Microgreens are young, densely grown seedlings of selected vegetables and herbs. I’ve been growing them for over 10 years. Let me show you how I do it. I like leafy microgreens like kale, arugula, and baby lettuce. These can be grown in a variety of containers. I use these sturdy reusable plastic trays filled with a good peat-based container mix. Unlike sowing individual seeds for a traditional crop, these seeds are densely sprinkled on the surface of the container mix and watered in. A clear dome is placed over the tray, which is then moved to my germination rack in the front window. I use supplemental light from LEDs but light coming through the window will be sufficient. After a couple of days, the seeds will be germinating. In as little as seven to 10 days the greens will one to three inches tall and ready to start harvesting using a sharp pair of scissors. Sowing seeds weekly can ensure a steady supply of microgreens, keeping you ecoli free. If you want more information on growing your own microgreens see my Mississippi State University Extension publications, Growing Microgreens for the Mississippi Gardener and Microgreen Varieties for the Mississippi Gardener. Microgreens and baby lettuce are easy to grow and enjoy when we’re stuck inside for the winter. I’m horticulturist Gary Bachman and I’ll see you next time on Southern Gardening.
