Here you will find all the information and detailed instructions about the different types of cultivation.
We distinguish between growing as microgreens on soil or on the cress screen and as sprouts:
The classic way to grow microgreens: this way if you own the Keimgrün Microgreen Starter Pack or the Grow-Grow Nut.
Especially suitable for slime-forming varieties such as cress and arugula: this way if you want to try growing with a cress screen.
Without soil and space at the window - sprouts are extremely easy to grow. This way if you have one or more of our sprout jars.
To get you started in the world of microgreen cultivation, we have filmed the typical steps on video:
Especially slightly larger microgreen seeds should be soaked in a container of water beforehand. You can find the exact soaking times for each seed here. Please note that the seeds will rise and soak up water - so use a larger container and more water.
Depending on the cultivator, different procedures need to be followed from now on. If you have the Keimgrün starter set, pull the individual pots apart and place them in the tray. With the Grow-Grow Nut, soak the tray for at least 2-3 hours and then place it on a suitable bowl.
Distribute the soil contained in the Keimgrün Microgreen starter pack evenly in the pots. The Grow-Grow Nut comes with a so-called coco soil tile, which you now place in the coco bowl (bowl underneath!) and pour water over it until it has soaked up. Then spread it evenly.
Once you have evenly distributed the soil, carefully press it down with a spoon or other object.
Now everything is ready and the (soaked) seeds can be sown. Please make sure that you distribute the seeds evenly and that nothing lies on top of each other. The less space the greens have to breathe, the more susceptible your grow will be to mould.
You already know this step with the soil: press the seed gently against the soil to make the germination process and nutrient supply easier for the plants from the start. Sunflowers and peas can root better in the soil if you cover them with a thin layer of soil.
Now apply a little water to the seeds with a sprayer. It is important not to "drown" them directly at the start: If the seeds start to float, you have definitely used too much water.
First cover the container with a tea towel. Now you should spray your superfood with water every morning and evening. Please note that you should always keep it sufficiently moist, but never overwater it. As soon as many leaves have formed (normally after 3-4 days), you can remove the tea towel and let the microgreens grow in the daylight. From then on you have another option for watering that you can try out: Watering from below! Many professional microgreen growers water their microgreens from root formation onwards by placing a bottom tray (e.g. an unperforated tray or a plate for the Grow-Grow Nut) under the actual growing unit and filling it with water. If the layer of soil is not too high (especially with the pots in the Keimgrün starter set, this can happen!), the plants can then draw exactly as much water as they need from below.
Depending on the variety, you can harvest your microgreens after 8-14 days. To retain as many vitamins as possible, you should always cut the microgreens with scissors or a knife only when you really want to eat them. However, they keep well for a few days in the fridge. The finer the microgreens, the quicker you should consume them. Conversely, peas can be kept in the fridge for up to 14 days without losing much of their flavour! Sunflowers in particular should be harvested as soon as the seed coats have fallen off and both cotyledons are present, otherwise they taste bitter.
Now for the cultivation of microgreens completely without soil:
You should also soak the cress sieve seeds in a container of water beforehand. You can find the exact soaking times for each seed here. Please note that the seeds will rise and soak up water - so use a larger container and more water.
Then distribute the seeds on the cress sieve. Important: There should be at least one seed space between each seed, as they will still swell.
Water your seeds twice a day until they take root and then always cover them with a plate or something similar so that the seeds do not dry out so quickly.
After 2-3 days the roots will have grown through the sieve and you can remove the cover. From now on, it is best to rinse the seedlings and roots twice a day under running water.
Seeds from the cress sieve can be eaten root and all. When harvesting, you can "pick" the plants rather than cutting them off.
To get you started in the world of sprout cultivation, we have filmed the typical steps:
When growing sprouts, soak each seed directly in the sprouting jar at the beginning. You can find the soaking times for the different varieties here.
Then empty the sprout jar over the sink and place it at an angle so that the remaining water can drain off. Now rinse your sprouts in the morning and evening, in warm places or in summer preferably also at noon. Fill the jar with fresh water, shake it a little, empty out the water again and place the sprout jar upside down at an angle in the holder. Important: Leave a little space on the sieve after each watering so that the air can circulate.
After only a few days, when you are satisfied with the size of your sprouts, you can take them out of the sprout jar and use them directly in delicious dishes. If you don't want to eat them all at once, you can store them in the fridge for a few days.
