove the leaves and stems of the micro green. Once you have the green’s stems removed, wash them thoroughly with clean water and season them with salt to bring out their natural flavors. Place the greens on a tray in the refrigerator until they are ready to eat. Typically, this takes about a week, but can vary depending on the size and the number of microgreens being harvested.
To save even more time, instead of buying them at the grocery store, you can grow your own microgreens. You can easily create a meal – or several meals – out of several small trays of fresh greens. Just start with a single tray of microgreens and add them one at a time over a period of a few weeks. In addition to being cost effective, this method will allow you to produce microgreens on a continuous basis, instead of only once a month or so.
For maximum benefits from your cabbage microgrowths, harvest them on a regular basis. It is recommended to replace up to 40 percent of your greens each month, because the leaves will begin to wilt. Radishes tend to wilt faster than other varieties, but you can avoid this by choosing a variety that is slightly darker and/or blanched. To get the most benefits from your microgrows, use good-quality organic soil and fertilizer, fertilizing them with a teaspoon of sea salt for every five plants.
To speed up the growth of your microgreens, make sure that they are in a well-lit environment, and that your growing trays are well cleaned before each plant is added. Once your seeds have sprouted, it will be necessary to re-pot them. Make sure that when you do so, that you do not compact the soil too much, as this can prevent the plants from getting enough air. As soon as you are ready to remove your plants, use good soil and compost to help keep the roots happy.
Microgreens that are harvested before their best growth period are typically the most delicious. However, some varieties will continue to produce leaves throughout the season if they are harvested too early. If you have purchased a microgreens with a very short harvesting period, it may take two or more harvests to get the plant to produce leaves. Once the first set of leaves appears, you should harvest the plants every couple of weeks. This ensures that there is a constant supply of fresh leaves on which to enjoy your new microgreen recipe.
Harvesting and pruning your plants also allows you to get the most out of your purchase. As the sprouts develop, they will push the leaves to the sides, allowing you to harvest even more leaves. If you are planning to store your microgreens, it is recommended that you prune the plant every few months, or else they will dry out. A continuous supply of new green shoots will ensure that your favorite cold treat will always be fresh and delicious.