Grow Your Own Microgreens at Home

Gardening


By Jen Wallace
Think just because you don’t have a yard or a patio or deck that you can’t garden? Think again. You can grow fresh and healthy microgreens right in the comfort of your own home. All you need is a sunny window sill and a few simple materials. Depending on which greens you decide to grow, you could manage to have weekly or biweekly crops.

Materials

Clamshell produce container with lid
Potting soil
Seeds
Scoop
for dirt
Watering can
Scissors
Screwdriver or awl
Hammer

Directions

Microgreens Step1
Step 1: Place the clamshell container on a safe surface (I used an old wooden cutting board). Using the awl or a screwdriver, tap it lightly with the hammer to get it started, and make about 5 or 6 holes in the bottom of the container. These are for water drainage. Do this before you have dirt in the container.
Microgreens Step2
Step 2: Now add the dirt. I used Espoma Organic Seed Starter Mix that I got at my local Agway. You could use any potting soil — just make sure it’s potting soil and not topsoil or something else. Potting soils have the correct nutrient balance for starting seeds and they won’t retain too much water. Fill the container about ¾ of the way full, and tap the container to level the dirt.
Microgreens Step3
Step 3: Sprinkle your seeds as densely as you can in a single layer across the top of the dirt. I used 2 seed packets of Astro arugula from High Mowing Seeds, but you can use whatever greens you like, such as mustard, mesclun, or spinach.
Step 4: Cover the seeds with dirt according to the seed package instructions. My Astro arugula called for a planting depth of ¼”, so I covered it with that amount.
Microgreens Step5
Step 5: Place the container in a sunny window sill with the lid underneath it to catch any water drainage.
Step 6: Water your seeds just until the soil is moist — you don’t want to flood them — and water anytime you see the soil drying out.
Microgreens Finalimage2
Step 7: Wait for your seeds to grow! The Astro arugula that I grew called for seed germination in 3-7 days. Mine popped through the soil in about 3 days and were large enough to harvest in about 7 or 8 days. I used scissors to cut the plants off at the soil, rinsed them gently in a small strainer, and they were ready to eat. They were nice and peppery, and tasty on top of an egg-salad sandwich!
About the Author:
Author Jen Wallace
Jen Wallace has her hands in many things. She is the editor of the blog Indie Fixx, curates the Indie Fixx Galleria, coordinates Feed Your Soul: the free art project and runs a small PR biz called Buzz. She also likes to grow her own fresh veggies, inside the house and out.

5 thoughts on “Grow Your Own Microgreens at Home

  1. sloeginfizz says:

    I love the clamshell idea — I’ve been pretending the little greens that I pull out to thin my plants are microgreens. But that only happens once or twice! I may just have to plant my own clamshell — thanks!

  2. Alina says:

    Wow I should try growing my own arugula at home too! These tiny srouts look so lovely :) I’ve been growing Easter grass at the office and my co-workers are always asking whether it’s edible :) so maybe it’s time to try growing something edible indeed :)

  3. bubadee says:

    nummmmm…argula (and any other greens…)
    thanks for the great idea! this will work really well in our downtown studio!

  4. 5 Ways to Eat Local Food Even During the Winter says:

    […] it is possible to supplement your diet of staples with fresh accents. Fresh delicacies like microgreens, sprouts and herbs can easily be grown in sunny windowsills to accompany your hearty winter soups […]

  5. How to Eat Sustainably in Winter - American Forests says:

    […] not going to grow a 10-courser in your windowsill, of course, but it is pretty easy to grow microgreens, sprouts and herbs inside your […]

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