Manual Growing Microgreens at Home

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DISCLAIMER. The information herein is meantfor educational purposes

only

Please Note: The contents of this manual are intended to assist individuals in

growing micro-greens

This publication has not been endorsed or produced by any entity public

or private.

This manual may be freely re-printed and distributed so long as all of the

copyrights of the original authors are respected.


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|BY MARK MATHEW BRAUNSTEIN

Microgreens, the early stages of such greens as lettuce and broccoli, are even younger than mesclun salad

greens And while mescluns first appeared in produce stores in the 1980s microgreens are even newer

all photos, including on cover, by M.M.Braunstein


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THE CONTAINER

1)Eat lots of small fruits: blueber-

ries, cherry tomatoes, fresh gs, etc.

Such small fruits (tomatoes botani-

cally are fruits, not veggies) usually

are packaged in plastic pint (half

kilo) containers. Raspberries and

blackberries come packaged by the

half-pint, which are half the depth

but equally useful.

2)Save the pint and half-pint plastic

containers, rather than recycle or

(gasp!) discard them. You likely eat

mostly or only whole foods, so you

soon will accumulate an abundance

of plastic containers. The crucial

features of these containers are the

vents on their bottoms and the lids on

their tops. If necessary, rinse and dry

them, then stack and store them.

Such plastic usually is recycle

number 1 (PET or PETE), a polyeth-ylene polymer predominantly used

for water and beverage bottles, col-

lectively called drink bottles. When

heated or during prolonged stor-

age, PET can migrate into its liquid

contents. Hence the plastic taste of

bottled water. At moderate room

temperatures and for short dura

4)Place two containers together, one

inside the other, to provide a rigid

structure. This rigidity ensures the

soil will not shift (meaning the fragile

rootlets will anchor) and protects the

rootlets from being crushed where

they congregate at the container

bottom.

THE SOIL

1)Procure fertile soil. Either potting

soil or seedling mix will provide

ample nourishment for microgreens.

Potting soil works well, but seedling

mix may produce the same results

in slightly less time. Adding boosts,

such as liquid kelp, mineral dust or

backyard compost, is optional. If you

add compost from outdoors, be cer-

tain it is fully decomposed. Even so,

you might introduce into your kitchen

many tiny crawling critters that can

dwell in it. Such risk is avoided with

the use of commercial potting soil or

seedling mix. The more fertile the

soil, the shorter the growing time.

More importantly, well-nourished

greens may better nourish you too.

If you intend to purchase soil by the

bale, be aware that seedling mixes

are sold in such quantity only during

mix. In time, you should experiment

growing with all potting soil, with all

seedling mix, with different layers or

proportions of both, and with differ-

ent sources of either. But for a start,

seedling mix is recommended.

THE SEEDS

Any veggie that grows into sprouts

in jars will continue to grow into

microgreens on soil. Beans, however,

as microgreens generally turn bitter.

Grains as microgreens grow equally

well on open trays of soil. So here

we shall conne our discussion to

the botanical classication strictly

named seeds.

1) Purchase seeds in small quantities,

enough to last you only one year. For

current listings of mail order sources

of seeds, see the Resources section at

the end of this article. More varieties

of organically grown seeds are avail-

able now than compared to just a

few years ago, so organic is certainly

preferred.

2)Choose seed varieties wisely. If you

grow broccoli, you dont need to grow

any of the other family of Brassicas,


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4) Lay the seeds upon the soil evenly

and sparsely, allowing ample breath-

ing room between seeds. Some can

touch each other, but none should

lay one atop another, which only

wastes seeds. Press them rmly into

the soil, but do not cover them with

soil, otherwise a week later the suc-

culent leaves may be encrusted with

dry earth.

The smaller the seed, the greater

the quantity of seeds that fit into

a given volume, so the smaller the

measurement of seeds needed tocover the area of the pint container.

A general rule for seeds the size of

broccoli is 2 teaspoons (10 mL) of

seeds per pint (half kilo) container.

THE WATER

Avoid using chlorinated tap water.

But if you lack other sources, then

allow the tap water to stand in anopen container for 24 hours, during

which time the chlorine will evapo-

rate. Chlorines volatility accounts

for the strong chlorine smell in the

enclosures around indoor swim-

ming pools. Alternatively, certain

water lters work well. But even if

you resort to chlorinated water, your

microgreens will thrive.

1) Spray the seeds with water. The

spray atop the seeds adds to the

moisture they soak up from the soil

beneath them. Ane mister is best,

but any spray bottle or spray nozzle

will do. A recycled spray container

from a non-toxic household cleaner

works ne, if fully rinsed of residue.

Taste the spray, to know for sure.

Between crops, dismantle the spray

container and allow it to dry out, else

mold or bacteria can grow inside.

2)Cover the container with its snap-on

lid. To retain moisture, cut a piece

of undyed cotton cloth to t into the

container atop the seeds. For your

first several crops, you likely will

want to view the miracle of germina-

tion unfolding, so dispense with the

cloth.

3) At least once a day, lift the lid and

spray. If youre not using a top cloth,

youll need to lift the lid and spray at

least twice daily. Be aware that the

holes in the lid provide ventilation.

Ventilation assures against mold,

but also allows evaporation. If the

seeds look dry, then they are dry, so

spray away.

4) Remove the lid altogether, when

the sprouts reach the height of the

lid. In warm temperatures, broccoli

hits the ceiling upon the second day,

while slower grower basil will do so

on the third or fourth day. Your mile-

age will vary.

5)Daily water by placing the container

into a pool of water. Fill a basin or

bowl with water approximately to

half the height of the pint container.

Keep the bowl in your kitchen sink,

and place the container of micro-

greens into the bowl. Allow it to sit

there for half a minute to a minute,

until the soil has become thoroughly

moistened. Remove the container,

set it at a slight angle inside the sink,

and allow it to drain for a minute

or more. Replenish the water in the

bowl as needed, usually after every

second container. Watering a tray

of six containers as pictured in the

photos takesve minutes, in between

Continued from page 7 Microgreens }


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which you can tend to other matters

in the kitchen.

Herein rests the asset of the vent

holes in the bottom of the plastic con-

tainer. And here, too, is the advantage

of this method over the use of messy

and cumbersome cafeteria trays.

For many years, I grew broccoli and

an array of other microgreens on

soil on cafeteria trays, so I speak

from experience. The tray method

is perfect for watering from above

such microgreens as wheatgrass and

sun

ower greens, but none others.(Incidentally, buckwheat greens,

also called buckwheat lettuce, are

unt for human consumption (see

Resources). Because the microgreens

are so densely packed, when watered

from above their stems can trap

water, which can cause the stems to

rot. Watered from below, the stems

will not trap water and will not rot.You can add liquid kelp or other

nutritional boosts to the bowl of

water. If you so choose, do this on the

rst day of such soaking. Once youve

completed a daily cycle of soak-

ing, some soil will remain behind

in the bowl of water, especially for

reach for the sun. Leaves generally

taste sweet, but stems usually taste

tart. Thus the goal is to grow leaves,

not stems. If to follow the sunlight

you must move your microgreens

from window to window, then try

your best to do so. And provide them

also with the darkness of night.

Warmth is critical. During the

cold days and short daylight hours of

winter, some greens such as broccoli

that takeve days to grow in summer

can require two weeks to grow in

winter. Some, basil for instance, willnot grow at all. You can encourage

basil to germinate by using a seed-

ling heating mat or a heated cabinet,

but once off the mat or out of the

cabinet basil will dig in its heels and

refuse to budge an inch.

Air is something we all take for

granted. Be assured that even if you

cannot provide your greens with thefresh air that they need, nevertheless

they will oxygenate and clean the air

that you deserve.

THE HARVEST

You can taste test and harvest

your crop any day along the way, but

b t t d b f th d t

so that you will have no need to rinse

them. If you must refrigerate them, do

not rinse them, and do protect them

in a hard container, not a bag. But do

not refrigerate basil, which under

cool temperatures turns to mush.

Ideally, you will eat your microgreens

immediately upon harvest, and you

will appreciate them just as they are

unadorned by sauces or seasonings.

No recipes are needed.

Despite potential obstacles, your

labors surely will reap the reward of

an abundance of excellence. You donot need a green thumb to achieve

fruition. Even a pink pinky will suf-

ce. But you do need patience and

persistence. Tending to your micro-

greens will be a joy, not a chore. Grow

them knowing that you are being

good to them, and thank them know-

ing that they will be good for you.

Resources:

Farming Turtles guidance on whatvarieties grow easiest and tastebest:www.farmingturtles.com/pages/ourproducts.htm


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SOURCES forSprout &Microgreen SEEDS &NEEDSby Mark Mathew Braunstein page 1


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USA & Canada SOURCES for

Microgreens& SproutsSEEDS & NEEDS2013 edition

byMark Mathew Braunstein

While even the finest books on sprouting go out-of-print, still more transitory are the companies thatspecialize in sprout and microgreen seeds and supplies. For every printing ofSprout Garden and ofMicrogreen Garden, this Sources chapter is researched and updated, else the listings quickly go stale and

obsolete. You need not to invest in the latest editions just for the Sources chapter, because here it is. Andsame here as in previous printings, companies that stock other books on growing sprouts or microgreensbut not Sprout Garden orMicrogreen Garden are still listed here. May your future be filled with sproutsand bountiful with microgreens!

This is the expanded and updated and clickable SOURCESchapter of the current6th printing ofSPROUT GARDEN and the Resources link ofMICROGREEN GARDEN

Updated for2013& posted at:www.markbraunstein.org/booksproutgarden.htm&

www.markbraunstein.org/growmicrogreens.htm

Microgreens& SproutsSEEDS & NEEDS from


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While I have not ordered from all the garden seed suppliers listed below, if I did order from companies thatdid not list harvest dates or cultivar names in their catalogs or on their seed packets I banished them fromthis list. Worse, one of them designated its dozen or more cultivars of some single species as all of them

ideal for microgreens, when in fact only a few of their cultivars were, so that fraudulent company too isbanished from this list.

Johnnys Selected Seeds

955 Benton Av, Winslow, ME 04901(877) 564-6697, (207) 861-3902

www.johnnyseeds.com

Seeds for sprouts and formicrogreens, many organic, all in bulk quantities. In its other vegetable categories,unless noted with a T (for Treated) in the order number, rest assured that all its seeds are untreated, butstill you should specify that you want only untreated seeds.Seeds (54 total !!!) formicrogreens at; www.johnnyseeds.com/c-48-micro-mix.aspxSeeds for sprouts (13 total) at: www.johnnyseeds.com/c-245-sprouts.aspxSeeds for shoots at: www.johnnyseeds.com/c-281-shoots.aspx

Mountain Valley Seed Company

455 West 1700 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84115

(801) 486-0480www.mvseeds.com

Seeds for sprouts and formicrogreens, many organic, all in bulk quantities.Seeds (48 total !!!) formicrogreens at: http://mvseeds.com/store/categories/MicrogreensSeeds for sprouts (24 total !!! & 4 blends) at: http://www.mvseeds.com/store/categories/Sprouting-SeedsSeeds packaged for long-term storage: www.mvseeds.com/store/products/Canned-Garden-Seeds.html

An excellent guide to microgreens by degree of ease at: www.mvseeds.com/microgreens.htmlSprouters (five!) at: http://mvseeds.com/store/categories/Merchandise/?sort=featured&page=3B k (fi !) i i d ti i l di SPROUT GARDEN ith d t il d b k


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4930A Elliott St, Ladner, BC, CANADA, V4K 2Y1

(888) 804-8820www.westcoastseeds.com

An excellent resource for our Canadian friends. 11 seeds for sprouts, 7 organic beans, 4 mixtures, Alsosprouters, automatic sprouters, seed starter supplies, including seedling trays and heating mats.Seeds for sprouts at: www.westcoastseeds.com/product/Vegetable-Seeds/Sprouting-SeedsSprouters (five!) at: www.westcoastseeds.com/product/Gardening-Supplies/Sprouters/

Microgreens supplies & kits at: www.westcoastseeds.com/product/Gardening-Supplies/Seed-Starting-/Books on saving seeds and sprouting seeds, including my bookSPROUT GARDENat:http://www.westcoastseeds.com/product/Gardening-Books/Seeds-and-Seed-Saving/

Grow Organic (Peaceful Valley Farm Supply)POB 2209, Grass Valley, CA 95945(888) 784-1722

www.groworganic.comMostly organic seeds, sprouting seeds (from Mumms of Canada), bulk seeds, and gardening supplies. Thephotos are good, while the beautiful illustrations are outstanding, plus they are zoom-able.Bulkorganic seeds at: http://www.groworganic.com/seeds/bulk-seeds/bulk-organic-seeds.htmlSeeds for sprouts at: http://www.groworganic.com/seeds/sprouting-seeds/organic-sprouting-seeds.htmlCold frames and grow lights at: http://www.groworganic.com/growing-supplies.html

ALSO worth noting:Sow True Seeds all seeds untreated, many at unusually low prices: www.sowtrue.comMountain Rose Herbs 11 sprout seeds: www.mountainroseherbs.com/sprouting/sprouting_seeds.htmlStarwest Botanicals 11 sprout seeds:www.starwest-botanicals.com/category/organic-sprouting-seedsOrnamental Edibles download their catalog: www.ornamentaledibles.comVermont Bean Seed Company lots of bean! www.vermontbean.comFedco Co-op Seeds download their catalog: www.fedcoseeds.comWheatgrass Greenhouse equipment & 4 microgreen seeds: www.wheatgrassgreenhouse.com


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The primary source of info on the web about HOW TO sprout, presented in a well organized and easilynavigable interface. Plus two extensive seed lists, one for Canada, and one for USA. Also books (includingmy own Sprout Garden), automatic sprouters, sprouting bags, jars and containers. A supplier to other

commercial sprouting companies and garden seed companies, Mumms welcomes orders from homesprouting folks.Seeds for USA for sprouting at: http://usastore.sprouting.com/sprouting-seed.htmlSeeds for USA formicrogreens at: http://usastore.sprouting.com/sprouting-seed/microgreens.html

Sprout House138 Elm St, Saugerties, NY 12477(800) SPROUTS, (845) 246-6875www.SproutHouse.com

Seeds, wheatgrass juicers, automatic sprouters, sprouting bags and containers, jar lids and screens, trays,non-soil STG pads for growingmicrogreens, the works! Many seeds and trays suitable formicrogreens areavailable but not indexed. Though it does not sell books, it offers an extensive review ofSprout Garden at:http://welcometosprouting.com/sprout-garden-indoor-growers-guide-to-gourmet-sprouts-by-mark-braunstein-review/

Sampler pack ofmicrogreen seeds at: www.sprouthouse.com/A_Dozen_Sprouting_Seeds_p/dozenmicrogreens.htm

The Mail Order Catalog for Healthy EatingPOB 180, Summertown, TN 38483

(800) 695-2241, (931) 964-2241www.healthy-eating.com/category/sproutseedsSeeds, books, automatic sprouters, wheatgrass growers, sprouting bags and containers from Sproutman.Several seeds and a brassica blend suitable formicrogreens are available but not indexed separately. Alsobooks on sprouting, including my own Sprout Garden at: http://www.healthy-eating.com/category/186

International Specialty Supply (ISS)820 E 20th St C k ill TN 38501


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Sprout & MicrogreenSEEDS & NEEDS from

Natural Foods Distributors

Most seeds from your local natural foods store are intended for cooking and eating, not necessarily soakingand sprouting. Consequently, due to advanced age or poor storage, viability can be inconsistent. Amongmail order distributors ofnatural and organic foods, these four are the most attentive to the needs offastidious sprout folks, in many cases providing sprout worthy foods not stocked by the previous sevensources. Many seeds suitable formicrogreens are available but not indexed separately. When searchingtheir websites, be sure to click Beans (orLegumes) and Grains in addition to Seeds. Some also offer books,sprouting bags, jar lids and screens.

Jaffe Brothers Natural Foods28560 Lilac Rd, Valley Center, CA 92082

(877) 975-2333, (760) 749-1133www.organicfruitsandnuts.comSeeds at: www.organicfruitsandnuts.com/seedssprouting.html

Beans at: www.organicfruitsandnuts.com/orpeandbe.htmlGrains at: www.organicfruitsandnuts.com/organicgrain.html

My bookSPROUT GARDEN at: http://organicfruitsandnuts.com/22009.html

Natural ZingPOB 749, Mount Airy, MD 21771

(888) RAW-ZING, (301) 703-4116

www.naturalzing.comSprout seeds & needs at: www.naturalzing.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=21_110


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Sprouting Containers & Jar Top Lids

The wide-mouth traditional canning jar, available locally, is a basic do-it-yourself sprouting container betterthan many commercial ones. Mason and Ball are the two major USA manufactures of canning jars, but anycanning jar will suffice as long as it is wide-mouthed. The jars lid, however, does improve when made ofplastic. Such plastic lids, manufactured by Handy Pantryand by Sproutpeople (see above) can be orderedfrom most of the above sources.

Among many commercial sprouting containers, simple cloth bags work well, especially for big beans.Formerly made of linen (flax) and now from hemp (cannabis), sprouting bags can be ordered from most of

the above sources.

Despite many commercial sprouting containers already available, new ones continue to be brought tomarket. Inventors and inventive marketers apparently believe that the perfect sprouter does not yet exist.Still, Sproutamos long standing Easy Sprout works best. (Handy Pantrys Sprout Garden sproutingdevice merits a very close second place.) It also is the easiest to use, which includes easiest to clean,second only to canning jars. Easy Sprout is this authors own choice for bountiful big beans. (Be assuredthat I have no affiliation with Sproutamo, nor does Sproutamo recommend to its customers my book

SPROUT GARDEN. My recommendation of Easy Spout is based solely on its merits.)

The Easy Sprout was conceived by an engineer who attests its idea came to him in a dream.

SproutamoPOB 17, Lake Mills, WI 53551

(920) 648-3853

www.sproutamo.comEasy Sprout is available from the manufacturer with quantity discounts. Its website provides muchinformation and many suggestions. Also available from Mumms, Sproutpeople, Sprout House, and Amazon.


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HEALTH CENTERS

Hippocrates Health Institute sprouting haven in FL & CA & books by Brian Clement &sprouting supplies & publisher of the magazine Healing Our World www.hippocratesinst.org

Tree of Life Center sprouting haven in AZ & books by Gabriel Cousens www.treeoflife.nu

Ann Wigmore Natural Health Institute sprouting haven in PR www.annwigmore.org

Related EQUIPMENT

for manual & automatic SPROUTING devices Urban Homemakeroffers 12 varietieswww.urbanhomemaker.com/productcart/pc/Sprouters-and-Sprout-Mixes-c402.htm

for COLD FRAME assembly kits Greenhouse Megastore is the least expensive source:www.greenhousemegastore.com/category/hobby-greenhouses

for Cafeteria (Fast Food ) TRAYS Tiger Chefoffers a wide variety with quantity discountsand speedy shipping, of which the most durable (and most expensive) are made of fiberglass:http://www.tigerchef.com/search/-fast-food-trays/

for CANNING JARS for SproutingCanning Pantry, if you cannot find jars locally:http://www.canningpantry.com/canning-jars.html


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photo by mark

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]


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AMARANTH - Red Garnet


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AMARANTH - Red Garnet


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BASIL - purple


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BASIL l


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BASIL - Sweet (Genovese)


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Broccoli 6 days


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CABBAGE -- Chinese


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CABBAGE -- Chinese


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CABBAGE -- Chinese


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CABBAGE


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CABBAGE


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CARROT


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CHERVIL

10 days since sowing / side view, soil view


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CHERVIL


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Curly CRESS


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Curly CRESS


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ENDIVE


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ENDIVE


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ENDIVE

26 days since sown / true leaf stage


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ENDIVE


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ENDIVE


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ESCAROLE


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ESCAROLE


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KALE - Red Russian


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KOMATSUNA


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LETTUCE - oakleaf


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LETTUCE - oakleaf


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Romaine/Cos LETTUCE


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Romaine/Cos LETTUCE


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LETTUCE - Red Romaine

6 days since sown / OVERVIEW


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LETTUCE - red romaine


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near true leaf stage / 18 days since sown / side view


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MIZUNA (purple)


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MIZUNA (purple)


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MUSTARD - Purple Osaka

l f / d /


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MUSTARD - Red Giant

6 days since sown / side view


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MUSTARD - Red Giant

6 days since sown / overview


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Pac choi (Bak Choy) - RED


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Pac choi (Bak Choy) - DA CHEONG5 days since planting


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RADISH - Daikon


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Radish - RED Rose


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photo by mark

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

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Manual Growing Microgreens at Home