{"id":13724,"date":"2023-06-05T18:50:39","date_gmt":"2023-06-05T18:50:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/?p=13724"},"modified":"2023-06-08T12:22:01","modified_gmt":"2023-06-08T12:22:01","slug":"growing-your-own-microgreens-for-nutrition-and-flavor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/spring-summer-2023\/growing-your-own-microgreens-for-nutrition-and-flavor\/","title":{"rendered":"Growing Your Own Microgreens"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"dropcap\">L<\/span>ooking for a super nutritious and perfectly delicious snack? Look no further. Microgreens are tiny plants making a big impact with their intense flavor and nutritional value. They\u2019re also ideal for anyone looking to try their hand at gardening, as they\u2019re easy to grow.<\/p>\n<h3>What are Microgreens?<\/h3>\n<p>Bigger than a sprout but smaller than baby greens, microgreens are harvested when the plant has the seed leaves, called cotyledons, plus one or two true leaves. When you eat sprouts, you eat all parts of the plant, including the root. Microgreens are cut at soil level, and the root is left behind.<\/p>\n<p>Depending on what seeds you plant, your greens, root vegetables, or herb microgreens could be ready for harvest in as little as two weeks after planting. You can make an entire salad from microgreens or add them to your regular salad for a bite of fresh flavor in the middle of winter. You can even add them to wraps, omelets, burgers, or soups. The possibilities are endless!<\/p>\n<h3>Are Microgreens Better for Me?<\/h3>\n<p>Studies have shown that microgreens are not only delicious but also highly nutritious. In fact, they can contain up to 40 times more vitamins and minerals than their fully-grown counterparts! They are also rich in antioxidants, which can help protect against chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_13764\" style=\"width: 710px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Microgreens-750.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-13764\" class=\"wp-image-13764 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Microgreens-750.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"525\" srcset=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Microgreens-750.jpg 700w, https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Microgreens-750-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-13764\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Park Seeds<\/p><\/div>\n<h3>How to Grow Microgreens<\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s easy to get started. You just need a few basic supplies:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Seeds: Choose high-quality, organic seeds.<\/li>\n<li>Light: Microgreens need plenty of light, so either place them near a sunny window or use grow lights.<\/li>\n<li>Water: Water your microgreens regularly, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged.<\/li>\n<li>Soil: Use a high-quality seed-sprouting soil or a soilless growing medium such as coconut coir.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0Containers: You can use anything from seed trays to plastic containers with drainage holes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>How to Harvest Microgreens<\/h3>\n<p>When your microgreens are about 1-2 inches tall, it\u2019s time to harvest. Use a sharp pair of scissors to snip off the leaves just above the soil line. Rinse the microgreens thoroughly in cold water and pat them dry with a paper towel. Store them in an airtight refrigerator container and use them within a few days.<\/p>\n<h3>Popular Types of Microgreens to Grow<\/h3>\n<p>There are so many varieties to choose from. It\u2019s fun to rotate through the list to find your favorites. But if you know you like the flavor of basil, you\u2019ll like it as a microgreen, too. Here are four ideas:<\/p>\n<h4>Purple Sprouting Broccoli Seeds<\/h4>\n<p>An Old English type, Purple Sprouting Broccoli is grown as a flower or head vegetable. The plant sets small purple heads that have a sweet flavor and turns green when cooked. Broccoli is considered a superfood for its nutrient-rich content. It is high in fiber and vitamins C and K. It is an excellent source of calcium and iron and contains antioxidants. Broccoli is easy to grow from seed, growing best in locations with full sun and organically rich, consistently moist, well-draining loams having a slightly acid pH of 6 to 7.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_13765\" style=\"width: 760px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Mircrogreens2-750.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-13765\" class=\"wp-image-13765 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Mircrogreens2-750.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Mircrogreens2-750.jpg 750w, https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Mircrogreens2-750-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Mircrogreens2-750-700x525.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-13765\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Park Seeds<\/p><\/div>\n<h4>Micro Mini Greens Lettuce Seeds<\/h4>\n<p>In this collection you will have smooth and curly varieties in all shades of green and red. The flavor is, again, not like a sprout but even more tender and vibrant than baby lettuce. Sow them indoors or in containers for super-quick crops of nutrition-packed, tender, delicious greens so tiny you can sprinkle them on top of salads and sandwiches for a big nutrient punch.<\/p>\n<h4>Sweet Basil Seeds<\/h4>\n<p>The classic large-leafed Mediterranean variety, Sweet Basil, the primary culinary basil, is grown as an herb. Redolent of licorice and cloves, the succulent leaves are ideal for tomato sauces, pesto, and salads. It can be dried or chopped, covered in olive oil, and frozen in ice cube trays for later use. When pinched back regularly, this robust annual grows as a densely branched plant, perfect for containers. It prefers full hot summer sun and moderately rich, well-drained soil.<\/p>\n<h4>Park\u2019s Medium Microgreens Collection<\/h4>\n<p>To make it even more simply, <a href=\"https:\/\/parkseed.com\/parks-microgreens-collections\/p\/v2541\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this collection<\/a> has everything you need to grow bumper crops of microgreens, including the tray, starting mix and plenty of seeds. It makes an awesome gift and is a great way to introduce kids to the joy of gardening and benefits of eating wholesome, homegrown vegetables.<\/p>\n<p>Delicious and easy, too, growing microgreens is a rewarding way to boost your nutrition and add some fresh, tasty greens to your diet. With just a few basic supplies and some patience, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of these superfoods right from home.<\/p>\n<p>For more ideas, tips, and information on microgreen gardening, check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/parkseed.com\/introduction-microgreen-gardening-how-to-get-started\/a\/introduction-microgreen-gardening--how-to-get-started\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Park Seed blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A new approach for nutrition and flavor<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":13763,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[170,172],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13724","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spring-summer-2023","category-spring-summer-2023-features"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13724","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13724"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13724\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14037,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13724\/revisions\/14037"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13763"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13724"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13724"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13724"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}