Micro-greens are baby plants (mainly vegetables and herbs) that are grown densely and consumed while they are still young and little.

Lots of colours, a variety of tastes and textures, high nutrition content, quick growing and easy care, etc. make micro-green more attractive for people to eat. They are easy to grow, are healthy, cheap and because they are consumed so soon after planting are very satisfying to grow.

For delicious, tender Microgreens, it is vital to cut or pick them above the soil line when they're very young as their first true leaves appear. Consequently, harvest time comes quickly, only two to three weeks after sowing.

Serving ideas
As a raw salad; Steamed salad; Cooked salad; Stir fry; Blended smoothies; Cole slaws; Sandwich; Wrap or roll; Sushi; Garnish for cooked dishes; Snack on the run! Eat them any way you like!

This is just a sample of suitable plants.

Amaranth, Alfalfa, Basil, Beetroot, Broccoli, Cabbage, Calendula, Cauliflower, Celery, Chick Weed, Coriander, Corn Salad, Courgette, Cress, Cucumber, Dill, Edible Chrysanth, Endive, Fennel, Flax, Garlic, Chives, Kale, Lettuces, Mesclun, Mibuna, Mizuna, Miners Lettuce, Mustard, NZ Spinach, Orache, Pak Choi, Parsley, Peas, Puha, Pumpkins, Purslane, Radish, Rocket, Silverbeet, Snap Peas, Spinach, Squash, Sunflower, Tat Soi, Viola, Water Cress, Water Spinach, Wheatgrass, et al

--Growing condition
Warmth and humidity are essential - either indoor or with cold protection, outdoors.

--Containers
Shallow trays are fine. But why not be inventive and recycle something attractive so long as they have got holes in the bottom.

--Growing medium
Ideally should use organic seed raising mix. However, potting mix or compost or garden mix can do the same job. You should use a sieve to rid those larger pieces out from your growing mix.

--Sowing the seeds and pre-germination care
Fill the tray with growing mix; Level and firm it with flat bottom object; Moisten the growing mix thoroughly; Lay the seeds or seed mix densely and evenly on the growing mix surface; Sprinkle a thin and even layer of growing mix to cover the seeds; Spray with clean water, using trigger sprayer; Cover with glass pane if necessary, or a single sheet of wet paper, and remove it when germination happens. Place the tray under protection (from un-favourable heat, cold, wind, etc. ). Keep the surface moist and never let it dry out.

--Post emergence care
Water once or twice a day; Place it into sun around 2 hours per day; You can feed them with sea salt or rock salt solution (2 tablespoon to 5 liters water). This will supply sufficient range of micro and macro elements.

--Harvest
Trim them from about 1cm above the growing mix surface with scissor or paper cutter.

--Post harvesting
Alternatively, you may cut them a little higher or just harvest bigger leaves from the growing tray at first time. Leave them to continue and harvest a second cuts later. After final harvesting, turn the growing mix with roots into your compost bin or direct into soil.

--Succession planting
Sow your micro-green seeds every 3 or 4 days interval, so that you will have continuing supply for your table.