What are Microgreens ?

Photo by Monika Grabkowska on Unsplash

What are Microgreens?

Microgreens are seedlings of edible vegetables and herbs, they are miniature and range in size from 1" to 1 ½" long. The vegetable greens are harvested just after the first leaves appear from a germinating seed. 

 Photo by Russ Ward on Unsplash

What are benefits of consuming microgreens ?

It is thought that microgreens contain up to five times more vitamins and minerals than the fully grown plant. They are very healthy and good for your diet as they are packed with nutrients such vitamins, C, E, and K, lutein, and beta-carotene and also rich in potassium, iron, zinc, magnesium and copper.

How can you eat microgreens ?

Microgreens are best eaten raw, as they lose their nutrients if you cook them.  They are great eaten in salads, sandwiches, added to smoothies and commonly used as garnishes to increase the nutrient value of the dish as well to enhance the look, add texture and complete the dish.

Where can you get microgreens ?

Microgreens can be purchased from many online stores and from certain supermarkets and wholefoods stores. If you find it hard to source ready grown microgreens you can easily grow your own. You can purchase a variety of seeds from any online retailer such as Garden Seeds Market or at any garden centre. Once planted they only take 2-3 weeks before you can harvest your crop. If you grow them in rotation, you will always have a constant batch ready for use.

Photos from Garden Seeds Market

What's the difference between sprouts and microgreens ?

Sprouts and micro greens are not the same. Sprouts are seeds that are grown in water.  The germination process takes 2-3 days to form sprouts and then they are ready to be eaten. Microgreens are grown in soil or grown using a hydroponic method by using mineral nutrient solutions in a water solvent. You can grow microgreens from any regular herb or vegetable seeds such as radish, onion, basil, cress, kale, pea shoots, kohlabri, dill and coriander seeds. The seeds usually take 2-3 weeks to produce shoots and leaves. As soon as the new leaves form, they are ready to be picked and eaten.


How can grow your own microgreens ?

1. Get a shallow tray and fill with a layer of potting compost.
2. Scatter the seeds over the potting compost and cover the seeds with another thin layer of potting compost.
3. Lightly spray the compost with some water and place the tray on a window ledge.
4. Spray the tray daily just keeping the compost damp but not too wet. You should see the microgreens sprouting through the soil within 2-3 weeks. They are ready for picking once tiny leaves form.

Picture by A Kuotsova -Pixabay

How to store microgreens ?

Wash the harvested microgreens so that any dirt or soil is cleaned off. Pat them dry then wrap then in kitchen paper and store in a container in the fridge. They usually stay fresh up to a week if kept in this way.

It has become very fashionable in the culinary world to see dishes garnished with microgreens. They not only increase the nutritional value of the dish but they are a great garnishing ingredient too to enrich the look of the dish.

Do you use microgreens ? Which herbs and greens are your favourite? Do share in the comments.

**Post In collaboration with Garden Seeds Market