Microgreens

‘Chota packet, bada dhamaka!!’ I am quite sure you must have heard this saying many times in your life. Well, microgreens have proven it true. These little packets of food are definitely a blast of nutrients for you. To put it simply – Microgreens are tiny versions of adult plants that we eat. They are 2 or 3 leaf staged plants that are harvested for consumption.

Why should we consume them?

We can’t consume seeds of certain pulses like chickpea or green gram so we sprout them in water. This activates the enzymes which synthesize essential nutrients and proteins for the plant which is useful for us too. Now there is a limit to the different seeds which can be consumed as sprouts but in case of microgreens, almost all useful pulses, salad greens and vegetables can be grown and consumed. Now isn’t this amazing?

Sowing seeds also does the same thing more or less. It activates the enzymes which synthesize various minerals and vitamins. When the plant is in younger stage, the nutrients are concentrated and more readily available as compared to a fully mature plant.

Nutritional profile

It varies from plant to plant but in general microgreens contain – vitamin A, C, E, B complex, proteins, dietary fibre, folate, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, sodium, potassium, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese and zinc. Some of them have anti-cancer properties and are very good for your heart and eyes. And of course, they are perfect for your weight loss regimes.

How to grow them?

They are very easy to grow. You can plant them in a tray, in pots, in garden soil or even in hydroponics system. They need a good bright sunlight and moist soil to grow properly.

Here is a list of plants that can be eaten as microgreens

• Radish greens
• Watercress
• Mizuna
• Peas
• Cabbage
• Basil
• Lettuce (any)
• Mustard
• Kale
• Endive
• Arugula
• Beet greens
• Spinach
• Tatsoi

And don’t stop at this list, conduct a little experiment and grow microgreens of your choice.

Harvesting

Microgreens can be harvested with the help of scissors or pluck the plant directly out of the soil. The right time to harvest them is at 2 – 3 leaf stage or when they are 1 – 3 inches tall.

Microgreens are not seasonal and can be grown in a little space. They are a good source of essential nutrients for your body. So pick up your gardening tools and prepare a tiny garden of microgreens for yourself.

Written by
Antra Thada