How to Assemble Your Microgreens Kit
Step 1Â - Prepare the growing tray
Unpack your kit. It contains the growing tray, growing medium, seeds, and foil cover. Put the black tray with holes on top of its lid. The lid will catch any overflow of water.
Step 2Â - Hydrate the "soil"
Put the hard, dry, soil piece in the growing tray, add 1 cup of warm water, and watch the soil expand! It’s actually pretty cool to see. The soil will be ready after a few minutes.
Step 3 - Spread the soil
Spread the wet soil evenly in the black container and gently pat it flat, (the back of a spatula is perfect for this). It should be firm, but not compact.
Step 4Â - Add the seeds
Carefully open the small envelope with seeds and sprinkle all the seeds evenly on top of the soil. A basic rule is to allow the seeds enough breathing room, which is about the size of the seed itself. If seeds are too close together, they can often tangle, preventing successful growth. Sprinkle the soil and seeds with a little more water if the soil seems dry. It should be damp, but not soggy.
Step 5 - Cover the tray and let the seeds grow
Cover the tray with the enclosed aluminum foil sheet to shield the seeds from light. Store the tray away from sunlight, and check it every day to make sure the soil is not dry. Add water to the bottom tray if needed.
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You know your microgreens are ready when:​
Keep the seeds covered with the foil until the baby leaves (cotyledons) begin to emerge, and then wait one more day. It is important to keep your crop in the dark for about the first 3-5 days to force your crop to grow in the struggle for light. This makes the microgreens sturdier.
On about day 5, uncover the tray and set it in a well lit location. Direct sunlight, fluorescent, or incandescent lights all work. Microgreens should be exposed to light all day, but don't require direct sunlight.
Let them grow for an additional 6 days or so (about 9-11 days after starting the seeds) until they are about 2-3 inches tall. Check daily and bottom water when needed - they should be moist, but not soggy.
To harvest, use scissors to trim the microgreens just above the soil line. You can eat them right away or store cut microgreens in a tightly closed container in your refrigerator for up to 10 days. Make sure they are dry before you store them. (Do not reuse the coconut coir dirt. It can grow bacteria. It is best to use brand new, dry dirt every time you start a new batch of seeds.)
