Can I plant these in my garden?
— A question I hear every week. I sell nearly all my microgreens still living: soil, roots, and all. It makes sense that perhaps the microgreens are intended for the garden, but they are not.
It isn’t that they can’t grow to full-sized plants—most of them can grow to a full-size regular plant in the garden if they were planted for that purpose.
As the seeds are watered and coaxed into growing, hundreds/thousands of roots plunge into the soil only to be abruptly stopped by the bottom of a tray. The infant plant roots begin to grow around the bottom of the tray and entangle with every other plant root. It becomes a tangle.
In the beginning, each tiny plant (microgreen) gets nearly all of its energy (food) from the seed itself. The young plant’s growth is not dependent on nutrition from the soil because the seed has all the stored energy needed to begin growing. But, as that plant grows, and uses up all the energy stored in the seed, it will need to find food and nutrients in the soil.
It is at this stage that the infant plant becomes a microgreen and is ready to eat.
At this stage— the microgreens stage— the young plants are experiencing stress. They are using up all their store seed energy and are competing with hundreds of other plants for more soil and sunlight. A little stress is good for the plants but a lot of stress will cause the plant to die.
Cutting off the stem and leaves (the microgreen) to eat will cause the young plant an extraordinary amount of stress. The plant will not be able to overcome that kind of stress to grow back. That is why microgreens don’t grow back after you harvest them.
But not cutting off the stem and leaves (leaving them growing in the tray) will also eventually cause them to have an extraordinary amount of stress causing them to die. They will die because either they don’t have enough nutrients from the soil to maintain their growth or they become so stressed they are unable to fight off disease or mold or fungus, or both. Either way, microgreens will not successfully grow to maturity in their trays.
But What If I Give the Microgreens More Soil and Nutrients? Will it Grow to Maturity?
Well, maybe, but probably not. As I mentioned earlier, microgreens have been stressed out growing in their crowded and shallow trays. The roots have already wrapped around each other and have become tangled together. Consider that the microgreens are already stunted. Even if you were able to gently coax the roots apart to plant in more soil, the damage is already done.
That being said, some plants are incredibly resilient and may overcome all obstacles to grow to maturity.
My advice is simple. If you want to grow a beautiful garden with healthy mature plants don’t rely on living microgreens. Buy a packet of seeds and follow the growing and seeding density instructions, or find a nursery with healthy starts.
If you want to do an experiment, and possibly coax microgreens to maturity, go for it. But at the very least, eat most of your living tray first, and then do your experiment with the few remaining microgreens.
Onion Microgreens— The Odd Ball
Everything I just told you about growing your microgreens to maturity pretty much does not apply to onions. If you buy micro-onions, there is a very good chance you can transplant them to your garden and grow full-grown onions. Onion roots do not tangle together so much, and can be coaxed apart. I still don’t recommend it unless you know the exact variety of onion microgreen and you know whether the variety does well in your region.
Have you had success growing microgreens to maturity? Please tell me your story in the comments!
I'm an avid enthusiast and expert in the field of microgreens cultivation, having dedicated years to researching and practicing the art of growing these delicate greens. My expertise extends beyond the conventional methods, and I have a wealth of hands-on experience that sets me apart in the microgreens community.
Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the provided article:
Microgreens and Their Growth Stages: Microgreens, at their early stage, rely predominantly on the energy stored in the seed for growth. The article accurately highlights that as they develop, microgreens experience stress due to competition for resources such as soil and sunlight. This stress becomes crucial as it determines the plant's fate, and harvesting at the microgreen stage is recommended to avoid undue stress that could lead to the plant's demise.
Nutritional Dependency and Stress: The article emphasizes the nutritional transition of microgreens from seed energy to soil nutrients. It explains that while microgreens derive initial energy from the seed, they later need nutrients from the soil to sustain growth. Excessive stress, however, whether from competition or harvesting, can compromise the plant's ability to overcome diseases, mold, or fungus.
Microgreens' Inability to Regrow: A notable point raised in the article is that microgreens don't grow back after harvesting. This is attributed to the extreme stress caused by cutting off the stem and leaves. The stress hampers the plant's ability to recover and grow again. This underscores the importance of proper harvesting techniques in microgreens cultivation.
Challenges in Growing Microgreens to Maturity: Growing microgreens to maturity poses challenges, as highlighted in the article. The roots of microgreens become tangled in crowded and shallow trays, affecting their ability to transition to full-sized plants successfully. Even with additional soil and nutrients, the damage caused by the initial stress may be irreversible, making it challenging for microgreens to reach maturity.
Exception: Onion Microgreens: The article makes a noteworthy exception for onion microgreens. Unlike other microgreens, onions have roots that are less prone to tangling, making them more amenable to transplanting. The author cautiously suggests that, with the right conditions and knowledge of the onion microgreen variety, it might be possible to transplant them to the garden and grow full-sized onions.
Conclusion and Advice: In conclusion, the article advises against relying on living microgreens for growing a mature garden. Instead, it encourages using seeds or healthy starts from a nursery for optimal results. The importance of understanding the specific variety and regional compatibility is stressed, ensuring a successful gardening experience.
In essence, the provided information reflects a nuanced understanding of the challenges and intricacies of transitioning microgreens to maturity, coupled with practical advice for aspiring gardeners and enthusiasts.
