Many microgreens do not regrow after being cut and have to be replanted to be harvested again. However, there are a few kinds of microgreens that do regrow. Kale microgreens are among those that can be cut and will regrow afterward. This means you can harvest them a number of times after planting.
There’s a lot to know about harvesting and re-harvesting kale microgreens though. Read on to find out everything you need to know about if kale microgreens regrow!
What microgreens regrow after cutting?
Most microgreens are not able to regrow after cutting and require you to plant entirely new seeds in order to harvest more. There are a few kinds of microgreens that can regrow after cutting, however, which allows for multiple harvests.
Kale is one such microgreen, but what are some others? Well, pea shoots and bean sprouts are two other microgreens that are able to regrow after cutting. This makes them very environmentally friendly and easy to harvest and re-harvest!
Do microgreens keep growing after you cut them?
Some kinds of peas and salad greens will keep growing after you cut them, including kale. If you mean to cut microgreens and allow them to keep growing, make sure you are leaving about a half of an inch to a full inch of stem above the soil to regrow. If you cut too close to the seed, the plant will die and stop growing.
Which microgreens can regrow?
Snow peas, snap peas, kale, fava beans, speckled peas, and a number of others are known to be able to regrow. If you want to harvest multiple times from each sprout, you should aim for peas, beans, or kale as the microgreens you want to grow.
Do most microgreens regrow?
Unfortunately, most microgreens aren’t able to regrow. Once they are harvested, you’ll have to plant new seeds in order to get more microgreens. This is because the seeds only contain enough energy and material to start one plant.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and these microgreens are still worth growing for their different flavors and nutritional benefits. It is, however, something to think about if you are trying to be as sustainable as possible or you are short on space!
How to grow kale microgreens
First, get a container and fill it with your soil. Pat down the soil gently and mist it with a spray bottle filled with water. Don’t pat down the soil so much that the roots will have a hard time pushing through it!
Distribute seeds through the tray as evenly as possible. After planting the seeds, lightly mist them and the soil once again. Cover them with something that will keep all light out, but will allow them a bit of room to grow. You don’t want to crush the growing sprouts, but you do want to make sure they are growing in the dark.
Twice a day or so over the next couple of days, check in on your microgreens. Lightly mist them with water and see if they are beginning to sprout. You should see them poking above the surface on day three or so.
After three or four days, they are ready to see the sun! Be sure to water your plants regularly for the next week or so. Allow them all the light and water they need to grow strong and healthy.
Harvesting kale microgreens
When you’re ready to harvest, you’ll want to get yourself a pair of sharp, clean scissors. Cut your kale microgreens about half an inch above the soil line. Make sure to give them enough space to regrow!
It can’t be stressed enough how important using an extremely sharp knife is! A clean cut will keep your plant healthy and allow you to go right from harvesting to eating without washing.
What are the health benefits of kale microgreens?
There are a ton of health benefits when it comes to eating kale microgreens. Microgreens of all kinds are incredible sources of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, and kale microgreens are no different.
Kale microgreens specifically are very high in antioxidant vitamins (which help with immune health and reduce inflammation), and are quite high in potassium and calcium as well.
What do kale microgreens taste like?
Kale microgreens taste not too much like fully grown kale vegetable. They have a bitter taste, but not overwhelmingly so. They taste more like romaine, or other kinds of leaf lettuce. They are a great addition to salads and can be a side dish for a lot of meals as well.
Do kale microgreens grow fast?
Yes, kale microgreens grow very fast. In fact, kale microgreens are some of the fastest-growing microgreens you can get! Kale microgreens can be grown in as little as five to nine days, making them very quick to grow, harvest, and regrow!
What are the fastest-growing microgreens?
Kale isn’t the only microgreen with such a quick growth rate, however. Broccoli and radishes are often considered the fastest-growing microgreens, and take only a couple of days to soak, sprout, grow, and be harvested!
Can you re-use microgreen soil?
Yes! A lot of microgreen soil can be reused. In order to reuse microgreen soil, take it out of the nursery tray, flip it, and put it back in! This will allow you to use up the unused nutrients at the bottom of the soil.
There are also some kinds of soil that can be used multiple times. If you are concerned with sustainability, it is perhaps a good idea to look into getting soil that can have multiple seeds germinated and grown in it!
Are kale microgreens easy to grow?
Kale microgreens, much like most other microgreens, are actually quite easy to grow. The simple process outlined above can seem intimidating on the surface, but it’s actually quite easy and doesn’t require too much observation or extra care.
Among microgreens, kale is often considered quite easy and forgiving to grow. If you’re a beginner in the world of microgreens or gardening in general, kale can be a fantastic microgreen plant to start with!
Hi, I’m John Stephens, chief editor and writer for Totalgardener.com. I’ve been gardening and raising animals for over 15 years starting with a small backyard plot in Northern Virginia where I grew corn, potatoes, squash, and using a high mulch technique called the Ruth Stout Method. I also raised ducks and small mammals for meat and eggs in a movable pen similar to the ones used by Joel Salatin. I later moved to Colorado where I experimented with growing greens using aquaponics inside. I eventually added a microgreens setup and home sprouting operation. I’m excited to share everything I’ve learned plus more from the other local gardening and animal raising experts I know.
