Microgreens

What are microgreens and why should I grow them?

Growing Microgreens in Sunglo Greenhouse

Why Grow Microgreens?

It’s January and I have been making incredible salads for months now. During the Holidays I wowed my family and guests with a colorful and healthy array of microgreens on my Charcuterie boards and delightful drinks with the lemons and limes grown in my Sunglo 10x 15 greenhouse. I feel pretty successful. Move over Martha Stewart!

Microgreen Salad freshly harvested

Incredible Salad

I have always gardened, one way or another, grown fruit trees and kept honeybees for the past 10 years. It wasn’t until I purchased my Sunglo Greenhouse Kit that I dove into gardening.   Year-round, I now grow lettuce, kale, spinach, carrots, green beans, limes, lemons, peppers, cherry tomatoes, and microgreens. Pretty cool, right?  I depend on my microgreens this time of year for a continuous crop of produce. Growing microgreens are by far the easiest, fastest, and most interesting product in my Sunglo Greenhouse Kit. 

What are microgreens?

Research has indicated that microgreens contain up to 40% more phytochemicals (beneficial nutrients and components) than their full-grown counterparts. Though these little greens are small in stature, they have extremely high levels of powerful vitamins, minerals, and health-supporting components. So, microgreens are packed with nutrients. While their nutrient contents vary slightly, most varieties tend to be rich in potassium, iron, zinc, magnesium, and copper. Microgreens are also a great source of beneficial plant compounds like antioxidants.  Best of all, they are BEAUTIFUL AND DELICIOUS!

Here is a list of the microgreens I have growing right now.  

  • Amarnath
  • Broccoli
  • Chinese Mahogany
  • Black oiled sunflower
  • Beets
  • Speckled peas
  • Borage
  • Lettuce
  • Rambo Radish
  • Purple Kohlrabi
  • Turnips
  • Buckwheat
  • Leeks
  • Cilantro 
  • Fennel
  • Chia
  • Water Pepper

Helpful Tips?

Here are a few tips I have learned to grow microgreens.

* Soak hard-shelled seeds for at least 24 hours in water

  • Spray water twice a day on the seeds
  • Cover seed trays with a blackout cover  for 3-5 days 
  • Bottom water (1/2 cup) twice a day once roots emerge.

I grow microgreens on 10”x 20” trays.  I use Coco Bliss Premium Coconut Coir Pith as the medium.  I put organic liquid fertilizer in the water once roots appear. My thermostat is set at 55 degrees in my Sunglo Greenhouse.  I feel very fortunate that my Sunglo retains heat and my heater only kicks on in the late evening.  It usually shuts off once the sun pops out in the morning, so I am not wasting money on heating.

starting microgreens

Sunglo Greenhouses were designed by two Boeing engineers to create a dependable all-weather backyard greenhouse that I can confidently use in all four seasons, especially winter.  The Sunglo Greenhouses is covered with two layers of acrylic (1.375″ thick) a smooth outer layer and an inner corrugated layer which provides maximum light dispersion across every part of my greenhouse.  With this feature, I do not need to use grow lights once the microgreens emerge. 

Harvesting microgreens

Harvesting Microgreens In Winter

If you want to venture into the world of microgreens I would recommend starting with sunflowers or Rambo radish.  They are so easy and you will be munching on this healthy veggie within two weeks.

Additional Resources

  1. BootStrap Farmers
  2. Penn State Extension
  3. Johnny Seeds
  4. Herbs at Home

If you have questions regarding our Sunglo Greenhouse Kits or want to speak with a Sunglo Owner who has experience growing microgreens please contact us at  720-443-6711.

Sunglo offers the best greenhouse for winter gardening!!

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