Mustard seeds and Microgreens have come together to make a new kind of miracle green. This miracle green is a high-fibered, succulent vegetable that grows quickly and easily. It’s the size of a big cabbage, yet has only five inches of height. The tiny purple, red or yellow seeds have been prized for centuries as a food source for families who live by themselves or for those who enjoy growing their own vegetables.
For centuries, the mustard seed has been used by nomadic tribes as a cure all for various illnesses. Today, people from cities on the east coast of the United States to mountain villages in the foothills of the Himalayas enjoy eating microgreens grown in their gardens. These greens are harvested and sold as hot green salads. The seeds are considered by the experts to be crunchy and mild tasting with a slight mustard flavor.
A number of species of mustard seeds are available for planting, including two broad categories. One is the round yellow seeds, which are about one-eighth the size of a quarter. These seeds are easy to germinate and grow into lovely little plants. The second is the square seed which, as the name implies, is half the size of a quarter.
The key to growing these plants is to sow them in the spring and to keep them under control until the fall. Keep an eye on the plants during the growing season to see how many of them you can get to produce an abundance of tasty salad greens. You want to harvest enough seeds to fill your garden with nutritious, attractive blooms. There are many methods for getting these seeds to grow. Here are a few of the more popular methods.
Determining the appropriate place to plant these seeds is one of the most important parts of planting microgreens. Choose a spot in your garden that gets at least six hours of sunlight. The best places are those that receive direct sunlight for at least eight hours each day. If your seeds are not sown in a container, be sure to place a plastic cover over them when they are finished growing. The plastic will help protect the seeds from sun damage.
The next step is to buy or collect a large supply of mustard seeds. Seed saving can be done with these seeds by simply freezing them after they have been sown so that you have plenty to plant. Place them in large pots or bags and put them in the refrigerator until you need them.
After the seeds have matured, you can move them to small pots or bags. Be sure to carefully wash the seed bags before planting them in the garden. For the first three months of growing microgreens, you can move the seeds in small pots. They will soon turn yellow and dry out if left in the same place for too long. When you transplant them into containers for planting, place them on top of moist soil and water well.
After the seed has started to sprout, it will be necessary to pull them as they grow. This should be done without damaging the seed. You can dig them up and spread them around the garden, but most people choose to save seeds for later planting. Some people even store seeds for later planting in the fall when the weather is not as cold. Microgreens are very versatile and are easy to grow, but try growing mustard seeds in your garden to see what you think.
If you are looking for a plant that will provide colorful blooms throughout the year, then using microgreens are ideal. They have many different colors to offer including red, orange, purple, yellow, green and cream. However, you do not have to plant these seeds. You can simply use them as an ornamental feature in your flowerbeds and planters.
You can save seeds from late summer through October when the temperatures are warm. These seeds will germinate quickly and will sprout new foliage in a few weeks. Choose a warm location for planting seeds because it will be necessary to keep the soil at this temperature. If the seeds start to droop after a rainstorm, they will need to be pulled up and replanted.
Many local nurseries offer microgreens and most of them sell them at reasonable prices. You can save money by buying a variety of seeds instead of one type. Microgreen plants can be used for ornamental purposes on a flowerbed or in a planter. You can save money on the gas used to drive to the nursery and save time by purchasing microgreens in bulk at the local nursery.