Benefit of Microgreens
What they are
We love growing microgreens on our farm - especially in the winter. When the rest of the crops are no longer able to grow or just being dormant - we are still able to grow microgreens.
Microgreens are so much fun and grow within weeks! This is much different than many other crops you find on a farm which takes week to months.
Microgreens are essentially seedlings of edible vegetables and herbs. They are harvested once their cotyledons are fully developed aka their first leaf. They are not specific to any one plant, and do not even need to be a seed of a green plant as the name implies! There are so many different type of microgreens such as kale, arugula, broccoli, cabbage, celery, beets, amaranth and so many more! They are similar to sprouts and may have seen them as a garnish on dishes in fancy restaurants
How they are grown
microgreens can be grown either hydroponically or in soil. We grow all our microgreens in soil. The soil we use is Sunshine mix #4. it is a starter soil which is used for starting seeds. MIcrogreens do not need true soil with compost, fertilizer etc, just a growing medium for the cotyledons to develop.
Nutritional value of microgreens
Microgreens are said to be very healthy and nutritious. Generally they will have the same type of vitamins and minerals as the full sized plant, but are concentrated in a small little green. A study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that microgreens nutritional content vary greatly, but many varieties of microgreens have even higher levels of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants as the full mature plant. This includes vitamin C, D, K, A, folate, manganese, several types of polyphenols and antioxidants.
How to eat/use
Microgreens can be consumed a number of ways! The most common is throwing them in a salad. Many varieties have a slight spicy kick to them and make a great addition! In general they are going to taste like their full grown plant. So China Rose Radish are generally a little spicy, while sunflower micro greens taste nutty. MIcrogreens are also great toppings on sandwiches, eggs, stirfrys, and in smoothies.
