Home Grown Greens

     Writing for Gardner's Supply Company Aimee Diehl says, "Big on nutrition and flavor, microgreens can be expensive to purchase.  But they can also be brown cost-effectively at home, in a tiny space and with simple supplies.  If you have a sunny windowsill, a shallow container, some potting soil and suitable seeds, you've got all the essentials for growing your own microgreens."

     Also known as " vegetable confetti" edible immature greens can be harvested with success in less than a month after germination, when they are less than 3" tall.  There are any number of plants that work well: salad greens, leafy vegetables, herbs and even edible flowers.  The author recommends starting with something easy to grow, like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage mustard, chia (yes, remember those chia pets?), sunflower and buckwheat.

     Here are six simple steps to follow:

1. Read the seed packet to see if there are any special instructions.

2. Cover the bottom of a container (an old aluminum pie pan works well) with an inch or two of moistened pitting soil or mix.  Flatten and level it with your hand or a small piece of cardboard, taking care not to over-compress the soil.

3. Scatter seeds evenly on top of the soil.  Press gently into the soil using your hand or the cardboard.

4. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil.  Dampen the surface with a mister.  If you prefer, you can skip this step and instead cover the container with a clear lid or plastic wrap until the seeds have sprouted.

5. While waiting for sprouts to appear, usually within 3 to 7 days, use the mister once or twice daily to keep the soil moist but not wet.

6. Once the seeds have sprouted, remove the cover (if you've used one) and continue to mist once or twice a day.

Microgreens need about 4 hours of direct sunlight daily. Harvesting depends on the variety of seeds have been planted but generally you can begin cutting with a pair of scissors in 2-3 weeks, when the first sign of true leaves appear.