You don't need to have a green thumb to embark on the adventure of microgreens and sprouted seeds and to be able to harvest living foods, rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber.
Germination refers to the resumption of development of the embryo from the nutrient reserves contained in the seed. This is precisely what makes shoots and sprouted seeds so interesting from a nutritional point of view: they actually contain all the nutrients necessary for the development of a plant (it takes a lot!), but in a small fresh shoot, crunchy and tasty.
Without being superfoods, sprouts and microgreens are therefore a nutrient concentrate, in addition to being very digestible antioxidants. Among their advantages, it should also be mentioned that you can grow them at a low cost.
What are sprouts and microgreens?
Sprouted seeds are seeds that emerge from dormancy when conditions are suitable (temperature and humidity) and begin germination. They are harvested as soon as they emerge from the germ, when they still have their cotyledons. The cotyledons or “seed leaves” are the first false leaves, fleshy and loaded with the nutrient reserves of the seed. Germination time varies depending on the type of seed. Alfalfa and broccoli seeds can take as little as 3 to 4 days while onion and chives can take 10 to 13 days.
Microshoots come from the same types of seeds and also go through the germination stage, but they are grown on a substrate (soil, coconut fiber ) and harvested after the formation of the first true leaves (which therefore appear after the cotyledons). ). It is the stem that comes out of the ground that is consumed.
So it all depends on our tastes. The idea is to carry out tests to find out at what time of growth the taste delights us the most.
A wide variety of seeds are available for germination and for growing microgreens. We recommend you to try Rabb Broccoli , Alfalfa , Lentils , Red Cabbage , Sunflower , Daikon Radish , Super Hong Vit Radish , Arugula , etc.
Discover our collection of seeds for germination here
There are also seed mixtures that are interesting to experiment with. The company WH Perron, for example, offers an Energy Blend (composed of 45% alfalfa, 10% arugula, 10% fennel, 10% flax, 10% sesame, 10% fenugreek and 5% white mustard) and a Vitality Blend (composed of 40% alfalfa, 30% red clover, 10% Daikon radish, 10% Sango radish and 10% broccoli rabe). 
Basic Principles for Sprouting
Choose quality, organic seeds. Old seeds will have a lower germination rate than fresher seeds. And it goes without saying that you prefer untreated seeds to pesticides.
Estimate the quantity of seeds and remember that the sprouts will expand quite a bit. Start with a small amount the first time, so you'll be able to see how much you can fit into your container.
Wash your seeds and soak them before putting them in your container. Soaking will have the effect of breaking dormancy. Some sources have recommendations for soaking time for a particular type of seed such as: small seeds = soaking 5 hours; large seeds = soaking 10 hours; legumes = soaking for 12 hours. You can also consider that by letting them soak overnight, you solve this step. Water your plants with the soaking water, it is rich in nutrients and enzymes.
You will have to rinse your seeds every day with clean water. This is a very important step, especially at the beginning. Certain inhibitory substances, present in the seed coat, immobilize the germ's growth enzymes. You can even rinse twice a day, especially when it's very hot. You will rinse until the water runs clear and then let it drain well.
Some seeds require more light to green up: germinations do not need light (they should not be exposed to the sun), but if you want greener ones (like basil, coriander and peas for example ), simply expose them to light, but only at the end of growth.
Harvest your seeds and store them properly. The best way to preserve your harvest will be to protect them from air, light and humidity, in a cool place, in airtight containers. They keep for about a week in the refrigerator.
Different ways to proceed
There are several ways to go about making germinations and shoots, we suggest a few:
Sprouter
There are multi-tier sprouters expressly designed for germination. The advantage of this type of germinator is that it is possible to germinate different types of seeds separately and simultaneously. They are designed to allow each tray to drip during rinsing and the last tray which collects the rinsing water must be emptied each time. The fact that the seeds are flat allows good ventilation and reduces the risk of mold.
Sprouting jar method
You can take a glass jar and use it for your germination. This involves putting a net, a perforated cover , a filter , or even a mosquito net in place of the cover to allow drainage after your rinses. You will place your pot with the opening down, tilted, on a bowl or plate so that excess water drains away, but air can circulate. Every day, you can shake your container when rinsing and turn it after draining to allow good ventilation.
Basic Principles for Sprouts
If you want to have microgreens rather than germinations, you will need a substrate in which the seeds will take root. There is potting soil designed expressly for seeds and shoots , normally based on sphagnum peat, coconut fiber and natural fertilizer, which has the advantage of having good retention while being very aerated. There are also coconut fiber growing mats , for those who don't want to get their hands in the ground. Cultivation on these mats is done very cleanly.
Estimate the quantity of seeds to cover your potting soil or fiber mat.
You will need to soak your seeds, just like with germination, to bring them out of dormancy and to make it easier to induce the germination process.
Place your potting soil in a container. It can be any container that is not too deep. Lightly moisten the potting soil before spreading the seeds in a single layer. Avoid stacking the seeds, this will allow better aeration. If you are growing different seeds, sow the larger ones a little deeper and leave the smaller ones on the surface, it will be more uniform when it grows.
To prevent fungal diseases, you can add soil activator to your potting soil. Composed of beneficial microorganisms for the soil, it is a tip which will also allow better growth of your shoots.
After spreading the seeds, add a thin layer of substrate to cover them and moisten again. It will be important to ensure that the substrate always remains moist, but never soggy. You can put plastic wrap on your container at first to retain humidity and encourage germination.
Place your container in a fairly dark location, which will allow the stem to lengthen. Ideally, you will wait until your shoots reach a certain height before cutting them for consumption, both leaves and stems. This can take up to 21 days, depending on the variety.
If you see mold, it's probably due to lack of ventilation. We advise you to discard your attempt and start again. Do not eat these microgreens. If you see small flies (sciarids) these are soil flies that appear due to humidity, but they are harmless. You can place yellow sticky traps to get rid of them.
At the time of germination, microgreens do not need sunlight. When the leaves are out, you can expose them to the sun to make them green up.
The best way to store your microgreens once picked will be in a cool place, in the refrigerator, without rinsing them.
The consumption
Sprouts and microgreens can enhance quite a few dishes: salads, accompaniments to meat or fish, sandwich, burger or pizza garnish, soup decoration. You can also include them in your smoothies and juices…
Enjoy your food!
