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The Technique Behind Watering Microgreens From The Bottom
When it comes to watering microgreens, there are various opinions saying it’s better to water from the bottom while others claim it’s best to water from the top
When it comes to watering microgreens, there are various opinions saying it’s better to water from the bottom while others claim it’s best to water from the top. When it comes to watering microgreens, the main goal is to avoid any chances of mold growth. In this article, we’re going to discuss watering microgreens from the bottom so that you can apply the technique to your own crops.
What Is The Point of Watering Microgreens From The Bottom?
Watering microgreens from the bottom is a technique adopted by farmers who sell microgreens to restaurants still in their seedling containers. This allows for microgreens to still grow upon and after delivery. When it comes to watering your microgreens from the bottom, remember to water your microgreens when the top of the soil feels dry. The size of your container can determine how many times a week you’ll need to water. For half-pint containers, you can expect to water your microgreens once a day, while full pint containers may need watering every other day.
How To Water Your Microgreens From The Bottom
Watering your microgreens from the bottom is a simple and easy process. We’ll break down the steps for you here:
Set Up A Pool of Water
It’s best to pour room-temperature filtered water into a bowl or a small tub until the water is half as deep as the microgreen container you have. Do not use cold water during this process since it can stunt the growth of the microgreens.
Put Your Microgreen Container In The Water
There should be holes at the bottom of your microgreen container, so when you place the container in the pool of water the soil will soak up the water. You should let the soil soak up the water for less than a minute or until the soil feels evenly moist. Once you can feel the moistened soil, remove the container from the water.
Empty Surplus Water
After removing the container from the water, you’ll want to place it somewhere where it can drain for a few minutes to remove any excess water. Remember tore fill water when needed especially if you’re working with more than four containers of microgreens. If you’re growing more than four types of microgreens, it’s best to use a large basin for this watering process since it will take less time rather than watering one container at a time.
Throw Out Leftover Water
At this point, you’ve successfully watered your microgreens from the bottom and you can toss out the pool of water. You may find leftover soil in this water, and if so, make sure you don’t allow it to go through the drain because it can cause clogging issues. Throw out the water outside or use a drain catcher to catch any soil remnants.
Watering microgreens from the bottom is another fantastic way to water and care for your plants. Our purpose at the Nick Greens Grow Team is to inform and educate our followers about the ease of growing your own food from home. Want to learn more about new and innovative farming methods? Subscribe to our blog and YouTube channel for weekly updates!
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Choosing Seeds For Microgreens 101: Everything You Need To Know
In this article, you’re going to learn everything there is to know about microgreen seeds so you can start a healthy, thriving garden
When it comes to choosing seeds for microgreens, you’ll want to ensure you pick quality seeds. In this article, you’re going to learn everything there is to know about microgreen seeds so you can start a healthy, thriving garden.
Look for Untreated Seeds
One of the differences between growing microgreens and larger plants is that microgreens need to start from untreated seeds. Gardening seeds are usually treated with fungicides and insecticides, which isn’t harmful since the seeds start small and grow into large plants. But microgreens are 1 to 2-inch plants and treated seeds pose a higher risk, which is why it’s essential to choose seeds of microgreens that are untreated.
When ordering seeds for microgreens, make sure that it explicitly states that the seeds are untreated, and if you aren’t sure, it’s best to clarify with the company before ordering.
Order From Reliable Sources
It’s better to order from garden seed companies than sprout seed sources when it comes to finding quality microgreen seeds. Garden seed companies are more transparent about their seeds and provide a plethora of information. While you can expect a slightly higher cost, you’ll be able to find the right amount of information to guide you in your microgreen journey.
What to Look for From a Seed Packet/Catalog Page
When you purchase microgreen seeds from reliable sources, you can expect to find the right kind of information from the seed packet. If your seed packet/catalog page has the following information on it, then you’ve purchased from a reliable source:
CULTIVAR Name ● When you can spot the cultivar name on a packet, you can identify the specific variety of plant. A cultivar is when there are specific varieties of a single species of a cultivated plant such as broccoli where there’s Purple broccoli, broccoflower, and more. Being able to see the cultivar name will help you continuously find your favorite seeds over and over again.
Date of Harvest ● If your packet includes the date of harvest, you will be able to forecast your seed’s lifespan. If your packet doesn’t include this, the rule of thumb is to use the seeds within five years of purchase.
Germination Rate ● If your seed has a germination rate lower than 90%, then it won’t be suitable for microgreen growing. This is because the errant 10% will rot. When it comes to growing microgreens, the faulty 10% seeds can cause the other seeds to rot since they’re close to each other.
Organic Certification ● Make sure your packet says “organically grown” or “naturally grown” for optimal results.
Botanical Names ● These are the scientific names of each plant and are usually italicized and written in Latin or Greek. Knowing the botanical names of your preferred seeds will help you always identify the seeds you’re wanting to buy.