Intro To Microgreens

 Let me start by saying I haven’t a clue what I am doing. Michael and I went to a little, and I do mean little, restaurant last week - Nixta Taqueria. 

The food was beautiful and good. So, so beautiful and so very good. The tostada was delicately presented, not a way I would have ever thought I’d describe a tostada but nonetheless. 

They used microgreens in several of their dishes. Now, I’ve grown bean sprouts in the past, like many decades ago but these were no bean sprouts. These were lacy and purple.  Needless to say, I had my next project. 

I wanted to grow them inside as opposed to the backyard because I wanted to make them readily available for Michael. He has a late night salad after work several days a week and I always feel bad when he has to go out to the garden with a flashlight and scissors to snip this or that for his dinner. 

The first thing I purchased was a grow light. It came a week before the microgreen seeds so I set it up and placed a tiny little baby basil seedling under there. Within a day it was more erect. I put pepper seedlings under the light as well. It’s like magic. Both the basil and the peppers were quick to respond. 

This afternoon the microgreen seeds arrived from High Mowing Organic Seeds in Vermont. I ordered Purple Sango Radish and Red Acre Cabbage. I had one tofu container and one salad container saved. 

Both containers required drainage holes on the bottom, easy peasy. Next I filled about two thirds up with Black Gold Natural and Organic seedling mix. I saturated it and let it drain.

Then came the seeds. I’ve gardened for so long, sowing one little seed to a pot that taking a handful and sprinkling them liberally into a container of soil seemed indulgent. I pressed the seeds into the starter. Then a light layer over the top and they were ready for a misting. 

They are now snug as a bug under the grow light. The poor seeds will no doubt have a complex of some sort because I will be staring at them throughout the day. I’m not sure how long it is supposed to take but my money is on the cabbage for the first to sprout because the seeds are larger and harder. 

Today is day 1. I put them under the light at about 7pm. I think by Friday I should be seeing some action.