Tea Cup Microgreens: don't underestimate the power of these babies
Diverse flavors, nutrient dense, and you can grow them in a cup!
By Patty Kelly
5/8/20242 min read
Microgreens are the young seedlings of vegetables and herbs and these little guys are packed with nutritional benefits. They are often even more nutrient-dense than their fully mature counterparts. The science has shown that microgreens can contain up to 4 to 40 times more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants compared to the fully grown plant. They are highly concentrated with vitamins C, E, And K, as well as polyphenols (cell damage protectors) that contribute to reduced inflammation, improved heart health, and enhanced immune function. And come on, you can grown them in a tea or coffee cup! Now how cute is that?
So the next time you clean out your cupboard set aside some old mugs, or pop in to a thrift store and choose a few favorite cups on the cheap. Within a week you can brighten your window sill with greenery that will nourish both your soul and body. Here are super easy instructions to get you started.
Basic Microgreens Planting Instructions
Add organic starter soil to your cup
Sprinkle microgreen seeds across the soil generously
Cover seeds with very thin layer of soil then spray with water. Now place inside of a large baggie and close it up to keep in the moisture. Leave it inside where it’s dark and warm. I've put mine in my closets.
In about 3 days your plants will have sprouted and now you can take the cups out of the baggies and bring them out to the light. Grow lights or sunshine or both.
Water twice a day, morning and evening with a spray bottle.
In about two days you will see more growth, then 4 or 5 days later they will be ready for harvest. (About 10 days to two weeks total depending on the type of plant)
To harvest you can cut the stems just above the soil with scissors.
Rinse, pat dry in paper towel or clean cloth and they are ready to add to your favorite sandwich or dish!
Once they are cut they don’t grow back again. To re-use the soil just flip it around and add some fresh soil mix on top and put down some new seeds and start over!