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View Full Version : Part 1 Micro greens, tasty and very nutritious



Metrocruiser
03-28-2020, 06:59 AM
Hi everyone,

Part 1
What are microgreens

https://metrocruiser.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/microgreens/tray-of-ready-greens.jpg

Since their introduction to the Californian restaurant scene in the 1980s, microgreens have steadily gained popularity.

These aromatic greens, also known as micro herbs or vegetable confetti, are rich in flavor and add a welcome splash of color to a variety of dishes.

Despite their small size, they pack a nutritional punch, often containing higher nutrient levels than more mature vegetable greens. This makes them a good addition to any diet.

This article reviews the potential health benefits of microgreens and provides a step-by-step guide on how to grow your own.

Microgreens are young vegetable greens that are approximately 1–3 inches (2.5–7.5 cm) tall.

They have an aromatic flavor and concentrated nutrient content and come in a variety of colors and textures (1).

Microgreens are considered baby plants, falling somewhere between a sprout and baby green.

That said, they shouldn’t be confused with sprouts, which do not have leaves. Sprouts also have a much shorter growing cycle of 2–7 days, whereas microgreens are usually harvested 7–21 days after germination, once the plant’s first true leaves have emerged.

Microgreens are more similar to baby greens in that only their stems and leaves are considered edible. However, unlike baby greens, they are much smaller in size and can be sold before being harvested.

This means that the plants can be bought whole and cut at home, keeping them alive until they are consumed.

Microgreens are very convenient to grow, as they can be grown in a variety of locations, including outdoors, in greenhouses and even on your windowsill.

My setup has 2 T8 bulbs and can have 4 trays going at once, seed a tray every 3 days and you can have a perpetual microgreen stream.

https://metrocruiser.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/microgreens/3-bay-station.jpg
It shows enough for only 3 trays, the 4th tray will be the new seeds that are still unsprouted. This tray does not have to be in the light.
https://metrocruiser.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/microgreens/sprayed-the+seeds.jpg

Different Types of Microgreens

Microgreens can be grown from many different types of seeds.

The photo below is an assorted mix that I bought from a seed store. It is fast growing and ready to eat in about 10 days. I am almost out, the tray I just did left me with not enough for the next tray.
https://metrocruiser.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/microgreens/assorted-microgreen-seeds.jpg

The most popular varieties are produced using seeds from the following plant families (1):

Brassicaceae family: Cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, watercress, radish and arugula
Asteraceae family: Lettuce, endive, chicory and radicchio
Apiaceae family: Dill, carrot, fennel and celery
Amaryllidaceae family: Garlic, onion, leek
Amaranthaceae family: Amaranth, quinoa swiss chard, beet and spinach
Cucurbitaceae family: Melon, cucumber and squash
Cereals such as rice, oats, wheat, corn and barley, as well as legumes like chickpeas, beans and lentils, are also sometimes grown into microgreens (1).

Microgreens vary in taste, which can range from neutral to spicy, slightly sour or even bitter, depending on the variety. Generally speaking, their flavor is considered strong and concentrated.

https://metrocruiser.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/microgreens/cutting-to-eat.jpg

Please navigate to part II and III because the website only allows 5 images per post.

Sniper-T
03-30-2020, 09:37 PM
Dude... Awesome post!

Great Canadian wholesale, you say?