Covid has sparked many new hobbies and trends, baking banana bread, focaccia art and crocheting to name a few! One of our favourites is growing microgreens.
There has been a shift of people’s mindsets since the first lockdown begun, with more questions being asked of where our food is sourced and what we can do to reduce our carbon footprint. Many people have started to shop locally at smaller businesses and others have begun growing from home. Microgreens have proven to be attractive amongst consumers during the pandemic due to their high nutritional value and ability to strengthen your immune system. But what are microgreens?
Microgreens are seedlings of plants that are edible and are said to contain 9 times as many nutrients as the fully grown vegetables. They are rich in important nutrients including potassium, iron, zinc, magnesium, and copper that can reduce the risk of diseases and lead to a healthier organ due to their antioxidant properties.
Chefs tend to have a particular passion for microgreens due to each having their own unique strong, aromatic flavours with some of the best tasting microgreens are said to include broccoli, lettuce, carrot, pea shoots and radish.
Not only are microgreens easy to grow but they take up little space too. They can reach harvest within only 7-10 days! Here are some simple steps of how to grow your own:
1. To start, find a warm, sunny spot in your home such as a sunlit windowsill for the microgreens to sit on (they will need around 4 hours of direct sunlight a day).
2. Get a container and fill it 2 inches high with potting soil.
3. Spread your seeds evenly into the container and gently press into the soil.
4. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of the soil.
5. Water the seeds, dampening the soil and pop the container on the windowsill.
6. Keep up with dampening the soil every day until sprouts appear.
6. Once they have reached the desired height, use scissors at soil level to harvest your greens.
7. Rinse your greens and they are ready to eat!
There are so many benefits to microgreens; they are easy to grow, taste great and are rich in vitamins and minerals. Microgreens are a great crop to grow in vertical farms. We build microgreen cropping options into our vertical farming business plans. They are a high value crop and can generate great returns in short spaces of time. Perfect for turning waste heat into tasty greens, jobs, and economic activity!
Did you know vertical farms are a great way to repurpose high street buildings such as empty shops and offices? Check out our blog on bringing vertical farms to the high-street!
