Small packs a punch! Micro Greens in the Spotlight
Micro is all the buzz, although cell phones seem to get bigger, food portions are getting smaller. Just visit any well-run restaurant and you will see. Big plates filled with small dots and brushes of liquified coloured concoctions, baby peas resting on a slice of pink salmon, sprinkles of micro greens of all types of vegetables. You definitely don’t need to be a foodie, or spend a fortune to taste these little micro greens that have taken over the culinary world – and to understand their value. You can grow your own and turn that drab plate into something spectacular! And get all the nutrients!
All you need is:
Wide mouth, shallow pot or seedling tray (if you have the budget, invest in a little unheated propagator or greenhouse, those you pop on the windowsill)
A good seedling mix (or make up your own: 1 block palm peat and 2 scoops of vermiculite)
And seeds! You can purchase a ready mix of micro green seed or mix up your leftover seeds together and create a surprise for your taste buds (remember, only edibles please.)
What’s next:
- Make sure your container has drainage holes, add pebbles to the bottom. Your sprouts will not enjoy wet feet. Fill your container with your seedling mix.
- Firm down the soil (not too firm as seedlings need loose soil for good root development) You can use a wooden trowel or just a piece of level wood to do this.
- In a different container, mix your seeds with a bit of flour, you can substitute flour for mealie meal or sand. This bulks up the seed and as you sow, you know where the seeds land.
- When your seeds are sown, cover them with a 5mm layer of vermiculite.
- Water well every day until germination, reduce watering thereafter.
- When seeds reach a height of 3-5cm, you can start harvesting.
Hint: Sowing in succession will ensure that you always have Micro Greens.