Growing your own food can be one of the most exciting and gratifying experiences you can have in your life! This season I’ve had the wonderful experience of growing different veggies in my tiny apartment, from potatoes on my balcony to green beans on top of my fridge. I promise it’s as exciting as it sounds.
Now that it’s cold outside and I have less space to grow veggies indoors, I’m focusing on things like herbs and microgreens, which is why I want to share with you how you can easily grow microgreens indoors.
Watch how easy it is:
You will need the following items:
- Container - as I always say, almost any kind of container will do just fine as long as it drains.
- Grow Light - LED strip light or stand-alone grow light kit.
- Soil mix for sprouting. You can use regular potting soil, but I use coco coir + worm castings.
- Microgreen Seeds - There are SO many to choose from. Any one that you like or want to try out will work just fine. I am using Mr. Fothergills's radish seeds. You can find other options here.
- Water
With these items you will easily be able to grow your greens almost anywhere inside your home. For example, I'm growing mine under my TV stand and they did great!
To start your microgreens garden, follow these steps:
1. Choose your container, which should be at least 2-3 inches deep. I'm using a recycled plastic container that I got with Chinese take-out (my fave!)
2. Set up your growing area. Make sure your microgreens will get enough light. Either install grow light(s), make space in your current growing area, or find a really sunny spot in your home (consider that you might not be getting enough sunlight this time of year). Your microgreens will need around 8-12 hours of full light per day. If you're using a grow light, it should be placed at least 4 inches above the container to ensure your greens get enough light (and don't get leggy), but also have space to grow. Depending on how much you want to let them grow, you might have to move the lights up or down to allow for that. I usually cut mine once they get to 3 inches.
3. Fill your container with potting mix. A smooth potting mix (no coco chips, vermiculite, perlite, or other chunky materials) is best for sprouting microgreens. I use our Sprouting Mix. Fill it up to about 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) from the top border, which ensures the water doesn't spill over during watering time.
4. Moisten the mix with water. Add water until evenly moist. Do not overwater. If you squeeze a handful of soil there should be no water dripping, but it should feel moist. This will help the seeds to germinate. Tap the potting mix down lightly into the container, but keep it nice and fluffy. Do not pack it down.
5. Generously sprinkle the seeds evenly over the sprouting mix. As the greens will be harvested very early on, there is no need to space them out. We want to get as many seeds to germinate so that we will have more greens to harvest.
6. Cover the seeds with potting mix and lightly water. Cover the seeds with about 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) of soil. Although the soil is already moist, you should water or mist (if you have a spray bottle) to ensure that the soil settles over the seeds to encourage quick and healthy growth.
7. Place the container under the grow light. In the picture you'll see a mat under my containers, which is a heating mat for seedlings. I use this because my place gets a bit chilly at nights and a warmer temperature helps the seeds germinate quickly, but this is not necessary at all. If the temperature around your seeds is lower than 70 F (21 C), your seeds will eventually germinate, but at a slower pace.
8. Check your container every day and water as necessary. Make sure that the soil does not dry out (coir is great at retaining moisture, so it'll take some time for it to dry out). Depending on where your container is placed, you may need to water your microgreens more or fewer times per day.
9. Watch your microgreens grow! Keep an eye on your greens. But keep in mind that the more you watch them, the slower they’ll grow. It’s just a fact of gardening life. :P
10. Harvest as needed. Your greens will be ready to harvest once they have grown 2-3 inches tall, which is in about 7 days for radish seeds. To harvest, grab a handful of the greens and cut them at the base of the plant with a pair of scissors.
11. Enjoy your home-grown food!
