Can you reuse sure to grow pads

Broccoli and kale seem to grow especially well on hemp mats, but all microgreens will perform fairly well. Biostrate is a brand name of felt textile designed for hydroponic growing. The problem is that similar to burlap, it can be a bit difficult to work right and get your setup right. Vermiculite is another soil-less growing medium. But it can also be used as a growing medium all on its own. Mostly because it causes irritation to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract.

You can also get splinters from its sharp fibers. Not the kind of thing that I want to be growing my food in! I find it produces the most consistent yields and hardiest looking product. It costs the most per tray in terms of material, but you also need to take into account that all other growing mediums require you to add other nutrients to them. Microgreens need moisture to grow.

Seed density is also different than plant density. Generally, the bigger a seed is, the higher of a planting density that is required. For really large seeds like peas, you might need 12 ounces of seed per flat. When you plant seeds too densely together, roots grow so thick that it makes water drainage difficult. The added humidity literally plumps the microgreens up full of more water, giving them more crunch when you bite into them. Humidity can be a bad thing in terms of growing mold and bacteria though, so proper ventilation is a must.

You might want to only boost humidity for the last couple of days before you harvest your greens. When using a chemical agent, application and dwell time are only part of the process.

After that, depending on the type of media involved, thorough drying might be necessary. Bleach - 10 per cent solution for a minimum of 30 minutes followed by multiple rinses. Hydrogen peroxide - A diluted 35 per cent hydrogen peroxide solution is required for sterilization. This product is not found at your local drug store. It is sold through food service retailers and may be available through hydroponics outlets. At high concentrations, H 2 O 2 is an effective bactericide, virucide, and fungicide.

Always use safety precautions when using concentrated hydrogen peroxide. When using heat to kill pathogens, temperature and duration are critical factors in processes that can be pretty diverse:. Oven - Heating is a popular method for pasteurizing and sterilizing soilless potting mixes. It will also kill seeds, insect eggs, and larvae. For example, pasteurization is effective at eliminating the fungus-like organism pythium , responsible for fusarium wilt , but is less successful at combating some pathogenic fungi known to cause damping-off and numerous forms of root and stem rot.

If you plan to heat treat media in your kitchen, be forewarned. The procedure can produce a sour odor that lingers. This only works for small batches of up to two pounds or so. Microwave pasteurizing has the advantage of being faster than oven treatment, and a microwave can be temporarily relocated to reduce odor problems. Sterilizing in the microwave can be problematic, however. Microwave ovens heat quickly, but they sometimes leave cooler spots that are hard to detect or eliminate.

Be aware that these methods are equal opportunity options. They kill beneficial as well as destructive organisms. Solar - Outdoor solarization is another way to pasteurize media that uses heat—in this case, sunshine.

In this method, media is moistened, covered with clear polyethylene tarp material, and left to steam in the sun on a hot day. You can test the temperature using a candy thermometer.

Adding additional layers of tarp can increase the temperature somewhat. Covering the soil for a longer duration can be helpful, too. One day is effective, but leaving the tarp in place for a week to a month can yield even more impressive results. To sterilize media outdoors, solarization should be coupled with a chemical agent. The big advantage to most modern growing media is that it is inert. It provides a blank or relatively blank slate. You can often see this fertilizer salt buildup as a white powder crusted on some types of used media.

More information on composting is available further down in this article. Pictured above is a tray of sunflower microgreens after harvesting. Notice the dense matting of roots on the left, and the stem and seed remnants on the right.

Sunflower hulls are alellopathic, releasing compounds that slow or stop the growth of certain other plants. Composting is believed to break down the compounds. Microgreen soil needs to fulfil a few key functions:. This is around 3. The mass of this soil will depend on the density of the soil, and how much moisture it has in it.

I then measure soil out by volume. I put in 1 inch of loose soil. Assuming you put in around 3. This is one of the initial soil I used in the past.

For the cheapest soil, you can order it by the truck load. Trucks in my area usually deliver soil in yard loads. Is it worth re-using soil for microgreens? Or should it live its second life in the garden? Composting properly brings the organic matter roots, seeds, stems up to a warm enough temperature that microbes break them down.

The following photo shows the dense root mats from a potting soil microgreen tray after harvesting. For more information regarding the nutritional value of microgreens, please see the following articles:. You must be logged in to post a comment. Facebook Twitter Instagram. What are Micro-Greens? Why Grow Micro Greens? Fast Growers: Harvest in 10 to 15 days Radish Micro Greens are loaded with flavor that taste very similar to the well known and well loved root crop.

Cabbages, pak choi, collards, kale and mustards are also an excellent and fast growing choice. Slower Growers: Harvest in 16 to 25 days Cilantro: Add this Mexican favorite to dishes like salsa, guacamole or any Mexican dish. Cilantro micros are extremely high in nutrients too.

Expect 16 days minimum to harvest. Beets: Bulls Blood variety adds color and beet flavor without chopping roots. Basil: Intensely flavored and a favorite as a garnish to Italian dishes.

It is also packed with nutrients and a great choice for salads as well. Arugula: A popular and a high end crop for many growers, Arugula microgreens are wonderful in salads, and on sandwiches. Forage Micros There are many folks worldwide who use microgreen growing practices to grow forage for cats, chickens, goats, pigs and more. Step 2: Growing Mist the micro green seeds and the pad thoroughly until the pad and seed is moist. Step 3: Harvest In as little as days, your microgreens will be about 1 to 2 inches tall and ready for harvest!

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