In this week’s CSA box we are featuring the mighty Microgreen, the exact Microgreen in the picture. It is not common to see green growing during these cold winter months but Peko Farms in Omaha, NE is reminding us of summer with their Microgreen Salad. Microgreens are delicious and packed full of the goodness our bodies need. There are so many ways to utilize this Micro powerhouse, adding color and crunch to your favorite meals. We used them as a topping for potato soup and it gave the warm bowl the cool crisp we didn’t know we needed! Check out Peko Farms website and all their Microgreen joy! https://www.pekofarms.com/
Keep reading to learn more about the Merry and Mighty Microgreen! Happy Holidays!!
Microgreens are flavorful, nutrient-dense, immature vegetable and herb seedlings harvested shortly after their first leaves (cotyledons and first true leaves) develop, offering concentrated flavors, colors, and textures to dishes, unlike larger baby greens or roots-included sprouts, and are easily grown at home for enhancing salads, sandwiches, and main courses. Popular types include broccoli, radish, arugula, basil, and cilantro, providing intense flavors and rich vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making them a popular, colorful addition to many cuisines.
Key Characteristics
Harvest Stage: Cut above the soil when 1-3 inches tall, including stems and leaves, around 7-21 days after germination.
Flavor & Nutrition: More intense flavor and higher concentration of vitamins/minerals than mature plants.
Usage: Garnish, ingredient in salads, sandwiches, soups, adding visual appeal and taste.
They are Not Sprouts: Unlike sprouts (root, seed, shoot eaten), microgreens have developed leaves and are grown in soil/medium.
Popular Varieties
Brassicaceae: Broccoli, radish (spicy), arugula, kale.
Herbs: Basil, cilantro, dill.
Leafy Greens: Swiss chard, spinach, beet.
Other: Sunflower, pea, amaranth, quinoa.
Benefits & Uses
Nutrient Powerhouse: Rich in antioxidants, vitamins (C, E, K), minerals.
Culinary Enhancement: Adds color, texture (crunch), and concentrated flavor to dishes.
Home Growing: Easy to grow indoors on windowsills or under lights.
Growing Tips
Medium: Use soil or growing mats.
Watering: Bottom water to keep leaves clean; use a spray bottle initially.
Light: Provide light after initial blackout period (24-48 hrs) for stem elongation.
Harvest: Snip just above soil line when ready.
