There are only two weeks left of March until Spring ! Besides being a spring-baby, this time of year is one of my favorites because of the rainy, fresh smell in the air, watching the flowers and trees bloom, and most of all I love the increase in availability of fresh local fruits and veggies. If you are getting a bit impatient with the wait and are craving something “springy” and new for your salad, why not try to grow a bit indoors? Growing microgreens are a fun, healthy, fairly cheap, and super easy gardening (and eating) activity. All you have to do is decide which greens you want to grow – maybe mesclun, cilantro, kale, mustard, arugula – the list goes on! You really can pick almost anything because you are going to be harvesting your vegetables at a young age, when all of the nutrients are packed into those little sprouts. Try something you’ve never had before and let the taste be a surprise. After you pick your seeds the next steps are quite easy.
You can start growing in a plastic recycled container. These can be restaurant take-away containers or feel free to go and buy one at your local hardware or garden store- just make sure whatever you pick fits well on or by your windowsill so that your plants get a good amount of sunlight. A bit of drainage in whatever you choose is beneficial. You can easily punch a few holes on the bottom of your container and make sure there is something underneath to catch excess water (maybe the lid!).
Then fill up your container with some good-quality soil and mix in compost if you have it, about an inch or so away from the top. Sprinkle your seeds over the surface of the container. Try giving seeds an 1/8th or so of room in between each one if you can. Sprinkle a bit of soil on top of your seeds (another 1/8th or so inches deep). Water your seeds well to help them start germinating. As your plants grow, keep the soil moist but not dripping wet. In 10-15 days you can cut your plants for eating. When you cut is essentially up to you but the earliest should be when the plant’s first true leaves start to pop out.
Unfortunately, after you harvest your microgreens they will not grow again from the same seeds since they are only sprouts. However, after harvesting you can reuse your soil and start with new seeds.
Happy growing!