Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: New shoot on February 12, 2018, 13:56

Title: Micro greens - macro benefits?
Post by: New shoot on February 12, 2018, 13:56
I got a small grow-light set-up as a present so I've been looking at growing these inside over winter.  John has a bit in his diary about experimenting with them, but my chickens are unlikely to get a look in.  I want them for me  :lol:

Sorting Seeds & Potting Shed Problem - Allotment Garden Diary (http://www.allotment-garden.org/garden-diary/5551/sorting-seeds-potting-shed-problem/)

There is a lot of hype around, but also some serious scientific data which says that grown with full spectrum light, these little seedlings have the same levels of antioxidants as their full grown forms.  Quite interesting I thought.   I grow sprouted beans and seeds for winter salads, so micro greens fit into my diet pretty easily.

I have been picking up cheap packs of seeds to use - seed sales and the basic ranges which I can add to orders where you get several hundred seeds for around £1/£1.50.  I've focussed on brassicas for now - cabbage, kale, PSB, turnip, mizuna and rocket, but you can grow other stuff.

Anyone else had a go?

 
Title: Re: Micro greens - macro benefits?
Post by: Nobbie on February 12, 2018, 16:13
I just bought a £15 27w LED grow panel off eBay to grow some early toms and chilli's, so it will be in use until spring now, but I might try this next autumn/winter, so will be interested to see how you get on.
Title: Re: Micro greens - macro benefits?
Post by: New shoot on February 12, 2018, 20:20
My set-up is a bit more dinky-do and really designed for just a few small trays of salad leaves or micro greens. There is no way it is going to accommodate all my peppers and aubergines, so they will just have to rough it on the windowsills.  Tomatoes are still in the seed packet and staying there for a while yet.

It has been pressed into service for the next few days to keep seedlings happy before some move to the greenhouse, so once they are out, we're off and running  :)
Title: Re: Micro greens - macro benefits?
Post by: Beloved Porcupine on February 12, 2018, 20:38
I am doing these this year to clear up some old/open packs of seed (really, how could I have too many packs of seeds??) 

I have done, peas, mizuna, kale, radish, chard, rocket basil, and beet.  They are going great guns now; I am just waiting for second sets of leaves before adding them to salads, sandwiches, etc.  You should be able to get a  second cutting from peas.

I have a very bright but cool-ish sunroom, so I planted them in old takeaway boxes and popped them by the window.  It is nice way to tidy up old seeds, you get a fun thing to grow when not much else is (it scratches that planting itch), and they are tasty!
Title: Re: Micro greens - macro benefits?
Post by: theothermarg on February 13, 2018, 11:27
I was thinking along the lines of using old brassica seeds as well but haven't got a light setup but have got a sunny windowsill and a sheltered greenhouse.  I've just started some cut n come again lettuce so could sow brassicas similar but cut them like cress couldn't I ?
Didn't think of turnips as a leaf veg, I have some in my stash but don't like them as a root veg.
Lidl is a good place for basic seeds 5 for a pound at the moment I think.