If you adore the taste of sunflower seeds then you are absolutely going to love these sunflower microgreens. You be glad to know sunflower microgreens are super easy to grow and require very little time for growth.
Sunflower Microgreens vs. Sunflower Plants.
You must be wondering “what are sunflower microgreens?” or about the difference between these microgreens and the sunflower plants. Both of these are quite similar, they belong to the same species. However, these microgreens have the unique ability to be harvested much sooner than the sunflower plants. Planting sunflower microgreen is quite an easy task to do, plus it will help you learn about new tips and tricks for indoor gardening activities. It does not matter if you grow these microgreens in a small apartment or a large outdoor garden, you will enjoy the results nevertheless.
How Long to Grow Sunflower Microgreens?
Sunflower microgreens only require a minimum of 2 weeks to grow, hence, you can enjoy these nutritious and completely organic seedlings in a matter of days. Aside from this, sunflower microgreens can be added to multiple dishes, so diversify the taste of your dishes and make them exquisite by adding these sunflower microgreens to them.
How to Grow Sunflower Microgreens
(Complete list of Equipment Below)
Although growing these sunflower microgreens is easy but you would still need some necessary equipment that would aid you in planting the microgreens. For starters, you will need to buy plant-growing trays, you can get these from a local store or order them online. Next, you need to find the Espoma seed starting mix, this mix ensures that the plant gets the right nutrients and will ensure moisture retention.
Aside from this, you will need some worm coconut coir for the healthy growth of the microgreens. Finally, all you have to do is to buy sunflower seeds, make sure that the seeds are completely organic. Do not worry about fertilizers as the sunflower sprouts get almost everything from the seed. Let’s discuss the growing process now!
Soaking Sunflower Microgreen Seeds
Before you do anything, you need to soak the seeds. Soaking the seeds ensures that’s the outer hard shell of the seed becomes soft, this helps in the quick germination of the seed. Usually, the seeds have a tough hard shell, so try to soak the seeds for at least 24 hours. However, if you are in a hurry to plant the seeds then you can soak the seeds for a minimum of 4 hours, any less than this time will leave the seeds with a hard outer shell which can slow down the germination process. The longer you soak these little seeds the better they will sprout.
For soaking the seeds take a bowl and pour room-temperature water, make sure that the water is not too warm as too much heat can sterilize the sunflower microgreen seeds. After this, dump the sunflower microgreen seeds in the bowl, after at least 12 hours empty the bowl, rinse the seeds properly and refill the bowl. You can start planting the seeds after waiting for another 12 hours when the seeds start to crack open.
Planting Sunflower Microgreen Seeds
Start the planting step by pouring water at the bottom of the growing tray and a layer of soil on the top. This will ensure that the soil absorbs the water and enables the growth of fungus, fill the soil line just beneath the top of the tray, and compress it to make it smooth. After this, start placing the seeds of sunflower microgreens on the top of the tray and scatter them to avoid overlapping the seeds, and make sure that every space is covered by the seeds. Next, you need to cover the seeds by placing another tray on top of this because these seeds are used to germinating underground hence a cover will aid the growth of the seeds.
Growing
You will be surprised at how fast these sunflower microgreens grow! Keep the lid on the seeds while they are sprouting and check them at least twice a day. In a couple of days, the microgreen sunflower seeds will sprout into baby sunflower microgreens, they will be decolored due to the lack of light. The decolorization can be cured by removing the cover and exposing the tray to light.
Expose the planting tray to at least 12-18 hours of light each day. The closer the sunlight is to the tray the better. Once the soil begins to dry out, water them from the bottom by putting the tray inside of a big tray of water. Keep an eye out for the fungus growth, or sunflower microgreens mold. If you see any sign of white growth on the seeds treat them with grapefruit seed extract.
Harvesting Sunflower Microgreens
In a matter of only two weeks, these microgreens will be ready for harvest. Make sure that the sunflower microgreens are at least 3-4 inches long, harvest the seedlings before their true leaves start to grow. If you harvest them after this the flavor will be slightly bitter. For the harvest, you would need some sharp scissors and a bowl, start by removing the beheaded roots from the soil first. Move the microgreens to the bowl and continue with the remaining tray. You can store the microgreens in a sealed container and keep them in the fridge.
Equipment for Growing Sunflower Microgreens
Sunflower Microgreen Seeds
- Our certified organic sprouting seeds are non-GMO, grown in our sustainable farms in the USA without toxic chemicals or preservatives that could cause health risks.
- Reduce Blood Sugar And Inflammation: Our premium seed sprouts are rich in B complex vitamins essential.
- Add Flavor To Your Dishes: With the juicy leaves and the scrumptious nutty taste, our sunflower sprouts are delicious in your salads, sandwiches, bowls.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Growing Trays
- Plant Germination Starter Kit: The seedling starter trays kit is made of PVC plastic material, and the quality is thicker, strong and not easy to deform.
- Greenhouse Grow Trays: In addition to planting vegetables, flowers, herbs and other plants in the soil, the base tray can also placing peat pellet.
- Seed Propagator Tray: 24-cell seed starting clone trays are convenient for centralized management, easy to operate and save your time and energy.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Epsoma Mix
- Premium Potting Mix
- Country Of Origin: United States
- Brand Name: Esp
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Coconut Coir
- 100% Natural & organic, OMRI Listed. Each brick weighs 10 lbs
- High-grade coconut coir with low EC and pH levels
- 100% natural, renewable replacement for peat moss, rockwool & perl
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Grow Light
- Perfect for indoor plants: light system for starting seeds, propagating cuttings and growing indoor flowers and houseplants
- Premium quality: T5 high output fluorescent fixture with wide reflector and one T5 bulb provides maximum coverage
- Measures approximately 25 by 18-1/2 by 30 Inch, super easy assem
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Spray Bottle
- Our 32 ounce (about 950 ml) heavy duty spray bottles are made from HDPE plastic, recycle code # 2, which is chemically resistant, safe for chemical solutions.
- Our professional sprayer features a long lasting polypropylene spray head, tight and secure cap closure, internal cap gasket, 302 stainless steel spring and a precision valve and piston for a no clog and no leak experience.
- From a fine mist to a solid stream, the sprayer can be easily adjusted to suit your needs.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Sunflower Microgreen Nutrition
Now that you see how easy it is to grow yourself, we’ll let you in on secret. There are some great microgreen growing kits that can get you started. Let’s talk about the benefits of adding sunflower microgreens to your diet. Believe it or not, they are a source of protein for vegans. A quarter-cup contains about 160 calories. Also, a great supply of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. They also have vitamins including A, B, E, and K. As well as minerals like Calcium, Copper, Iron, Selenium, Zinc, and Magnesium. For more detail on Sunflower nutrition check out WebMD.
Sunflower Microgreen Recipe
Conclusion
Now that you know how to grow sunflower microgreens, start your own sunflower microgreen garden and keep it going with some scraps you save from the harvest. These microgreens are very nutritious and can aid you in making exquisite dishes in your kitchen. Sunflower microgreens are very easy to store as well. You can have an entire garden of these little organic microgreens in your house which can save you from the hassle of going to the store every day to buy these again and again. With some luck, your kitchen will be loaded with fresh, exotic mushrooms to amplify the presentation of your regular meals.
