tomatoes
Senior Member
Posts: 1,065 
Likes: 1,089
|
Post by tomatoes on Oct 11, 2019 18:54:28 GMT 10
I’m starting up some Microgreens. I use to grow them but we moved house and I haven’t set them up again until now. All the seeds I had were out of date and not growing when I tested them so I’m ordering new seed.
Many of the seeds specifically sold for Microgreens growing are fairly expensive. I’m wondering if there is any reason not to try various beans and seeds that are sold for eating - I have organic adzuki beans, lentils, linseed, and others. With Microgreens the seeds aren’t eaten (unlike sprouts) so I can’t think of any issues.
I’d also like to know what beans are ok to use for Microgreens and what aren’t, eg I just read that you shouldn’t use red kidney beans for sprouts as they’re poisonous and must be cooked before eating. But I’ve seen adzuki beans for sale to grow for Microgreens or sprouts. I’m wondering about black eye peas and others. Any idea where I could find a list or book about this?
|
|
tomatoes
Senior Member
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 1,089
|
Post by tomatoes on Oct 12, 2019 7:54:18 GMT 10
|
|
tomatoes
Senior Member
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 1,089
|
Post by tomatoes on Oct 14, 2019 7:06:33 GMT 10
Testing this with some beans from my cupboard.
On 11/10 I soaked some adzuki beans that were best before 5/19 and some whole brown lentils that were also best before 5/19. I should have used fresher dried beans as now if they don’t work I won’t know if it’s the freshness or just that they won’t work. Both were organic so I hope no processing treatments to prevent sprouting.
On 12/10 put them into sprouting trays. I’m more interested in growing them as Microgreens than as sprouts but this is easier for the test as I can see clearly if sprouts start growing.
13/10 the lentils all grew little tails. No sign of anything from the adzuki beans yet.
|
|
tomatoes
Senior Member
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 1,089
|
Post by tomatoes on Oct 14, 2019 7:12:07 GMT 10
|
|
norseman
VIP Member
Posts: 2,237 
Likes: 1,888
|
Post by norseman on Oct 14, 2019 7:51:04 GMT 10
Growing Sweet Potato Leaves and vines to eat is the easiest thing in the world and they are a very nutritious, prolific green vegetable, keep the tubers in the ground and just eat the leaves and vines.
|
|
tomatoes
Senior Member
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 1,089
|
Post by tomatoes on Oct 14, 2019 8:16:04 GMT 10
Growing Sweet Potato Leaves and vines to eat is the easiest thing in the world and they are a very nutritious, prolific green vegetable, keep the tubers in the ground and just eat the leaves and vines. I have to try growing sweet potatoes still. I assume they are best in the ground outside? |
|
tomatoes
Senior Member
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 1,089
|
Post by tomatoes on Oct 18, 2019 12:33:38 GMT 10
About 15/10 - a couple of adzuki beans finally looked like they might sprout, but then the tray started growing mould so I threw them out.
The lentils were the length that you can add them into stir fries etc so that seemed successful. They were still only little sprouts though, so I poured them onto a tray of coir, which is often used for Microgreens, to see if they’d grow any better there. As of today they haven’t done much growing on the tray, but that was quite likely because I just added them after they had sprouted. I should try again just soaking first and then putting them straight on a coir filled tray.
Should have started with fresher adzuki beans, as I still don’t know if they wouldn’t work or if they were just old.
In the meantime, I’ve ordered fresh seed that is sold especially for Microgreens, so I’ll use that for the time being.
|
|
|
|
Post by spinifex on Oct 18, 2019 15:24:43 GMT 10
I get something like micro greens by letting a couple of lettuce and spinach plants run to seed then thrashing the seed heads out over a seedbed. The seedlings come up like carpet and I snip it off with scissors as needed for salads.
Growing your own seed outside to use for sprouting indoors might be an option for you?
|
|
tomatoes
Senior Member
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 1,089
|
Post by tomatoes on Oct 18, 2019 15:37:33 GMT 10
I always use to let lettuce go to seed so every year I’d get volunteer lettuce. At the moment, as a short term thing, I have no yard at all. Hence my current focus on things like Microgreens.
|
|
tomatoes
Senior Member
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 1,089
|
Post by tomatoes on Feb 20, 2020 16:01:17 GMT 10
I started a batch of micro greens following the method in the book linked near the start of this thread, and they’re going very well. It is simple, but I plan on simplifying more. The author starts five bowls of different seeds every day, to give a mixed salad bowl daily. I think I will start larger trays, probably a few twice a week.
It is a great source or fresh greens without going outside at all though, so I think worth pursuing.
But I have a question.
The author of the book says to use seed raising mix that doesn’t have much in the way of nutrients added or to make your own. All the bags I looked at were small and had lots of added slow release fertilisers, etc. So I figured for my first lot I’d follow the suggested mix, then I’d go from there.
He says to combine:
11.4 lt peat moss
1.9 lt vermiculite
1.9 lt perlite
1/4 cup limestone
(Odd amounts because converted from imperial)
This was actually a really nice mix to use, but it ends up being quite expensive! You don’t reuse it for more micro greens either - you add to your compost for your outdoor garden.
So how can I make a mix like this cheaper? What can I sub, or where can I get some in bulk? Suggestions?
|
|
|
|
Post by spinifex on Feb 20, 2020 19:42:35 GMT 10
If you don't need/want fertilisers try plain sand. Waaaaay cheaper. Just have to be careful at harvest not to get grit on the greens.
Vermiculite is usually added to mixes to hold and release nutrients. Perlite is mostly used for cuttings as its sterile and holds only a tiny amount of water so cut surfaces are less likely to develop infections.
The limestone would make the mix very alkaline. Which generally induces nutrient deficiencies. Odd thing to put in a mix in the quantity stated.
|
|
tomatoes
Senior Member
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 1,089
|
Post by tomatoes on Feb 20, 2020 19:48:49 GMT 10
In the bottom of each bowl you put a tablespoon of compost and 1/2 teaspoon of liquid seaweed. So that is added as well.
The author specifies the amount of this mix to put in a container a day or more prior to planting your bowls, to add a specified amount of water to do it’s all moist and has been soaked in but it isn’t wet.
It has worked beautifully for these first rounds of plantings.
Interesting to know what the ingredients are generally added for though. Thanks.
|
|
