7 Mistakes To Avoid When Growing Microgreens
I was under the misconception that I could just throw seeds into potting soil and water when needed, and they would grow perfectly.
Things looked that way until I woke up one morning and found my perfectly fresh and healthy garden cress microgreens withered, discolored, and damaged. It was so disappointing!
Evidently, I made a few mistakes that ruined my harvest.
So today’s article is going to touch on mistakes to avoid when growing microgreens.
Without wasting any time, let’s get straight into it.
Don’t Make These Mistakes When Growing Microgreens
Mistake 1: Ignoring Temperature And Weather
Different microgreens have different temperature requirements for optimal sprouting and growth. When I was growing my first batch of microgreens, the weather conditions were perfect.
But, by day 7, due to living in a tropical climate, the weather took a nasty turn for the worst and reached scorching temperatures.
As a result of uninterrupted exposure to suboptimal temperatures, my gardencress microgreens withered away and discolored.
Generally, the ideal temperature is between 60-75°F (15-24°C) but check the back of your seed packaging for more information. It is best to cover or move your microgreens during extreme heat or cold.
Mistake 2: Inadequate Lighting
Microgreens require a significant amount of light to develop their rich colors and flavor. It is a mistake to place trays in an area with insufficient light.
Anything less than 8 hours of light can inhibit the growth and development of your microgreens.
Use either natural or artificial lighting, depending on which is more readily available in your location.
Mistake 3: Improper Watering
All plants require water for proper germination and growth. But it’s also possible to drown microgreens with too much water. The mistake I made was waterlogging my soil from excessive watering.
As a result of this, my microgreens experienced root rot! An easy way to assess whether your microgreens are properly watered is by inspecting the soil itself. It should appear moist and dark, but still grainy.
Weak, watery, and muddy soil is a sign of overwatering, whereas dried and cracked soil indicates underwatering.
The best watering solution is a spray bottle with an adjustable fitting.
Mistake 4: Growing in garden soil
Garden soil isn’t necessarily bad, per se. In fact, in the right circumstances and environment, carefully mixed and maintained garden soil is rich in vital minerals and compounds for plants and trees.
But microgreens often require a delicate and specific composition for the fastest and healthiest sprouts.
Opt for lightweight, sterile, properly mixed growing mediums, like the most popular potting soils designed for microgreens.
They have the right composition of compost and plant materials to evoke healthy sprouts and shoots that are disease-free.
Mistake 5: Not Pre-Soaking Seeds
Some seeds take longer to germinate due to their structure.
This process can be sped up by soaking seeds in lukewarm or tepid water for about 12 to 24 hours.
Water will aid in breaking the dormancy and natural defences of the seed, thus promoting germination.
Mistake 6: Overcrowding
When I first began gardening, I was lazy and sprinkled seeds into containers without any consideration for adequate spacing.
Little did I know that overcrowding can increase the risk of mold and diseases destroying my crops.
With certain varieties of vegetation, it’s beneficial to thin out the distribution of seeds.
Mistake 7: Not Harvesting On Time
I began this article on a somber note because I was upset by how I wasted an entire yield of garden cress.
Even though excessive heat and watering damaged my harvest, it could have been prevented if I harvested the microgreens when they appeared healthy and ready by day six.
As much as possible, base your harvesting timeline on the appearance and texture of the sprouts.
If the stems are strong and the first leaves are full of vibrant color, harvest them.
That brings us to the end of this article on the mistakes to avoid when growing microgreens. I hope that after reading this, you’re able to grow and harvest the healthiest yeild of microgreens every single time.
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