Sprouting and Microgreens

Sprouting

There are many different sprouters available but you can just use a glass jam jar and a cloth to strain the water.

You don't need to buy seeds sold for sprouting, these are often expensive. Organic mung beans will produce great tasting beansprouts in a few days.

To start beansprouts off soak the mung beans in boiled water for a few hours and drain. Twice a day rinse the beansprouts in water and drain well.

Microgreens

Again you don't need to buy expensive seed sold for microgreens. Microgreens are sown in soil and harvested once the first set of true leaves appear. They are nutritionally better than sprouting seeds.

Whole lentils and sunflowers are the cheapest seeds. Sunflower seeds need to be unshelled.

If you buy organic spices you may be able to grow microgreens from coriander, fennel and mustard.

Sesame seeds can also be used, they need to be untoasted.

When using spice seeds it is worth trying a trial germination on a damp paper towel to check to see if the seed if viable.

Sewing microgreens - in a shallow tray, a repurposed fruit or vegetable tray can be used, sow the seeds thickly on the surface of some potting compost. Barely cover the seeds. Cover with another transparent tray without holes or a glass dish to keep the environment moist. The dish can be removed once the microgreens have started sprouting.