You can grow your own food in just about anything (like the to-go container above) - and watching seeds come to life never gets old. Getting started can sometimes seem daunting - so here's a simple way to begin growing your own food.
Growing your own microgreens is a fun way to add a homegrown ingredient to your meals. Below are details for growing sunflower sprouts - and peas can also be grown using this method. It's also nice to give a second use to plastic containers that would otherwise end up in the landfill.
You may have noticed "microgreens" in the produce section of your local grocery store. They come in many varieties: lemon grass, kale, amaranth, sunflower, pea shoots, etc,...
Kale Microgreens sold by Whole Foods |
Growing your own microgreens is a fun way to add a homegrown ingredient to your meals. Below are details for growing sunflower sprouts - and peas can also be grown using this method. It's also nice to give a second use to plastic containers that would otherwise end up in the landfill.
Growing Sunflower Microgreens
Step 1: Put holes in the bottom of a clean to-go container
Step 2: Fill the bottom of the container with some type of soil & add seeds
This could be potting soil, compost, coconut coir...there are many options. Add water to fully moisten the soil - then cover with approximately a 1/4 cup of sunflower seeds. Place the to-go contained lid under the container to catch any excess water.
True Leaf Market has a great selection of seeds suited for growing microgreens:
Black Oil Sunflower Seeds sold by True Leaf Market |
Seeds placed upon moistened soil |
Step 3: Add weight and store in a dark space
This may seem strange, but the seeds will germinate better - and produce stronger sprouts - by placing another container and a weight on top of the seeds and storing the container away from light. This mimics the weight of topsoil on the seeds - and they'll grow strong roots from which to push up in search of light.
A container & weight placed on top of the seeds prior to storing in the dark |
Step 4: Look for sprouts lifting the weighted container
Check the container every few days. First you'll see white sprouts starting to emerge from the seeds - a good initial sign. Leave the container in place until the sprouted seeds actually start to lift up the weighted lid.
These sprouts are ready for light |
Step 5: Place the container in light
A south facing window sill is a great place to give the new sprouts the light they'll need to grow. Gradually leaves will begin to emerge under the seed shells. Note: be careful not to try to pull the shells off of the newly formed leaves - as you have a good chance of damaging the new leaves. As they grow, the leaves will gradually shed the outer seed shell.
Step 6: Monitor moisture level
Once the container is in sunlight, moisture will begin to evaporate from the container - in which case you'll want to add more. A good way to avoid fungal issues is to add water to the lid that's placed under the container and let the container wick up the moisture from below.
Step 7: Eat and Enjoy
A pair of kitchen scissors is a good tool to snip off sprouts as you want them.
There are so many different greens that can be grown this way - so try and experiment with new types and see which you like best.
Happy Growing!
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