If you want something tiny, nutritious, delicious and incredibly cute, get a micro pig. However, if cuteness isn’t on the menu, try micro greens. Long revered by chefs for their subtle flavours and delicate texture, they are very easy to grow and will add some extra street cred to any kitchen. Serve them up and let the compliments start rolling in, or keep them all to yourself for the world’s tiniest salad.
Anything and everything that has edible shoots or leaves can be grown as a micro green. However, it is best to choose varieties that are quick to germinate and easy to raise. Radish, beetroot (beets), mustard, kale, peas, basil and spinach are most commonly used, but that shouldn’t prevent you from looking left field and trying out some lesser-known varieties.
Because plants are not grown to full maturity, we don’t have to worry about a lot of common challenges like spacing, light, pests and disease. Instead, growing is an all-out sprint with a high-density of seeds placed in a tray and watered daily. Only a little bit of light is necessary, which makes these a popular option for people who want to grow indoors.
PLANTING
Sow the seeds into a shallow growing tray to about 5mm depth and don’t worry about density. These plants will never be big enough to compete with one another! Use a spray bottle or watering can with a gentle fan spray to water; a powerful flow could dislodge seeds or prevent germination.
WATERING
In ground: Water daily for the entirety of their lifecycle.
In Pots: Water daily for the entirety of their lifecycle.
MAINTENANCE
Place the tray on a brightly lit windowsill and keep moist. Dim lighting is no problem, as the young shoots will elongate in an attempt to find light; leggy micro greens are as useful to chefs as baby oil to a body-building competition.
HARVESTING
Once germinated, seeds will take a couple more weeks to be considered micro greens. First leaves will appear to be very similar on all plants, but will soon be replaced by distinct ‘true leaves’ . It is best to harvest before these appear. Harvest mature micro greens with sharp scissors and micro appetite. For a continual harvest, try planting different varieties in the same tray and also having multiple trays going at one time.
TIP
Use a mini-greenhouse to incubate and to prevent the growing medium from drying out. This will mean less frequent watering.
