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4 Tips on How to Harvest Microgreens From Growing Containers
When it comes to harvesting microgreens, the process is fairly simple. Most plants take around 7 to 14 days to grow, but this depends on the specific microgreen plant you’re growing since the germination and harvesting times differ from species to species.
When it comes to harvesting microgreens, the process is fairly simple. Most plants take around 7 to 14 days to grow, but this depends on the specific microgreen plant you’re growing since the germination and harvesting times differ from species to species. This article is going to provide you with 4 tips on how to successfully harvest microgreens from growing containers.
Tip 1: You Don’t Have to Wash Your Microgreen Harvest
If you’re using a small microgreen growing container, you can expect a simple, yet efficient harvest. Once it’s time to harvest your microgreens, hold your container over a bowl to collect them, and tilt the container to snip the stems. You do not have to wash your microgreen harvest if the crop has been watered from the bottom because it should be free from any soil. However, if you do notice soil on the stems, then you can rinse them with water to get rid of any leftover soil.
Tip 2: You Can Refrigerate Your Harvest to Extend Its Shelf Life
If you happen to grow microgreens in repurposed growing containers, you can refrigerate your microgreens before it's time to harvest. When it comes time to snip your microgreens, you can extend their shelf life by placing your microgreen growing container in your refrigerator. However, the cold air can dry out your microgreens, so make sure to place the container in a plastic bag. By doing this, your microgreens can be in the fridge for an extra week as long as you make sure to bottom water the plants anytime the soil starts to feel dry if you leave the plastic bag open. Once you’re ready to eat the microgreens, place the container on a windowsill or anywhere to allow it to reach room temperature–then it’s safe to eat!
Tip 3: Harvest Your Microgreens One Portion at a Time (Or In Patches)
If you’re not ready to eat your entire grow, then you can snip your desired patches by rows or patches. You’ll want to make sure to leave space for your leftover growing microgreens to lean as they grow. This is a more commonly used method for tray gardening where you’ll have larger pulls.
Tip 4: Do Not Pull Microgreens Directly From the Soil
It’s very important to not pull your plants straight from the soil in the microgreen growing container. Doing so can disturb the plant's roots and affect your harvest. This is why it’s best to use scissors to cut the stems to your liking.
We at the Nick Greens Grow Team strive to utilize our expertise and vast knowledge to inform our readers about the process of growing microgreens. If you would like to learn more about harvesting microgreens from growing containers or anything microgreen-related then sign up for our new microgreens class that’s happening every Friday! Can’t attend? Then make sure to subscribe to our blog and YouTube channel for the latest microgreen-growing updates.
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!
#growingmicrogreens #microgreens #microgreen #wateringmicrogreensfromthebottom #wateringmicrogreens
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.
Choosing seeds for microgreens can be a daunting task if you’re a beginner, which is why we’ve developed these 3 steps to consider when choosing your seeds. We at the Nick Greens Grow Team see the value in growing microgreens at home, and we want to share our knowledge with you. Feel free to subscribe to our blog and YouTube channel to get weekly updates on how to grow microgreens from the comfort of your home!
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Hydroponic Seedling Propagation Session Joins Indoor Ag-Conversations Series - August 12, 2020 @ 2pm EST
Indoor Ag-Con, LLC will bring together a panel of industry experts to discuss best practices, technology developments and more during the Free Webinar, "Hydroponic Seedling Propagation," on Wednesday, August 12, 2020, from 2-3 pm EST
'HYDROPONIC SEEDLING PROPAGATION' SESSION JOINS
INDOOR AG-CONVERSATIONS WEBINAR SERIES | AUGUST 12, 2020 @ 2 PM
LAS VEGAS (AUGUST 3, 2020) -- Indoor Ag-Con, LLC will bring together a panel of industry experts to discuss best practices, technology developments and more during the free webinar, "Hydroponic Seedling Propagation," on Wednesday, August 12, 2020, from 2-3 pm EST. The latest addition to the Indoor Ag-Conversations webinar series, the panel will be moderated by Joe Swartz, Vice President, AmHydro; and feature John Jackson, CEO, Sustainable Indoor Growing Systems, Inc (SIGS); Dr. Vijay Rapaka, Ph.D, Corporate Research Manager, Smithers-Oasis and Nick Greens, Founder | Agriculture Specialist, Nick Greens Grow Team.
"The only way to achieve high quality, uniform crops is to start with high quality, uniform seedlings," explains moderator Joe Swartz, AmHydro. During the session, Swartz and the Indoor Ag-Conversations panel will take a deep dive into hydroponic seedling propagation, covering areas including “best in class” techniques & methodologies netting outstanding yield results; technology advances from LEDs and NFTs; environmental controls and more.
The Indoor Ag-Conversation webinar is free and attendees can register at www.indoor.ag/webinar Panelists include
Joe Swartz, Vice President, AmHydro, is a master hydroponic farmer. He has more than 55,000 hours of hands-on greenhouse production time. He is a year-round grower for 35 years and a consultant to the hydroponics industry for more than 20 years. His specialties include professional grower training, system design, and crop production methods. Other specialties include biological pest control, greenhouse business management, specialty produce marketing, and food safety protocols. He has consulted for companies, growers, and investors across the globe. He also has successful growing operations in 66 countries around the world.
Dr. Vijay Rapaka, Ph.D., Corporate Research Manager, Smithers-Oasis, is responsible for new product development and technical support. He also leads the efforts to provide technical support to other Oasis Grower Solution units located globally. Bringing 12 years of industry experience to his position, Rapaka plans to continue Oasis Grower Solutions’ growth by developing innovative products and helping the customers to be more successful. Rapaka also is working to expand the Oasis Grower Solutions’ footprint into new markets and countries. Rapaka is an accomplished researcher who is regularly published in scientific journals and industry trade publications
John Jackson, CEO, SIGS, is an award-winning entrepreneur and University of Arizona alum with an MBA from the Eller College of Management and McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship where he serves as an adjunct lecturer. John has successfully launched investor and grant-funded businesses and operated tech-based companies to early stage revenue. Born in Compton, California, John continues his grandfather’s legacy as a sharecropper of tomatoes in rural Oklahoma and looks to empower all growers to be more sustainable, environmentally responsible, and efficient in their operations by providing the best young plant inputs possible. SIGS aims for growers to “Grow Plants not Seeds," ensuring an optimal head start to their production cycle.
Nick Greens, Founder |Agriculture Specialist, Nick Greens Grow Team started his growing career in 2002 as an apprentice grower for a hydroponics shop in San Diego, California. In 2010, Nick moved to his native Chicago to start growing for Blue Star Produce. During his time there, he perfected his compost tea recipes and became a pioneer in organic microgreens and leafy greens production. He worked for and advised many Chicago indoor farms, including Garfield Produce, Bright Farms, Windy City Greens, Plant Chicago, and Closed Loop Farms. Nick also created the microgreens program at FarmedHere in 2014. He built its first NFT systems, creating crop and lighting recipes, and helped improve monthly sales by nearly 20% by 2016.
Indoor Ag-Con LLC, producers of the premier event for the indoor|vertical farming industry, created the new Indoor Ag-Conversations series to share content originally planned for its May 2020 in-person annual conference that has been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
To learn more about this session, as well as other upcoming programs
on the schedule, visit www.indoor.ag/webinar
ABOUT INDOOR AG-CON LLC
Founded in 2013, Indoor Ag-Con, LLC produces the premier event for the indoor | vertical farming industry touching all sectors of the business — produce, legal cannabis, hemp, alternate protein and non-food crops. In December 2018, three event industry professionals – Nancy Hallberg, Kris Sieradzki and Brian Sullivan – purchased Indoor Ag-Con LLC, setting the stage for further expansion of the events globally. For more information, visit: https://indoor.ag
Indoor Ag-Con, 950 Scales Road, Building #200, Suwanee, GA 30024, United States
Harvesting Microgreens 101: What You Need to Know
Learning when to harvest microgreens is an essential step to the growing process. Since these tiny leafy vegetables tend to grow fast, it’s critical to know when to harvest them
Learning when to harvest microgreens is an essential step to the growing process. Since these tiny leafy vegetables tend to grow fast, it’s critical to know when to harvest them. In this article, we’re going to cover everything there is to know about harvesting microgreens.
Harvesting Microgreens
You can harvest the microgreens during two stages of their growth. Once the seedlings start to grow, you’ll notice the first leaf or pair of leaves which are known as cotyledons. You can harvest your microgreens during this stage, or you can wait until they grow their next set of leaves, which are known as true leaves.
It’s essential to harvest your greens during either of these stages, which can happen within the first two weeks. If you wait too long to harvest, they will start to yellow or have stunted growth. Signs of plant stress can happen from several factors such as soil quality, plant species, and more. This is why it’s best to harvest your microgreens when the cotyledons or true leaves appear.
How to Harvest Your Microgreens
The best times to harvest your microgreens are during the early morning or evening. If you harvest during these times, your microgreens are more likely to be fresh and healthy.
When harvesting microgreens, you’ll need a pair of scissors. Your microgreens should range from about 1 to 4 inches in length. Make sure to cut your microgreens about an inch above the soil. After trimming, wash the ends to remove any unwanted soil or dirt. If you are not cutting above the cotyledons, then the microgreens will not grow any further. You can compost the tray after you’re done harvesting the microgreens.
Washing and Drying
Depending on how you’re growing your microgreens will determine how you’ll wash them. If you’re growing them in soil, it’s recommended to wash the ends to rid them of any leftover soil or dirt so it won’t ruin the taste of your food. However, if your microgreens are growing from other methods, you won’t have to wash them. It’s best to wash your microgreens in cold water to maintain overall freshness. Make sure to remove damaged leaves or other problem areas to avoid an undesirable taste.
Drying your greens is an easy and simple process. Layout the greens in front of a fan and let them dry for a few minutes, and turn them over every so often to ensure they dry completely.
Storing Microgreens
Stored microgreens can last up to several days in the refrigerator. To correctly store your plants, we suggest placing them between paper towers inside a food grade container. This can help extend their shelf life for up to a week or two.
Harvesting microgreens is a simple and easy-to-understand process. Once you’ve harvested your greens, have fun adding them to your salads or dishes of any kind! We at the Nick Greens Grow Team provide useful growing tips to those who want to grow microgreens at home. Make sure to subscribe to our blog and YouTube channel to stay up to date with new at-home growing tips and tricks!
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5 Ways Urban Farming Empowers Communities For Sustainability
Urban farming has the potential to empower cities and communities all over the globe. From backyard farms to community gardens to vertical farming, the possibilities of growing sustainable foods are endless.
Urban farming has the potential to empower cities and communities all over the globe. From backyard farms to community gardens to vertical farming, the possibilities of growing sustainable foods are endless. As more and more urban areas start to implement local farms in their areas, the communities will reel in a wide range of benefits. In this article, we’re going to cover some of the major benefits that communities will experience when using urban farming.
Provides Educational Opportunities
As a society, we are disconnected from our foods; we don’t know where the foods we eat come from. Urban farming will not only teach communities how to grow their own foods, but also will establish a clear understanding of current food systems. This is an incredible learning tool for families to adopt into their livelihood because it will empower them to spread the word to others about the world-changing benefits of urban farming.
Offers Food Security
One of the most reassuring aspects of urban farming is that it bridges the gap of food access. Many densely populated cities are hundreds of miles away from conventional farming areas. With urban farming, these cities will have direct access to food sources in their area. This also allows for reduced food prices since no travel is needed to get the crops from one place to another.
Increases Food Quality
With the ability to have local farms, members will be able to grow a wide variety of foods that aren’t usually seen in supermarkets. Growing heirloom crops or foods with a lower shelf life can’t be done with conventional farming because they won’t last the travel time. Urban farming solves this issue by allowing the community to plant and harvest foods of their own choices without having to worry about shelf life. This allows communities to enjoy fresh, nutritious foods that they may have never seen in a supermarket before.
Creates Job Opportunities
The growth of urban farming will increase the need for community members to get involved, thus creating jobs that directly benefit the city itself. Urban cities tend to have higher cases of poverty and hunger. By establishing local urban farms in cities, more people will be able to get jobs and to learn about how to grow their own food back at home. This will stimulate the local economy and provide an educational outlet to the community.
Reduces Carbon Emissions
With local farms on the rise, there will be less of a need to transport foods to cities. Urban farming will help cut down on the immense amount of fossil fuels that’s needed to transport food from one place to another. This is a great opportunity to reduce a carbon footprint while also empowering communities to grow their own local food sources.
Cities across the nation are beginning to see the value in urban farming, and some have even implemented their own farming systems. We at the Nick Greens Grow team understand the importance of urban cities having direct access to their own food sources. Want to learn more about the future of farming? Subscribe to our blog for weekly updates and to our YouTube channel to learn about educational farming techniques.
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VIDEO: The Produce Industry Podcast With Patrick Kelly. We Chat With Nick Greens, Horticulturist/Consultant at Nick Greens, LLC
In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast with Patrick Kelly we chat with Nick Greens, Horticulturist/Consultant at Nick Greens, LLC
THE PRODUCE INDUSTRY PODCAST
In this episode of The Produce Industry Podcast with Patrick Kelly we chat with Nick Greens, Horticulturist/Consultant at Nick Greens, LLC. Nick Greens started his growing career in 2002. From 2007-2014 Nick made big moves in the industry with vertical and greenhouse farming along with leading new generations for success! Nick and Patrick dive into vertical farming during the COVID-19 pandemic and how teaming up with a greenhouse / vertical farm to create consistent food for your business.
4 Facts You Need to Know About Vertical Farming LED Lighting
One of the main components that make vertical farming possible is the evolution of light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
One of the main components that make vertical farming possible is the evolution of light emitting diodes (LEDs). As LEDs become more and more accessible and affordable, the futuristic idea of vertical farming becomes more realistic for cities all over the globe. In this article, we’re going to share four important facts regarding vertical farming led lighting and how these systems are important to the future of farming.
LEDs are the best lighting system for vertical farming
With their ability to be highly energy efficient, LEDs produce light at optimal power while being able to last a long time. These effective light solutions are able to last for nearly six years, which is quite longer than other lighting solutions. What makes LEDs perfect for vertical farming is that they’re able to be confined in tight spaces with vertical layered crops, and they don’t emit too much heat. Other lighting solutions such as HPS or MH lights will damage vertical farming systems because they release too much heat, which is harmful to the crops.
LEDs are a cost-effective, energy saving solution
HPS lighting systems consume too much power in order to emit the same light levels as LEDs, which is why LED lighting systems are paving the way toward an affordable indoor growing environment. One of the significant benefits of using LED lights is that these advanced lighting systems do not consume as much power, which leads to reduced energy costs and higher productivity.
They use a visible spectrum to match the plant’s grow cycle
The innovative uses behind vertical farming LED lighting is that these systems use wavelengths on a visible spectrum to promote plant growth. When you see those pink colored lighting systems, this means that the LED lighting system is using a minuscule wavelength between the red and blue spectra to produce the pink glow. Plants depend on blue lightwaves to enhance the leaf’s color and prevent stretching, and the red light waves optimize photosynthesis. LED lights are able to emit the wavelengths needed to grow healthy, bountiful plants by mimicking their required natural environment.
LEDs are sustainable solutions to growing foods
Farmers are learning to work with LED lights because of their sustainable, efficient solutions. These vertical farming LED lighting systems are able to provide controlled lighting all-year-round, which allows for optimal plant growth. Also, by having a controlled indoor LED lighting environment, crops are saved from yearly harsh environmental conditions such as flooding, drought, hurricanes, and more. By being able to mimic sunlight, LEDs are a cost-effective solution to growing sustainable and healthy foods all year round indoors.
We at the Nick Greens Grow team are always learning and sharing our advanced farming knowledge with our subscribers. If you want to always stay up-to-date with the newest innovative farming technology subscribe to our YouTube channel for weekly videos or subscribe to our blog to get the latest farming information sent straight to your inbox!
#LEDlighting #verticalfarming #growlights #growfoodwithleds #verticalfarminggrowlights #ledlights #ledgrowlights #verticalfarmingLEDlighting #leds #indoorfarming
Hydroponic Microgreens 2: Marketing Microgreens Feat. Nick Greens
A big thank you to Nick Greens for all the helpful insights he shared with us! Learn more about Nick by visiting Nick Greens Grow Team.
A big thank you to Nick Greens for all the helpful insights he shared with us!
Learn more about Nick by visiting Nick Greens Grow Team.
If you're ready to get started growing, check out some of our favorite systems for microgreens!