This blog will highlight a range of microgreens seeds that can be grown indoors. There are many varieties that can be experimented with. While there are a few different methods used to grow microgreens, our experience is with using high quality microgreens pad. Brassicaceae family (Cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, watercress, radish and arugula) Arugula Growing Advice * Can germinate in temperatures as low as 45 degrees F. * Easy and fast crop to grow. * Seeds are relatively cheap. * Make sure you use the right amount of seeds. Harvesting Advice * Normally quick and simple to harvest. * Shortage of air flow makes this crop vulnerable to rot. Asteraceae family (Lettuce, endive, chicory and radicchio) Endive Growing Advice * Germinate and grow in cold conditions. * Over seeding can lead to stunted growth * pH sensitive, so please keep it under 7. Harvesting Advice * Due to how close endive grows to the medium, use a microgreens pad. * Endive doesn't produce a long stem like other seedlings but instead stays short and wide, so you'll want to harvest close to the microgreens pad. Apiaceae family (Dill, carrot, fennel and celery) Celery Growing Advice * Keep celery in consistent temperatures. * Celery is a slow grower. It can be slow to germinate and slow to mature. * Because of it's small cotyledons it is a crop you will definitely want to grow to its true leaf stage. * A intricate crop, celery can be easily stunted. Optimal conditions are compromised, it can turn yellow and stop growing. * pH sensitive, so please keep it under 7. Harvesting Advice * Harvest close to the medium. * Celery micros are compact and extremely lightweight. * Harvest below the cotyledons to make sure you are cutting the entire seedling with its true leaf. Amaryllidaceae family (Garlic, onion, leek) Leek Growing Advice * Rinse your seeds to remove dust or debris. * Soak your seeds for 8-12 hrs. before germination. Harvesting Advice * Harvest them close to medium. * Transfer the microgreens to a plastic bag or clam shell before refrigeration. Amaranthaceae family (Amaranth, quinoa, swiss chard, beet and spinach) Amaranth Growing Advice * Keep celery in consistent temperatures. * You can harvest it at the cotyledon stage or allow it to mature and grow true leaves for a different texture. * Amaranth is a summer crop and prefers the heat, avoid growing it in the winter months. * Grown as a grain in dry climates, amaranth doesn't like constant soil saturation. Harvesting Advice * Harvest close to medium. * Amaranth is very lightweight and is generally used solely as a slash of color rather than adding to the weight of a mix. Cucurbitaceae family (Melon, cucumber and squash) Melon Growing Advice * Keep medium between 80-90 degrees F. * Once seed germinate, lower medium temp. Harvesting Advice * Harvest close to medium * Transfer the microgreens to a plastic bag or clam shell before refrigeration. Cereals such as rice, oats, wheat, corn and barley, as well as legumes like chickpeas, beans and lentils, are also sometimes grown into microgreens. If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy these post: "Basic microgreens materials" "Growing microgreens at home" #growingmicrogreensathome #microgreens #microgreensgrower #microgreensseeds #microgreen #microgreenseeds #microgreenseed #microgreenfarm

Growing microgreens requires only a few materials. A bit of these things you might have laying around the house, although others will be just a small investment. We started our microgreens business with a 100 dollar bill. Seeds High quality seeds are a very important part of growing microgreens. Factors that will affect the growth of your seeds are storage, seed source, handling, and age of seeds. If you would to sow thousand seeds, the difference between a 95 - percent germination rate and a 50 - percent germination rate is quite visible. It can be disappointing to have gone through the hard work of sowing and caring for your microgreens trays only to see a small percentage of your seeds sprouting up. When it comes to storing and handling your seeds, you will want to store them in a cool and dry location. Keep away from great fluctuation in temperature and humidity. During hot, muggy summer days, be careful not to leave them in the sun or let them get caught in a summer rainfall. Accurately caring for your seeds will maintain their viability for a long period of time. Your seed packages offer you valuable information such as lot number, seed variety, germination rate, germination test date, and age of seeds. Unless kept in a special environment, your seeds will last two to five years depending on variety of vegetable. The amount of time your seeds will stay viable, depends on whether you keep them stored in proper conditions. With access to the wild wild web, you have hundreds of seed companies at your fingertips. For the purpose of growing microgreens, you are looking for seed companies selling in bulk. When trying a new seed company, start with a small quantity of seed. If you ask nicely, many companies will mail you out samples. When you have found the varieties you like, you probably want to move up to buying one pound bags. If you notice yourself using seed quickly, most companies offer discounts at 5 to 10 pound bags. Seed quality also play a role after your seeds have come up. We have grown arugula that had great germination but had terrible-looking cotyledons. We have had purple radish, which is normally a purple stem microgreens, come up with white stems. Trays We find that heavy duty 10 x 20-inch black plastic trays work the best. These trays are often available at hydroponic stores selling gardening supplies for around $2.50 per tray. Whether you decide to use the 10 x 20 or 10 x 10 black trays, proper drainage is very important. Although often overlooked, drainage is one of the keys for a plant to thrive. While being very important in the garden, it's even more important in your trays. If you are buying or collecting plastic trays, they will probably already have holes cut in the bottom. If you're making your own trays, be sure to create slits or holes to allow excess water to flow through. If there is a lack of drainage, you will find stunted growth, rot, and mold in your microgreens. Soil The core of any indoor or outdoor farm is its soil, and microgreens are no exception. Choosing the proper soil to grow your microgreens in is vital. A rich, fertile soil is filled with biological and mineral interactions necessary for vibrant, nutrient rich plants. During the beginning of our first rounds of growing microgreens, we used several brands of potting soil, looking for the ultimate one. Throughout these trials we were overwhelm to see the differences between them. The soil that stood out the most in both quality and performance had additional ingredients derived from the ocean such as kelp, crab meal, and shrimp meal. Using a high quality soil, you will enjoy strong, even growth and an increase in yield. While yield per tray is less important for the home grower, a commercial grower must pay close a attention to this detail. The cost of higher quality soil is often absorbed by the yields you will reap from your trays. We recommend Sunshine #4 for growing microgreens commercially or at home. Humidity dome If you don't have a greenhouse to grow in, you will need to invest in or invent humidity dome to cover your trays. This creates a mini greenhouse effect and keeps temperature and moisture at a more consistent state than if your germinating seeds were exposed to open air. This is especially important in dry climates or in seasons when there is larger fluctuation between the night and day temperatures. If humidity domes are not used, you may find your seed germination is greatly reduced, uneven, and much slower than covered trays. Any local hydroponic store should carry them. The average price seems to be around $4.00. Water sprayer If you have a small garden or houseplants, you may already have some of the supplies you'll need to water your microgreens. Make sure you can adjust the the sprayer head. Out of all the settings provided on you sprayer, a medium shower has been the most effective. If you are going to be growing indoors, you'll need a watering can. Make sure it has an attachment that allows the water to sprinkle out rather than pour out in one stream. Since you are growing the microgreens so densely, air circulation is very important. You don't want to water them so hard that they fall and mat. If this happens, the lack of air and excess water will cause them to rot. If you find that your microgreens have fallen, you can try gently brushing them upright with your hand. The key to good watering is to be gentle while watering. If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy these post: "Microgreens recipes for the week" "Urban growing tips" #microgreens #microgreensfacts #microgreensmaterials #microgreensgrower #microgreensfarmer #microgreenseeds #epicmicrogreens #growingmicrogreensathome #growingmicrogreens #microgreensinthekitchen

After this weekend of meats and fun we decided that we needed some lighter options. We're picking our favorite recipes and hope you'll enjoy them. Here are some recipes that have made us fall in love with microgreens all over again. Seared halibut with microgreens This recipe is especially refreshing! If you're looking for something to easily eat or impress a date with, you have to try this. Mediterranean Quinoa Salad This recipe by stay at home dad foodness gracious hits the spot. This was probably hands down one of our favorites. Avocado Toast With Microgreens I was skeptical at first about this recipe. Trendy recipes aren't our thing here, but hey, what the heck right? I tried it and I fell in love. It's simple and refreshing. Beemster Beefaroni with Russian Kale Microgreens This recipe isn't really healthy but it's damn good. This is our cheat day meal and we're calling it a 'light' recipe just for the sake of this recipe list! Chipotle Lentil Tacos with Avocado and Microgreens What's not to love about this recipe. If you love tacos but aren't looking for just rice and beans, then this is sure to hit the spot. We fell in love with this recipe too quick! Thanks for checking us out. Make sure to subscribe and follow more of our blog posts. If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy these post: "Solving common problems when growing microgreens" "Microgreens with mega nutrients" #microgreensrecipe #microgreens #usingmicrogreens #microgreen #microgreenscookbook

Over the past several years, the Nick Greens Grow Team has learned a lot, as a result of more than a thousand hours put into growing microgreens for commercial sale. It hasn't been smooth sailing the entire time. During this time, we’ve learned several hard-earned lessons. We're here to share some of our knowledge with growers for easier growing. Here are our top six most common challenges/problems with growing microgreens. Uneven germination Uneven germination is caused by either human error or lack of moisture. We can’t solve the human part, but here are a few tricks we learned along the way: Build or buy a tent to house your black 10X20 trays for the first few days of growth. Make sure to spray trays at least once a day and re-close the tent. Depending on the variety, remove trays after two to three days You are seeking 90% humidity and might need to experiment with the location of your tent several times. Alternatively, you can use a humidity dome with a black 10X20 over the dome for your higher end varieties such as Shiso or Borage. Mold and mildew Mold and mildew starts during the germination process (because of the high humidity) but does not reveal itself until four or five days into the grow cycle. Reducing this problem starts with air-flow, Add small mini fans or an inline blower with carbon filter and intake booster fan for fresh air. Spray your plants with Terereplenish during the germination process which naturally decreases mold due to the presence of beneficial, free living microbes. Harvesting difficulties Even if you buy an expensive harvesting machine it might not be worth it. The only successful way to harvest microgreens in our experience is by hand. Use a decent pair of shears (we use the Fiskars titanium shears with the black and orange handles) and make sure you have a high stainless steel table to cut on. Ideally one that rolls and has a shelf underneath. (Anything smaller will cause ergonomic issues for you or your growers.) Line your food grade containers with paper towels (to absorb moisture) and refrigerate within 30 minutes of harvesting. Too many varieties to choose from Trying to grow anything more than six or seven varieties at time will be a nightmare for your crop planning and lead to disappointed customers. It not easy choosing which varieties of microgreens to grow. We have had great success growing the following: Pea Shoots, Red Rambo Radish, Hong Vit Radish, Kale, and Broccoli. Each is easy to germinate, and turns in less than 10 - 14 days. Also by mixing everything listed above, you can create a great tasting rainbow mix. Costly fiber-based media mats Fiber-based media mats, like hemp, can be very costly growing media, and can significantly reduce or wipe out your profits. Any media that costs more than 10% of your revenue per tray is too expensive and your goal should be to achieve a 5% ratio. We found the most efficient and profitable mats are these pads. You can buy good quality, safe microgreens pads from our website, or you can partner with a local roaster and reuse coffee bags which are more sustainable and generally free. In either case, you need to cut mats in advance, and then soak with 3 ppm of calcium hypoclorite for half an hour before seeding. If you are contemplating large production, you will want to grow on burlap or some other fibrous mat. The downside of burlap is that it dries up quickly and requires equipment with a timer and automatic feeding system. The best systems are supplied by Crop-king NFT, or you can build your own home-made racks with botanicaire flood trays. High lighting costs While lighting and electricity costs for indoor crops are relatively high,microgreens typically need less than 4 DLI a day -- equivalent to 8 hours a day at 125 PAR. We found using a combination of LED and fluorescent is the best. If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy these post: "Microgreens with mega nutrients" "Harvesting microgreens" #microgreens #unevengermination #moldandmildew #microgreensproblems #growmicrogreens #microgreenseeds #harvestingmicrogreens #growingmicrogreensathome #grownwithlove

Next time you're at the grocery aisle, you might want to think about what microgreens you'll want to take home with you. Or you're going to begin growing your own microgreens and want to know which direction to take. Either way, we promise not to leave you hanging. Here are 6 microgreens that have a bunch of nutrients in them. Arugula This microgreen contains glucosinolates (GSLs), ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and phenols that are believed to help fend off toxins and stave off environmental stress, says Monique Richard, RD, an adjunct professor of nutrition at East Tennessee State University. “Adding the peppery spice of arugula to sandwiches, salads, smoothies or as a colorful and edible garnish can be tasty and beneficial to your health,” she says. Basil The shoots of this tasty herb, that’s perfect in pastas or salads, have plenty of health benefits. “Basil is rich in polyphenols that drive gut health and general good health by reducing oxidation and inflammation,” says Barry Sears, Ph.D., a leading research scientist in the field of inflammation. Kale Considered the new superfood, kale is known to be a vitamin C powerhouse. “If massaged with some tahini, lemon juice, dried fruit, apple cider vinegar and apples, it can be a satisfying lunch and the bitterness will subside,” Richard says. Sunflower shoots Known for providing essential amino acids, crunchy sprouted sunflower greens contain high levels of folate, B complex vitamins and vitamins C, E and selenium. When using them in a salad, pair them with a creamy vinaigrette. Radish With their signature peppery taste, radish microgreens contain beneficial amounts of folate and B6 and make a delightful finisher to a salad composed of watermelon and avocado. Chia These shoots offer endless healthy benefits. “Chia are an ideal addition to your diet thanks to their healthy unsaturated fats, fiber and satiety from the protein,” Richard says. These microgreens are worth the time. We promise not to let you astray! If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy these post: "Harvesting microgreens" "Vertical farming on the rise" #microgreens #microarugula #microbasil #microkale #microradish #microgreensfacts #microgreen #microgreenvarieties #microgreensathome

How microgreens are handle during harvesting will play a important role in how fast it starts losing nutritional value. No matter what the variety, as soon as a microgreen is harvested it starts to degrade. The more the cellular structure of the plant is damaged during this process, the faster the loss of nutrients. To keep it's nutritional integrity, one should put as little stress on the plant during harvesting process. Microgreens should be harvested in the coolest part of the day and quickly put into refrigeration. You can see why scale is so important here. The bigger the farm, the less attention is paid to each variety and the ideal harvesting conditions it requires. Quality of produce is often replace by the vast quantities needed to be harvested. The small farmer is able to skillfully harvest each microgreens tray, keeping as much of its nutrition intact as possible. After microgreens have been harvested, they go through the packing and transportation stage. During this process, the temperature at which the produce is being held determines the speed in which it loses its nutrients. Evidence of this is shown by Penn State researchers Luke Laborde and Srilatha Pandrangi. Their testing was on the speed of nutrient loss in spinach after harvest. It showed that the warmer spinach is held, the quicker it loses its nutritional value. Their research showed that even when held at a steady 39 degrees F (refrigeration temperatures), most of its nutrients were lost after eight days. Based on this research, much of the microgreens available to us has already lost the majority of its nutritional value. This especially true when we are looking at perishable greens. Even on the west coast, where much of the country's produce is grown, the majority of the microgreens sold in stores are already several days old. When you look at the extra time it takes to ship all over the country, you can start seeing why local food is so important. The average time that it takes our produce to get from the fields into our homes has increased in the last century as our farms have become fewer and farther away. Not only does this affect the nutritional content of the produce available to us but it also has a substantial environment impact with the fossil fuel consumption it requires. If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy these post: "Microgreens mixes" "Growing microgreens at home" #harvestingmicrogreens #microgreens #microgreensgrower #microgreensharvest #growingmicrogreensathome #growingmicrogreens #microgreenfacts #harvestmicrogreens

Here are several of mixes of microgreens we have had success with. Most of the varieties we call for can be substituted with whatever you are growing. The ratios given create a balanced mix, pairing flavor with appearance. All of these mixes can be used as the base of any favorite salad. Asian Mix All of these varieties (besides radish, which becomes tough) are beautiful when grown to their true leaf stage, making this a great microgreens salad mix. 3 1/2 ounces Tokyo Bekana 2 1/2 ounces Pac Choi 1 1/2 ounces Radish (Hong Vit or China Rose) 1/2 ounce Amaranth Toss all ingredients together and garnish dishes according to your desire. Micro Mix This mix is composed of very young microgreens, harvested at their cotyledon stage. We find that it is better to use a garnish than as a micro salad. 4 ounces Red Cabbage 2 ounces Arugula or Broccoli 1 1/2 ounces Endive 1/2 ounce Amaranth Toss all ingredients together and garnish dishes according to your desire. Spicy Mix This mix packs some heat. The vibrant colors of the radish and mustard paired with green arugula and delicate cress make it both beautiful and delicious. Take note that if you are cutting these microgreens for storage you will want to leave out the cress as it tends to have a shorter shelf life than the other ingredients. 3 ounces Radish (Hong Vit or China Rose) 2 ounces Mustard 2 ounces Arugula 1 ounce Cress Toss all ingredients together and garnish dishes according to your desire. Spring Pea Mix The sweetness of pea shoots, paired with bitter endive and spicy radish, blend nicely for a varied hardy take on a microgreens salad. Pea shoots make a great base because of their substantial size and mild flavor. 4 ounces Pea Shoots 2 ounces Endive 2 ounces Radish (Hong Vit or China Rose) Toss all ingredients together and garnish dishes according to your desire. If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy these post: "Growing microgreens at home" "All the elements microgreens requires" #microgreens #microgreensgrower #microgreensmixes #epicmicrogreens #microgreensuses

None of these elements are in reality more important than the others. Nutrient elements are like everything else in nature's design; they all work together. Try and avoid the whole perception that there is some kind of "magic trick" within special nutrients only, because they are all important. Another important aspect of indoor growing is never forgetting about the living soil microbes. They require all these same elements themselves, especially oxygen, nitrogen, and calcium. Carbon and oxygen are absorbed from air, while other nutrients including water are obtained from soil. Microgreens must obtain the following mineral nutrients from the growing media: Primary Macronutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) Secondary Macronutrients: calcium (Ca), sulfur (S), magnesium (Mg) The Macronutrients: Silicon (Si) Micronutrients: boron (B), chlorine (Cl), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), selenium (Se), and sodium (Na) Carbon Carbon forms the backbone of many microgreens bio-molecules, including starches and cellulose. Carbon is fixed through photosynthesis from the carbon dioxide in the air and is a part of the carbohydrates that store energy in the microgreens. Hydrogen Hydrogen also is necessary for building sugars and building the microgreens. It is obtained almost entirely from water. Hydrogen ions are imperative for a proton gradient to help drive the electron transport chain in photosynthesis and for respiration. Oxygen Oxygen is necessary for cellular respiration. Cellular respiration is the process of generating energy-rich adenosine triphosphate (ATP) via the consumption of sugars made in photosynthesis. Microgreens produce oxygen gas during photosynthesis to produce glucose, but then require oxygen to break down this glucose. According to the Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University Data Analysis Elemental analysis data and microbial counts for microgreens from the three growing treatments (HFG, HW, and C) were examined by the Shapiro Test for normality and the Fligner–Kileen Test for homoscedasticity using R software [version 3.2.2, R (25)]. Based on the results of these tests, a non-parametric Welch’s ANOVA (α = 0.05) followed by a Bonferroni Correction for multiple comparisons was utilized to determine if there were significant differences among the means for each of the three growing treatments with respect to microbial counts, protein concentrations, and elemental concentrations. The elemental concentration of microgreens was compared with that of mature, raw broccoli (vegetable) produced on industrial farms based on nutrient data in the USDA SR21 database. Results The harvested fresh mass in grams (gfw) differed significantly among the three growing treatments (F2.000, 6.447 = 17.8056, P-value = 0.002368). The average (n = 5) fresh mass of microgreens harvested from the HFG treatment (24.64 ± 0.32 gfw) was statistically greater than the average fresh mass harvested from the C treatment (20.00 ± 0.73 gfw, P-value = 0.0066) or the HW treatment (21.01 ± 1.23 gfw; P-value = 0.0310). The dry mass fraction for the three growing treatments ranged from 7.2 to 9.3%, falling within the same range noted for 25 different microgreens studied by Xiao et al. (18). The average dry masses (gdw) harvested from experimental replicates (n = 5) did not differ significantly among treatments (F2.000, 5.671 = 2.5156, P-value = 0.1652) and ranged from 1.53 to 1.96 gdw. The average water fraction (n = 5) for each of the growing treatments was as follows: C (0.913 ± 0.002), HFG (92.5 ± 0.1), and HW (91.0 ± 0.2). If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy these post: "Growing microgreens at home" "Vertical farming on the rise" #growingmicrogreens #microgreens #microgreen #microgreensfacts #microgreenfacts

Are you interested in growing microgreens at home. I hadn't a garden in ages and I've gotten better at growing since. When I first started I had a fruitful experience learning. I attempted and failed but eventually it all worked out. A lot of people we're asking me if they could grow indoors without a hydroponic system or vertical farm? The answer is yes. Microgreens are most commonly harvested from leafy greens such as kale, arugula, beet greens, onions, radish greens, watercress, chard and pak choi and herbs such as cilantro, basil, chervil, parsley and chives. The taste of microgreens depends on the original vegetable. Microgreens have a very strong and concentrated taste of the original vegetable. This means that cilantro microgreens will still taste of cilantro but in a stronger, more vegetable and condensed format. Here are some instructions via Farmingmybackyard Get a tray or box. Shallow trays are best, but my personal favorite are those clear plastic salad tubs with lids. It’s a little harder to trim, and you may not get ideal airflow, but the lids are nice for keeping the seeds moist while they germinate. Spread 2 inches of potting soil in your container. Pre-moisten your potting mix and don’t pack it down. Keep the soil nice and fluffy when you add it in. Sprinkle your seeds over the top of the soil. Don’t worry about spacing! You will be harvesting so soon that a nice little carpet is what you’re going for. You don’t need to put a second layer of soil over the seeds, although some people do. Other people say it decreases germination rate. This is something you may want to test personally and see what works best for you. Water lightly and cover your container. Covering helps keep in moisture, and the darkness helps the seeds germinate. You can use another tray, a light dishtowel, the lid to a salad box. It’s all good. Remove cover after the seeds sprout. After a few days your seeds should have sprouted. Remove the cover and put them near a light source. I don’t have good south facing windows, so mine go on top of the microwave to take advantage of the under the counter grow lights. Carefully water your baby plants. The best option is to bottom water, which is setting your tray or box (with drainage holes!) in a sink of water and letting the plants soak it up. If you top water, be careful not to flatten the tiny plants. Cut your microgreens with scissors. Most are yummiest after they develop their second set of leaves, and are about 2 inches tall. You can let them go longer, especially the larger seeds such as popcorn and pea shoots. Don’t leave your seeds too long or they aren’t as delicious. Keep the soil moist after harvesting. Sometimes you can get a second crop from seeds that didn’t germinate the first time! Always give it some time and see if you get a round two. Eat your microgreens! You can eat them on sandwiches, in stir fry, on pizza, in green smoothies, in salads, or as a garnish. They are best fresh, but if you must you can store them in a glass jar in the fridge for a few days.​​ These are simple and easy instructions. If you have anymore questions don't hesitate to reach out. If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy these post: "Urban growing tips" "Vertical farming on the rise" #growingmicrogreens #microgreensfacts #urbanfarming #urbanagriculture #growingmicrogreensathome #indoorfarming

Microgreens have become "the thing" to grow in populated urban areas. There's a ton of secrets popping up everywhere. It most likely explains the big leap in interest among new growers under age 34. According to the 2016 National Gardening Survey conducted by the Harris Poll, an estimated 6 million Americans started growing last year. We could classify the people who are under 34 and growing urban areas as a Millennial, but that's not the goal of this article. New growers are commencing to grow because they want to see where their food comes from. We went and spoke to an urban farmer that works with us. Alex told us this, "there was nothing better than harvesting and using items that you produced yourself." We agree too! Here are some tips that will make your life a lot easier. While in the stage of germination, extreme heat or cold, often plays a factor in poor germination. It is easy to obtain good germination rates with temperatures ranging from 55 to 75 degrees F. Due to variation from variety to variety, referring to your seed packet can be helpful, as this information is usually provided for you. If you are encountering any problems with the germination of your seeds, don't be discouraged. One advantage of growing a tray of microgreens, versus a field of lettuce, is your small investment of time, space and energy. Simply start another tray, change any variables that you suspect are hindering the germination, growth and see what happens. Furthermore, rot is an issue that tends to happen more often than you think. There are two main reasons why rot can become a problem, The first is that your greens have too much moisture with too little sunlight. In the heat of the summer we usually water once early in the morning and then again in the evening. This works well when conditions are hot and sunny. However, if a cold front were to move in for a few days, bringing clouds and temperatures in the 60s, watering this same way would quickly result in patches of rot setting into your trays. With cooler, less sunny conditions, watering once in the morning would suffice. Problems with both over and under watering are your best access to learning what each crop prefers. You have to take time to notice the conditions your greens thrive in and play with the variables, Another possible reason for rot in your trays is quality of water that you are using tap water usually contains chlorine, which microgreens hate. This is easily remedied with most drinking water filters. The pH of your water being excessively high or low is another factor to be aware of. Nutrients that would normally be accessible to your greens get locked up and become unavailable. There is a bit of a range of pH preference in the common microgreens varieties, but most like a pH of around 6.5. Testing is easy once you acquire the proper equipment. The pH monitors range from liquid solutions to portable digital units. Keeping your pH in check can solve many problems. Not only will you notice stronger growth and increased yields, but most importantly, you will have healthier microgreens that are less susceptible to rot and disease. If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy these post: "Vertical farming on the rise" "Growing microgreens in soil" #microgreens #verticalfarming #growingmicrogreens #urbanfarming #urbanagriculture #urbangrower

Vertical farming is on the rise and so are microgreens. As Despommier states on his website, "it’s estimated that by around 2050, roughly 80 percent of the world’s population will reside in urban city centers, with the population of the world ballooning by an additional 3 billion people over that time." That's a massive amount of people in an urban setting. This has paved the way for vertical farming to spring more over the past few years because of the buzz around it and the innovation that goes along with this grow technique. Vertical farms eliminate many of the impracticalities and inefficiencies in traditional farming. They are more widely applicable as a technology, too, and have the potential to change the production of food around the world. Vertical farms reduce the land and water used to produce crops by adding another dimension to the layout of the farm. Water cascades from top to bottom, essentially recycling itself. Furthermore, vertical farms decrease the waste of resources and space because crops are grown in controlled conditions, eliminating the threat of weather patterns (such as droughts) and reducing the distance that produce is transported by growing it within urban regions. With the implementation of vertical farms, the endless fields of farmland that many of us in the Midwest are familiar with would return to nature. Ideally, the pasture land would be eliminated too with a shift toward veganism, since factory farms and the excessive breeding of animals contribute to global warming. Vertical farms can accommodate crops that are normally specific to a certain region of the world and can grow crops yearly, even when those crops would be out of season. Insects are not an issue, either, because the crops in vertical farms are in controlled setting. Although this all sounds great in theory, there are obstacles in urban farming due to it's infancy. A lot of vertical farming is often used for microgreens or sprouts but, if it were to grow grain based vegetables or fruits it would use a lot of electricity and land. Especially if you were wanting to produce on a mass scale. Biologist Stan Cox says, "that to be truly effective, vertical farms would require an incredible amount of floors pace." He also goes on to point out floor space requirement for growing just vegetables — happens to clock in at roughly 1.6 percent of cultivated land in the U.S. This doesn't sound like much but it's has the relative floor space of around 105,000 Empire State Buildings. Urban farming is definitely the way of the future but it will have to overcome it's difficulties if it to replace rural farming. I'd say it's a challenge that us growers are willing to take. If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy these post: "Growing microgreens in soil" "Rules for food safety" #microgreens #verticalfarming #urbanfarming #urbanagriculture #nickgreensgrowteam #nickgreens

When I started growing microgreens in soil, I had no idea what the out come might be. I was amazed when all three trays of microgreens were healthy! It seems that there is a quiet revolution in the growing process. Best Soil to Use Sunshine #4 Beginning with carefully selected ingredients and formulated by a team of professional horticulturists, the Sunshine Advanced Growing Mix #4 is made from high quality raw materials and provides an ideal growing mix for your indoor and outdoor growing needs.The foundation of the growing mix is Canadian Sphagnum peat moss, sustainably harvested from carefully managed bogs in rural Canada. The peat moss is screened to remove large clumps and sticks and is blended with horticultural grade perlite and coir (a by-product of the coconut industry). Peat moss reduces the leaching of nutrients from the growing mix allowing them to release slowly over time. Perlite keeps air spaces open while coir combined with peat allows good water retention. This provides a balance of air and water that results in good root growth and the foundation for good stem and flower growth. Dolomitic lime, a starter organic fertilizer, mycorrhizae and an organic wetting agent are added to complete the mix. Lime adjusts the pH for optimum fertilizer availability; the starter organic fertilizer helps transplants establish; mycorrhizae assists in fertilizer uptake and the organic wetting agent helps peat moss absorb water better.The mix is created using state of the art production equipment. Peat is moved into the production plant using large front end loaders. Perlite ore is ‘popped’ at 1600o F (870o C) at many of our sites and compressed coir is expanded or ‘fluffed’ by adding water on site. All of the raw materials are placed into dosing hoppers and, via computer control, are dispensed onto a conveyor belt per the specified formulation. The conveyor belt loads the mix into an angled blending drum and then out to another conveyor belt which moves the finished product to the packaging area. Using automatic packaging equipment, the mix is loaded into bags and compressed at an approximate 2:1 ratio. The bags are then placed on a pallet and stretch wrapped. Compressed mixes are popular since they are an efficient use of volume while still retaining all the beneficial attributes of the growing mix. Sunshine Advanced Mix #4 is available in 1 cf, 2.2 cf and 3.0 cf packages. Quality control is an important part of what allows growers to achieve success with Sunshine Advanced Growing Mix #4. We check each raw material prior to use and we also check the finished growing mix. The science of growing good plants requires that the plants are grown in a mix that has the correct pH, EC as well as good air and water capacities. Here is our recipe to grow microgreens in soil 1)Grab a 10X20 tray with drainage holes and fill it 1" thick with moist soil. 2)Weigh 14 grams of mustard microgreens Seeds into seed shaker, then broadcast evenly across the 10X20 tray with soil.​ 3)Apply an even mist of water to the tray with seeds and soil, then cover it with a humidity dome and place it in a dark space. 4)Germinate for two or three days in a dark location with at least 75 - 80% humidity. Water as described in step three at least once a day. 5)Remove humidity dome from tray on day two/three. Then begin feeding plants your favorite fertilizer using a low flood/continuous flow method of irrigation. 6)Micro Mustard will be ready for harvest around 10-14 days, They will need about 10 to 16 hours of light with a typical fluorescent grow light about 12"-15" from the base of the plant. If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy these post: "Microgreens in the market place" "Rules for food safety" "What to do with microgreens" #microgreens #growingmicrogreens #urbanfarming #soilgrown #urbanagriculture #microgreengarden #growingmicrogreensathome