Microgreens not only pack a punch nutrition-wise, they are also full of flavor, making them the perfect addition to all sorts of dishes.
You don’t need as much volume to get the same amount of flavor and nutrition. Not only does this save calories, it also saves a lot of counter space when it comes to growing these delicious little plants.
Between the little space they require and how quickly these little plants grow, you’ll be pleasantly surprised how much green food you can produce.
Just think how much you’ll save at the grocery store when you’re able to grow much of the vegetable and greens your family needs at home – on your kitchen window sills.
Not to mention the fact that you don’t have to head to the store every few days to pick up fresh produce. Just grab some scissors and cut what you need for lunch or dinner.
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The Health Benefits Of Microgreens
One of the big benefits when it comes to growing your own greens is that you can pick and eat them right away. This preserves the most nutrients, no matter when you harvest your greens but is particularly beneficial when it comes to microgreens.
You’ve probably heard about these power houses of the vegetable family and may even grab them on occasion at your local health food store or grocer.
When you get into growing your own greens in salad bowls, harvesting microgreens is another option. They make a great addition to all your salads. But what exactly are microgreens?
What Are Microgreens?
Green leafy plants are considered microgreens in the stage between sprout and seedling. They are usually harvested after they’ve had their first few regular leaves.
If you’ve watched a plant grow from seed you notice that a sprout appears first, then the plant develops its first two leaves.
Those first leaves look different from the regular leaves of the plan. After that the next three to five leaves pop out that look like those of the grown plant.
It is during this stage when the first few leaves appear that microgreens are harvested.
You can use a variety of different plants to grow micro greens including lettuce, kale, arugula, chard, watercress, beet and radish greens, parsley, chives, basil, and cilantro.
Health Benefits of Microgreens
Microgreens are nutritional powerhouses that are full of vitamins. The exact nutrition will depend on the types of greens you consume. To get the most out of your microgreens, mix and match the plants you use. Nutrients include beta-carotene, iron, calcium, and lutein.
Since microgreens are grown in soil as opposed to sprouts which are usually grown in water, they are able to absorb a lot more minerals and nutrients from the soil they are grown in. A good, rich potting soil will result in the healthiest greens.
How To Grow Microgreens
Growing your very own microgreens is surprisingly simple. Since the plants are small, they don’t require a lot of light, making it the perfect superfood to grow on your kitchen counter. You’re also harvesting the plants when they are still small and don’t have long roots, so it doesn’t take a lot of soil to grow them either.
Get a shallow container and fill it with quality organic potting soil. Sprinkle in the seeds for your favorite greens and herbs and lightly cover them with soil. Carefully mist or lightly water them, so the seeds don’t get washed away.
Keep them well watered and in a fairly warm place, and after a few days you will start to see little sprouts appear. Keep growing them until they are large enough to harvest. Reseed and repeat.
Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening: How to Grow Nutrient-Dense, Soil-Sprouted Greens in Less Than 10 days (Paperback Book)
If you’re ready to grow greens for your family to use in salads and smoothies and do it year round in an easy and low-tech way, this is the book for you. It’s based on the research and experience of author Peter Burke.
Peter is a regular working guy like you and me who doesn’t have a lot of extra time on his hands. He also didn’t want to invest a lot of money into fancy growing light setups. Instead, he used what he had on hand and was able to figure out a simple method of growing greens with nothing more than a container, some soil, a cupboard, a window spot and of course some seeds.
Miracle-Gro AeroGarden 7 LED Indoor Garden with Gourmet Herb Seed Kit
If you’re ready to grow your own salad greens and herbs right on your kitchen counter, there’s no better way than the Miracle-Gro AeroGarden.
You can get them in various different sizes and they work anywhere. Since these little mini garden containers come with their own grow lights, you don’t have to worry about finding “just the right spot” to get your greens to grow and thrive.
Not only is it a very efficient way to grow your own food that takes up very little space on your counter, it also grows completely without soil, making it the perfect mess-free addition to your kitchen counter.
There’s no dirt or soil in this growing kit. Instead the plants grow and thrive in a mixture of water and liquid nutrients.
Indoor Salad Garden Starter Kit: Seeds, Growing Dome, Instructions & More
Get a head start on your vegetable gardening with this indoor salad garden starter kit.
It’s a lot of fun to grow your plants from seeds. There’s no greater accomplishment as a gardener then being able to grow your food from start to finish.
If you’re a prepper, this is something that you should keep around. Don’t just buy it and stick it on a shelf in case shit hits the fan. Instead, put it to good use, get your hands dirty, and get comfortable with growing your own food.
If you’re ready to start growing your salad greens from seed this spring or fall, get this kit and give yourself head start. The growing dome is 12×12 inches, making it small and easy enough to sit on a counter or shelf out of the way. The dome also ensures that your baby plants are protected and the growing environment stays moist
The Simply Good Box By Home Greens – The Simplest Way to Grow Amazing Microgreens
Have you heard of micro gardening? It’s a fun new trend in gardening that doesn’t take a lot of time, effort or space. Yet you can end up with incredibly healthy foods like the microgreens you can grow with this Simply Good Box.
Gardening is a great way to relieve stress while growing your own healthy fruits and vegetables. But a full-blown vegetable garden isn’t for everyone.
Growing microgreens is the perfect way to get your gardening feet wet (or should I say hands). They are easy to grow and you are ready to harvest just a few days after the seeds start to sprout.
Microgreens Growing Kit – Grow Micro Greens & Baby Salad
This Microgreens Growing kit. You get six durable growing kits. This allows you to grow a variety of different microgreens and you can get them started at different times.
Why is this important? Microgreens grow fast and you need to harvest and eat them just as fast. By staggering your planting over the course of a week or two, you can make sure you have fresh new sprouts coming up on a regular basis.
The kit also includes the soil you need to get started as well as ph testing kits. These will come in handy to make sure you get the best results possible. Follow the included directions and supplement your soil as needed. Not only will this insure a good and nutrient dense harvest, you also learn a lot about the soil you’re using and your plants. This will come in handy for many growing seasons to come.
Of course no kit would be complete without seeds. What’s nice about this particular one is the large variety of seeds. You get Sunflower, Buckwheat, Dun Pea, Cilantro and Beet. Having a good variety makes for pretty microgreens and it gets a lot of different nutrients into your system.
Also included are a laminated instruction card and a spray bottle. Spray bottles make watering microgreens easy and you don’t have to worry about hurting your baby sprouts.
Pocket Vertical Garden Planter By Invigorated Living
If you think you don’t have the room to start growing your own food, think again. These cute pocket planters work even in the smallest of spaces. Hang them on your window sill, off your balcony, or on an outdoor wall by your patio.
Use the plantable pockets to grow your favorite leafy greens, herbs, and even flowers outside. Not only are you growing food, but your patio will look and smell beautiful. Depending on what you plant (think mint and basil), it may even help repel mosquitoes and the likes.
The vertical garden pocket planter is made from waterproof material. That means you can use it indoors or outside. Hang them from your living room wall and create a decorative piece that’s also a conversation starter
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