Growing microgreens at home is pretty easy. It takes 2-3 days for microgreens to sprout from the seed, and to fully mature takes an average of 2-3 weeks.
You do not need large areas for microgreen cultivation. You can easily grow these little plants in front of your window or in pots around your house.
What Is The Crop Cycle Of Microgreens?
The life cycle of microgreens begins when gardeners plant the seeds in each pot. This period is followed by leaving the microgreens in a dark and humid environment for germination.
The next period is the solar period, which is necessary for the formation and growth of leaves. In the last stage, there is the harvest.
Microgreens are harvested before they are fully mature plants. During this period, the microgreens are cut and ready to take their place on the table.
Planting
As in every plant, the first step required in growing microgreens is seeding. Insemination is carried out by planting the seeds in suitable soil.
For good planting, you should scatter the seed around a minimum of 1oz of soil. After planting the microgreen seeds in a suitable pot, you should provide a dark and warm environment for them to sprout.
A dark environment is very important for the seeds to germinate and sprout. At the same time, an ambient temperature is one of the most important things to be considered.
Germination (Blackout) Period
The dark environment necessary for the seeds of microgreens to burst forth is provided during the blackout stage.
You can create a dark environment by covering your pot or tray where the seeds will sprout with a lid.
This is the period when the growth stages of different microgreens change. For example, rocket seeds sprout in 3-4 days, while asparagus seeds sprout in 9-10 days. The growth times of microgreens vary.
Sunlight Period
After the microgreens germinate, they are removed from the dark environment and brought to the light of day.
In this way, the microgreens left in the sunlight will continue their normal growth period. In addition, the time from the moment the microgreens are exposed to the sunlight to the ripening time varies according to the type of microgreens.
Some microgreens complete the growth process early, while others take longer to mature.
Harvest
When microgreens open all their leaves and reach a size of 2 to 3 inches, they are in the harvest season.
The harvesting time of each microgreen differs. For this reason, it is very important to monitor your microgreens and to predict which microgreens will mature and when.
Which Seeds Work Best?
All kinds of leafy vegetables, salad greens, and herbs are ideal for growing microgreens. Those new to microgreen growing often prefer to grow cauliflower, cabbage, sunflower, and buckwheat.
These breeders usually start with a single pot and then continue their breeding adventure by increasing the number of pots or their size. In suitable climates, microgreens can be grown in small greenhouses or on windowsills in the house.
These plant types are very easy and practical to grow, giving a fruitful harvest in very short periods. Microgreens can also be grown in the shade. You can produce as many microgreens as you want in a small area.
How Fast Can You Grow Microgreens?
The growth times of microgreens is very fast. For this reason, many growers tend to produce these plants.
It takes 2 to 3 days for a microgreen to sprout from seed on average. In order to reach full maturity, a period of 2 to 3 weeks is required.
The maturation time of microgreens varies according to their species. Some species are ready for harvest early, while others take longer to mature.
For example, mustard and radish grow faster than others, while beets and carrots grow slower.
The herbs that grow as microgreens are at the forefront of the slowest maturing plants. The maturation period of these herbs takes an average of 20-25 days.
How Can I Speed Up Microgreen Growth?
To accelerate the growth of your microgreens, you should take a look at seed nutritional supplements.
The rapid growth of microgreens does not mean that they will grow healthily. If you want to grow your microgreens in a healthy and fast way, you must create the necessary environmental conditions.
One of the most important things required for microgreens is daylight. After the microgreens are left in the dark during the germination stage, they are brought out to the light to grow.
Daylight is a must for microgreens. Another essential thing is humidity. Microgreens love moist environments.
If you want a microgreen to grow fast and healthy, you need to keep the environment as moist as possible.
How Long Does it Take for Microgreens to Sprout?
Germination of microgreens takes place in a very short time. Microgreens sprouting in an average of 2 days reach maturity in about 2-3 weeks.
The growth rates of microgreens have led many growers to these plants. Microgreens, which have become a very profitable business thanks to their short harvest cycles, have been in demand in recent years.
Do Microgreens Grow Back After Cutting?
While most microgreens do not grow back after harvest, some may tend to grow back. These microgreens can be cut multiple times.
Also, microgreens can regrow. However, the plant may not fully mature as the seed will lose its energy. This can result in an immature raw taste and consistency.
Do Microgreens Need Fans?
Fan use is very common in microgreen cultivation, especially in the summer months, large fans can be used to keep the environment cool.
Fans can be used especially in order to prevent the development of fungi in the winter and to keep the greenery cool in the summer.
In addition, the use of a fan can be an important tool to balance the air temperature and humidity. If you are doing large-scale agriculture, it will be good for the success of production to apply to the use of fans.
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.
