The Art of Growing Microgreens

[Barb_FL]

Had some germination with the buckwheat but not much. What did germinate grew fast; tall and skinny. Good to know that soaking is not required.

Got my composting worms so restarted my Worm Inn feeding the roots,stems, and green part from what didn't get cut. So far so good. Started a new batch in ONLY WonderSoil so no perlite.

Here's the most uniform of the microgreens that I've grown. In the MIX, there always seems to have seeds that are slower.

[oakley]

That was zippy. Started 5 of the food service trays. Ran them through the
dishwasher just in case....they spent some time stacked in the garage.
Odd I have two different sizes by height.

Nice material. Durable but soft, not brittle. Easy to twist a hole in each corner with
a utility blade. Also easy to figure out amounts that I was dreading. Deli cup pint
an inch shy of the top loose was great for soil amount for each tray.

1 - 1/3rd cup peas I then soaked just a couple hours. Overnight is better.

2 - 1/4 cup shy of the top, buckwheat.

3 - 1/4 cup chard, shy, rainbow chard/olympia beet, soaked as well

4 - Tbsp salad mix, also shy of the full spoon. I'm making my own mix now.

5 -Tbsp of a broccoli/three kale/basil blend as seeds are alike in size.

Still using up some of the sample seeds, I'm just blending similar size and grow speed.
I'll start some sunflower and maybe an herb or two this weekend. Will be nice to see
if the amount works out. I went a bit dense but much more satisfying to get a nice
full tray and with an easier system.

[oakley]

We were posting at the same time.

Yup, looks great Barb. Just the density I like.

I've lost my worms twice in 15 yrs. I just brought them into the garage.
Way in the back this time. They were fine for many winters but one two
years ago was just too cold. They love the 'green' trash.

*buckwheat I don't soak. Best to soak peas and the tough chard/beet seed
if I have the time. (I have soaked and could not get to it so I'm shy of doing it)

[akgardengirl]

Checked out Costco today and they don't have the storage trays so I ordered on Amazon. Have some wild looking stuff half sprouted in my make do trays right now. I hope to get the hang of this since I want these greens to supply me for the winter. Keep the photos going Oakley!

[Barb_FL]

I germinate the MG inside and then they go outside. Since the sun is so intense most of the time, I move them to an unused raised bed with shade cloth. Then at sunset, I move them back outside on the porch. I do this just in case it rains hard. This has been working out well. I have 3 bread carriers which would hold 2 10*20 trays each; so not many trips moving back and forth.

After a big storm last night, a cold front came in today with the high of 62 and lows about 42 (maybe a little warmer b/c I'm on the coast). Would it still be OK to leave the outside MG on the porch or should I bring them inside the house?

I know when we get these cold fronts, the regular broccoli and lettuce love it. Thinking the microgreens are different from comments read in this thread.

[oakley]

Good question Barb. I can't tell in my photo files when I started
bringing mine inside. I'm pretty sure mine were outside thru Oct.
Not sure exactly. With the sun lower and leaves still on trees,
I was not getting the sun I needed. 40 is a bit chilly. Must have
been the 'ready to harvest' I left out. Once cut they go in the
crisper fridge drawer so that is chilly. Only if they get ahead of me
as I prefer to harvest fresh. Cold temps will slow the growth.

I'm sure I was starting new trays indoors at that time.

Another excellent Curtis Stone video posted just yesterday.
Exactly what I do about shifting around the trays under lights.
Note just a single fixture, 2 bulbs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2enARfl28Uk

I'll get a pic of the Nov 26th plants today...

Here are the new trays today. Game changer. So glad I started the
new system now. With 3inches of a first snowfall today it is most
difficult to zip outside and hose off and clean spent trays. All hoses
are buried and water lines shut down.

This would be day 3. (48 hrs) Might be too dense but all looks good.
Note the zoom-in. The bit of fuzz is not mold. Just a part of the
germination process. The blue jell is basil...they always do that.
Found a nice rock to weigh them down. Peas on the bottom.

Starting a few more trays tomorrow, all prepped ahead with dry
soil, . This rotation will be so easy. Peas do double in size so
I will start soaking. And the chards/beet. Cut back on amount.

*I did notice some of the bad reviews on some Amazon food trays.
Due to quality. No embossed manufacturer on mine. Still have to
be better than our usual 1020 1010 garden trays. Note the heap of
cracked and heading to the compost trays in my pic. Will be fine for
once a year seed starting for the garden.

[Salsacharley]

You guys got me on this thread. I got the micro green fever and started with 2 1020 trays growing Johnny's spicy mix and mild mix. I sold them at a growers market last weekend and I can see the potential for much higher volume on this stuff. It is so much more profitable than anything else legal to sell.

I just got the 38 oz containers Oakley has going and I am using coconut coir mat as a medium. I ordered 4 more varieties from True Leaf so I will start 6 varieties for samples this week. I'm looking at pricing the 38 oz trays at $5 each or maybe $6 each and discounting a dollar if I get to keep the container. I can fit 6 coconut mats that are cut for the 38 oz containers into a 1020 tray. My 5-shelf rack can hold 24 38 oz containers or 4 1020 trays each, so I have capacity for 120 containers right now. All I need is customers who will pay what I'm hoping for. I might be too greedy on the price so that is still not set in stone.

[oakley]

Cool! I was just about to post some up-date pics.

I used soil all summer and back to using felts for smaller seed.
I still prefer soil for peas and sunflower.

The felts/coir, etc., lift out so easily with the root mass. That could
go right into a 'bread bag', (thin clear bag and tied)....what they
are called in Canada and sold in groceries. Tied to make an air
balloon so they don't crush.

That way you could hold onto the trays and the customer can take
home the whole mass alive and just place it in/on a container of
water and clip/cut or probably would be fine straight into the
fridge as-is. (might want to test it tied tight and loose un-tied in
the fridge and see how they fair during a week)

The biostrate/felts are not reusable anyway.

I should post more food pics. Anyone is welcome to print any I
post and I don't need photo credit.

[oakley]

SalsaCharley, where did you get your felt/coir?

here is last nights cut...and the new small trays. I need to up-date
the 1010 tray pics.

These got away from me but still good and now in the kitchen for
a couple days of salads. That's a bun-less burger we had last night
under the micros with an avocado cream. Fresh one-hour pickles.
(low carb, lol)
Diggin' the mustard in that mix with its yellow flowers.

[Salsacharley]

I got the coconut mat online from Walmart. It cost just under $40 including freight. The roll is 24" x 33 ft. I can get 198 4" x 6.5" whole pieces, plus another 33 or so from the trimmings from the roll.

The mustard flowers are nice, but that puts them beyond micro, huh?

How do you make avocado cream?

[akgardengirl]

Yes, please share your avocado cream recipe.

[akgardengirl]

I need to work on the timing of greens. The spicy mix seems short and it sprouted 9 days ago and has been under the lights since. Can't wait to try the finished product! I haven't bought any salad greens at all lately so I am anxious! Those chives sure are slow growers but I already knew that from previous posts. The top shelf has all Dan F. micro multiflora tomato plants. I just noticed today that a couple have open blooms and they are barely 2" tall!

[oakley]

The coir mat looks similar to the one I'm trialing. Good deal. Mine holds
water really well. I hope it does well with the smaller seed.

Yes, a bit beyond micro, but this is for the two of us. I grew too much, and
it grew so fast. I want more variety so the smaller trays and more rotation
should work out fine. Still tender, and a bit larger, has a big flavor punch.
And bulk. Quick weeknight meals, having fresh greens, is a win-win.

I'll start one last batch of 1010 tray for x-mas NewYears this weekend or sooner.

I don't see any micro police, ....a bit larger might get woody
but has not happened except for some of the pea varieties.

Avocado crema is just avocado, lime, cilantro, greek yogurt, goat cheese or feta,
garlic, a splash of AC vinegar. Hot spice like siracha, smoked paprika, chipotle
powder, etc. All to taste. Leave out what you don't like. I just use a fork in a bowl
but most use a cuisinart. Never make it exactly the same every time.
I don't mind a quick chunky version but creamy is good to. Tomato powder is also
a good version. Or a chopped tomato or chopped frozen cherry toms I always have
in the freezer.

A fat scoop in a ball jar with more vinegar and oil of choice and shake is a great dressing
to drizzle over. Or another days salad dressing.

I usually have a 1/4-1/2 cup left over for tacos next day or topped on chowder and
soups. The acid of vinegar and lime keeps it fresh.

Lots of recipes on a google search. Mayo or sour cream would be good but I always have
plain greek yogurt.

When I bring out the big gun flavors...like horseradish or ginger, I prefer the avocado
just sliced or a separate sauce/cream.

[oakley]

Originally Posted by akgardengirl

I need to work on the timing of greens. The spicy mix seems short and it sprouted 9 days ago and has been under the lights since. Can't wait to try the finished product! I haven't bought any salad greens at all lately so I am anxious! Those chives sure are slow growers but I already knew that from previous posts. The top shelf has all Dan F. micro multiflora tomato plants. I just noticed today that a couple have open blooms and they are barely 2" tall!

Wow, you went for it! I started Dan's micros in August and another
tray last week with some dwarf sunflowers and baby Aji peppers to get
a big head start for 2018 season.

[akgardengirl]

I am giving many of the micro tomatoes away here in the next couple of weeks. I am hoping they stay under 12"!