Condensed from:
 www.parkseed.com/blog/an-introduction-to-microgreen-gardening-and-how-to-get-started 

If you are a gardener, late fall to early spring can seem like the longest time of the year. Depending on where you live, it can be impossible to grow crops outdoors. Yes, you preserved as much as you could from the summer garden, but you miss the taste of fresh vegetables. This is when growing delicious, nutritious microgreens can come to the rescue. 

Microgreens are bigger than sprouts but smaller than baby greens. When you eat sprouts, you eat all parts of the plant, including the root. Microgreens are harvested when the plant has the seed leaves (cotyledons), plus one or two true leaves. They are cut at soil level and the root is left behind. 

Depending on what seeds you plant, your microgreens could be ready for harvest in as little as two weeks after planting. You can make an entire salad from microgreens or add them to a regular salad or sandwich for a bite of fresh flavor in the middle of winter. 

To grow microgreens, you’ll need some indoor gardening supplies, including:

Seeds — Most seed companies will provide individual seed types, as well as seed mixes chosen to germinate and mature at about the same time. Your choices will likely be based on the taste flavors you prefer, but can also be based on how easy or hard they are to grow.  

Container — There are commercial trays you can buy specifically for growing microgreens, or you can start out with any shallow container you can put drainage holes in, such as a disposable pie pan.

Soil — Ideally you want your containers to be filled with a soilless peat-based mix (either coco peat or peat moss) with vermiculite and perlite. Regular commercial garden soil varieties are not the best medium for microgreens.

Light Source — To grow microgreens, there needs to be a good source of light. A south facing window will likely work, though you’ll have to turn the container frequently to prevent the seedlings from leaning toward the light and becoming leggy. If your indoor gardening supplies include a light for starting seeds, even better. 

Spray Bottle — You will need a spray bottle to water your microgreens and to keep the soil optimized for healthy growth. The growing medium should be kept moist but not soaked. 

Germination Dome — You’ll need a cover over the container during the germination stage. If you don’t have a dome, paper towels can be used as a substitute.

Fan to Prevent ‘Damping Off’ Disease — A small fan is likely enough to avoid this disease, which can occur between when a seed is planted and when it matures. It is caused by a fungus or mold that thrives in cool, wet conditions. Use the fan, set on low, while your seeds are germinating.

Harvest your microgreens once your greens have produced their first true leaves. Use sharp scissors and cut them just above the soil. Eat immediately or store in a sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to three or four days. These small plants will lose their nutritional value and flavor after cutting, so it is always better to eat the microgreens right after picking.

Then it’s time to replant. You can plant more seeds in the same soil, but it is preferable to remove the peat to be composted and replace it with fresh peat. You will learn how to time your planting so that you have a continuous supply of microgreens. 

With a small amount of preparation and a little bit of work, you too can soon be growing and eating these fresh vegetables even in the heart of winter.

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