How To Grow Microgreens in a Mason Jar - The Garden Tots (2024)

FAQs

Can you grow microgreens in a mason jar? ›

The biggest thing when growing microgreens in mason jars is making sure you have the right lid! I have the wide-mouth jars and it was easy finding a lid to fit. You want something that is perforated enough to drain out water, but something that has small enough holes to keep the tiny seeds from escaping.

The Best Trays for Growing Microgreens at Home

You'll need two trays: one with drainage holes and one without. Drainage holes are ideal because these seedlings really don't want their roots to be sitting in water for a long period of time. The tray with drainage holes will be the top tray that holds the soil.

Here's how to sow and grow microgreens for a quick harvest

Use a shallow container or seed tray with drainage holes in the base. Fill with seed-raising mix, leaving 1-2cm clear at the top, as microgreens push the soil up as they germinate. Press the mix down gently to flatten. Moisten the mix prior to sowing.

Microgreens are ready to harvest usually two to three weeks after planting, making them a very quick crop for gardeners. Harvest when you see the first set of real leaves. Once leaves appear, snip the microgreens just above the soil line. Serve immediately for the best flavor.

More challenging microgreens include: amaranth, beets, basil, cilantro, beets, sorrel, and popcorn.

These tiny delicate greens add color, texture, and flavor to a variety of foods as a garnish or an ingredient. Microgreens can be expensive to purchase, but can be grown at home for a more cost-effective option.

Soil provides a natural and nutrient-rich environment for microgreens to grow. Listed below are some of the advantages of using traditional soil-based method. Cost effectiveness: Soil-based methods are less expensive than hydroponic systems as they do not require specialized equipment or nutrient solutions.

Growers will often use soil, coco coir, hemp mats, soilless mixes, peat moss or some mix of these. The best medium for growing microgreens is one that allows proper drainage, is sterile (meaning it contains no seeds) and holds moisture efficiently.

Microgreens are typically not regrown after the initial harvest. The only microgreens that you can regrow is Pea and You can regrow it only once.

Do I need to soak microgreens before planting? ›

All small microgreens seeds shouldn't be soaked. Don't soak microgreens varieties with seeds smaller than 3mm. These are Amaranth, Radishes, Cabbage, Turnip, Kale, Arugula, Broccoli etc etc.

Here's a photo of our results from reusing microgreen soil. Even though we show that you can easily grow a new tray of microgreens on reused microgreen soil, we still do not recommend it. The chance for disease is too great, and it takes some time to prepare the trays for planting.

Coconut Coir

Coco coir is one of the most versatile mediums because it feels and acts like soil, while retaining more water than soil for a much lower price. With most microgreens, this is all you need.

That one jar with just 2 tablespoons of seeds takes about 5 days to grow and easily makes more sprouts than I would get if I bought 4 plastic containers of sprouts from the grocery store. This probably saves me about $10/week and definitely encourages me to eat more sprouts.

Once you have all the items listed above, you are ready to start sprouting! Just follow these simple steps: Place the seeds inside the Mason jar and cover them with approximately 2 inches of warm water. Secure yoursprouting lid and allow the mixture to sit overnight or as specified for your sprouting seed packaging.

Add two tablespoons of broccoli seeds to the Mason jar. Fill the jar halfway with water, and put the mesh lid on. Let the jar stand at room temperature for 8 hours or overnight. I do this before I go to bed.

Add soil and plants to each mason jar. This is the fun part! The best part of mason jars is that they make great planters, and they're clear, so you can see when plant roots need watering.