Before you think about preparing tomato seedlings or early lettuce, check the potential of young leaves, i.e. microgreens - vegetables and herbs for home cultivation, ready to eat in the early growth stage.
Microgreens (young leaves) - what is it?
Young leaves, also known as baby leaf and microgreens, are the cotyledons and first leaves of edible plants. They are, like the sprouts, a superfood. It is a term for unprocessed, ecologically obtained food, especially rich in vitamins, minerals and other ingredients that have a beneficial effect on the human body.You can buy vegetable and herb seeds for young leaves in a wide variety of your choice.
Seeds of lettuce, cabbage, onion, radish and watercress are very popular, i.e. species typical for home gardens - known, liked and proven.Amateurs of culinary experiments will pay attention to appetizing novelties, such as rocket seeds, scallops and watercress.Young leaves of basil, coriander, dill, and even low or even nasturtium Perilla, usually grown for ornamental purposes.
What is the difference between growing microgreens and babyleaf?
Home production of baby leaf differs from the production of vegetable seedlings only in one aspect: it takes less time (only 2-3 weeks) and yields incomparably faster. To sow seeds on young leaves, you should have a seedling tray or a shallow pot.
Special microgreens are available for sale - flat trays that take up little space but offer a fairly large surface area for dense sowing.A significant advantage of young leaves is the fact that they are eaten before they develop extensive root systems, so they do not need deep containers.
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(photo: press release) |
Do microgreens need fertilizer to grow?
To grow them, you only need a few handfuls of universal soil, the same that you use for potted flowers. The substrate should be light and permeable, but it must also absorb moisture well. Better not to use soil from the garden as it may contain seeds from fast-growing weeds or pest eggs. When the container is ready, moisten the substrate with a sprinkler, sow the seeds densely on the young leaves and cover them with a thin layer of soil.
That's it! The whole care of young vegetables and herbs boils down to watering them twice a day - preferably with a water spray from a sprayer. Such cultivation can be done at home all year round.
Microgreens - how to apply?
Young leaves are soft, crisp and juicy, and therefore extremely tasty. As Polish stores offer various types of baby leaf seeds, it is easy to create a bouquet of the best flavors that will fully suit our culinary tastes.Proponents of gentle leaves can plant alfalfa, sweet pea, kohlrabi, broccoli or beetroot seeds.
A sharper, more distinctive taste has young leaves of Sarepska mustard, kale, radish and leafy chicory.All of them will enrich your lunch salad perfectly, successfully replacing iceberg lettuce. Microgreens can also be served on sandwiches or decorate meat and vegetarian dishes.
The choice of species of vegetables and herbs for young leaves on the domestic market is so rich that everyone will find something for themselves.
author: Małgorzata Lasota
