The Hope of Spring to Come

This was the scene just yesterday looking towards downtown Milwaukee.  The ice is thick on the water this year.  The Great Lakes are frozen over the most in over a decade.  Ice fishermen are having to use extensions on their augers to get through ice over 3 feet thick.  It is a good thing as our lake level will go up instead of down this year due to the evaporation loss being lower this winter.  The added snow will also help increase lake levels which is also a good thing.  It is just so hard being a gardener and waiting, waiting for spring to show us that it will come.
I heard the broad wing hawks out in the back yard trees calling back and forth today.  There is some snow melt and temperatures are into the 40's again.  We have a weather system moving in tonight but it is a promise of rain rather than white stuff.  It may freeze, but temperatures are going up.
I have much to do in my indoor green space.  I want to get some micro-greens going this weekend.  I have my seeding schedule all laid out, but not on my calendar to make sure I do it on time.  It is also time to make some cuttings and start pitching the old plants soon.  Spring will come, in small, quiet steps.  We turn to look and it disappears, but it is there.
I am looking forward to my annual Art in Bloom held at the Milwaukee Art Museum.  I am taking my oldest daughter for her first time this year.  I have a bonus day this year to spend with a college friend coming into town for the event.  This is such a wonderful time to take in beautiful art work, floral arrangements, and see a world class building.
Spring will come, we just have to go and find it under the snow banks this year.

growing microgreens

How To Grow Micro-greens

Micro-greens are very easy to grow. You can grow them outside, in a garden bed or in containers, or inside on a sunny windowsill.

If you are planting micro-greens in a garden bed, loosen the soil and rake it smooth. Scatter your seed mix so that the seeds are about 1/8 to 1/4 inch apart -- remember, we're harvesting them very young, so they don't need a lot of room. Once the seed is scattered over the area, cover it with about 1/8 of an inch of soil and water gently but thoroughly.

If you're planting in a container, the first step is to choose a container that is at least two inches deep and as large in diameter as you want. Fill it with a good quality organic potting mix, and smooth the soil. Scatter the seeds so that they are about 1/8 to 1/4 inch apart, and cover with 1/8 inch of soil. Water gently but thoroughly, an place your container in a spot where it will get at least four hours of sunlight. If you're growing them indoors, a south-facing window is best, but an eastern or western-facing one will do as well.

In either case, do not let the soil dry out, and be sure to remove any weeds so that the tiny greens don't have to compete with them for water and nutrients. Because you'll be harvesting the greens so young, you don't really need to fertilize them while they're growing. If you've got plenty of organic matter in your garden bed, that will be perfect. For containers, mixing in a bit of granular organic fertilizer to the soil before you plant will work fine, especially if you plan on using the same soil for several plantings of greens (more on this below.) Micro-greens grow for such a short period of time that they are rarely bothered by pests and diseases. However, if you are growing brassicas in your mix (mustard, kale, etc.) and cabbage worms are a problem, you may want to cover your micro-greens with a floating row cover to protect them.

Harvesting Micro-greens

The best time to harvest micro-greens is when they've developed their first set of true leaves (the first ones are seed leaves, and don't look anything like the actual leaves of the plant), which is generally about ten days to two weeks after planting. To harvest, simply snip the micro-greens just above soil level.

Unlike mesclun or baby greens, you won't be able to get additional harvests from one planting of micro-greens. Because the plants haven't had much time to develop, and you're snipping off everything except the very bottom of the stem, the plant has no way to generate new growth. You can plant another crop after harvest by simply scattering fresh seed and covering it with soil. You don't need to remove the old roots; they are good sources of organic matter.

As you can see, micro-greens are simple to grow, and provide you with a quick harvest for not much work. You can add them to salads, sandwiches, or stir-fries, and it's much cheaper to grow your own than it is to purchase them. Experiment with different mixes, adding the varieties you like best. They're definitely deserving of a spot in your garden.

INFORMATION FROM PINETREE GARDENS WITH SEED ORDER