6 Reasons Why You Should Grow Microgreens
There are so many reasons why microgreens are such an amazing produce, I just couldn’t talk about them all. As a result, I’ve narrowed it down to six excellent reasons why you should grow microgreens today!
First though, just a quick crash course on what microgreens actually are.
What are Microgreens?
Microgreens are nutrient-packed superfoods with several key health and educational benefits. Despite the unique name, a “microgreen” is actually a broader term for several common vegetables and herbs, just grown and eaten differently than what you might think.
Microgreen seeds are planted very close together in trays. They are grown and harvested much quicker, so their small roots don’t require much space. Radishes for example, are ready to harvest in about 7 days, whereas sunflowers and peas may take 10-14 days to be ready.
Instead of eating the fruit of the plant, the tender stem and first leaves are eaten. If allowed to continue to grow, these microgreens would eventually mature into the vegetables you commonly think of, such as peas, radishes, sunflowers, cabbage, etc.
6 Reasons why you should grow microgreens:
1.Easy to grow
One reason why I love microgreens is because they are very easy to grow. All you need is a couple of basic supplies and you are off to the races.
If you are interested in growing your own microgreens, I would highly suggest checking out True Leaf Market. I’ve been getting my seeds from them for a long time and I can tell you from personal experience that their product and service is excellent! So make sure to head over there and take a look at their selection!
They are also great for people who don’t have much extra space to dedicate to gardening. All you need is a windowsill or a few square feet of room somewhere and you are all set. This makes them great for urban settings!
They really don’t require too much TLC either. Just a quick spritz once a day and some good lighting (either real or fake) and you are good to go.
2. (Almost) Instant gratification
For those of you who are impatient and want results NOW, microgreens are perfect for you. With such a short grow period of 1-2 weeks, you will be able to reap the rewards of your hard work early and often. You could easily be harvesting fresh microgreens directly into your salad bowl on a daily basis in no time!
3. Great for learning how to garden
If you are interested in gardening or agriculture but have no experience and have no idea where to start, microgreens might be your answer. They are easy to grow and maintain, so they are a great way to learn the basics.
Because of how quickly they grow, there is plenty of room for error. If you manage to screw something up, it’s not like you wasted the entire summer for nothing. Just toss your bad batch into the compost pile and try again! The rapid turnover of microgreens allows for plenty of practice. Do it enough and you WILL get good at it.
Microgreens are also a great learning tool for children. They are an excellent real-world example of the process of germination and the plant growth cycle, so they are a great way to introduce children to the science of agriculture!
4. Very Nutritious
Microgreens are PACKED with nutrition. In fact, a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry analyzed 25 different types of microgreens and determined that several microgreens contain anywhere between 3 to 40x the nutrient concentrations as their mature plant counterparts! The researchers suggested the high nutrient value may be due to the fact that microgreens are harvested soon after germination. This means all the nutrients needed for the plant to grow are still present.
5. Very Flavorful
Similar to the high nutrient concentrations, the flavor in microgreens is very concentrated as well. Head to head, microgreens are much more flavorful than their adult counterparts.
You can grow almost any flavor you want in the form of microgreens. Pretty much every herb or garden veggie you can think of can be grown as a microgreen and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the distinct flavor each posses.
Little Veggies, Big Taste
The first time I tried my radishes, I wasn’t prepared for how spicy they were. The spiciness was very concentrated compared to adult radishes. Cleared my sinuses right out!
My favorite crop by far though, is the sunflowers. They have a wonderful nutty flavor and if harvested at the right time (about 10 days after planting) they develop a perfect crunchy yet delicate texture. If they are harvested too late though, they can become tough and stalky.
In fact, setting flavor aside for a second, the texture of perfectly ripe microgreens is probably just as impressive. Microgreens have a wonderful crunch but at the same time are super tender, making for a very unique experience. They add a nice crunch to salads and sandwiches. Harvesting at the right time is key to ensuring a great texture.
6. It’s gratifying to grow your own food
There’s a feeling of gratification and accomplishment whenever I eat the microgreens I grew myself. It’s a great feeling to know I can rely a little less on the grocery store for my meals. I know exactly how my microgreens were grown, how they were handled, and what they came into contact with, which gives me peace of mind. It’s also very gratifying to know I am learning a skill that will definitely come in handy in the future.
Summary
These are six great reasons why YOU should start growing microgreens today! Once you get yourself setup and running, buying your side salads will be a thing of the past in no time. You could have a wonderful mixed green salad every single night for dinner that’s packed with flavor and nutrients!
Make sure to check out my related microgreen articles below!
Most importantly, have fun on your microgreens journey! And if you enjoyed this post, please comment and subscribe below!
Cheers!
Cody
Thistle Downs Farm
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