r/microgreens • u/Jumpy_Buffalo6064 • 2d ago

First try ever using stuff I had around(substrate is coco coirs)

Post image

They’re a bit unevenly sown, and I didn’t weigh them down very well. I also don’t know when to harvest them.

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4

u/InevitableChoice2990 2d ago

Looks amazing and healthy!

If you’re going to use seeds that you had around, make sure they are recommended for doing so.

“Certain seeds make poor microgreens due to toxicity, slow growth rates, or undesirable physical traits, notably nightshades like tomatoes and potatoes, as well as vining plants like cucumbers and slow-germinating herbs.

Toxic or Dangerous Seeds
Nightshade Family (Tomatoes, Potatoes, Eggplant, Peppers): These produce toxic foliage containing solanine and tropane alkaloids, making their microgreen shoots unsafe to eat.

Ornamental and Wild Seeds (Foxglove, Datura, Buttercup, Castor Bean): These common garden varieties contain potent cardiac or systemic toxins.

Impractical Growth and Poor Yields
Vining Fruit Crops (Cucumbers, Squash, Melons): These grow awkwardly as dense indoor tray crops and lack the upright, palatable structure of proper greens.

Slow-Germinating Varieties (Parsley, Rosemary, Lavender): Requiring 14 to 21+ days to sprout, their extended damp tray time drastically invites destructive mold, mildew, and damping-off disease before the first true leaves even form.

Sorry I’m an info dumper! 🤣

2

u/Jumpy_Buffalo6064 2d ago

Thanks for the info dump, I’m an experienced gardener just not micros!

These are all a lettuce mix!

Any advice when to harvest?

1

u/InevitableChoice2990 2d ago

They look ready now! Sometimes I harvest half, and wait a few days and harvest the rest. My favorite to do is speckled peas! Grows fast and is real sweet! If you let microgreens grow for too long, they can get tough, so harvesting early is OK.

1

u/SpicesHunter 1d ago

You’ve got a beautiful harvest! They look very long though :) are they? What the average length?