Micro Greens the Hottest Food Trend of 2009

Micro greens are the hottest food trend of 2009. Grow some and find out why! What are micro greens? They are succulent, tasty young seedlings. Unlike sprouts, they are grown in soil. Picked fresh, at the peak of taste, they are nutrient dense and oh, so flavorful! The most successful plants for micro-greens are: arugula, beets, chicory and cress.

You can choose to pay a hefty price for them at your favorite gourmet restaurant. Many enterprising entrepreneurs are making a tidy sum by capitalizing on this new niche. Or you may prefer to simply grow your own. Growing micro greens is as easy as 1-2-3. No special skills or expensive equipment is needed.

Start by looking around your home to see what kind of containers you have. Old butter tubs, plastic containers with long lost lids, salad bowls from fast food restaurants, even toy buckets can all be used. Unless you also plan to use the container as a centerpiece when you serve the greens, it really doesn't have to be pretty. Functional and inexpensive are your friends! Wash everything with a weak bleach solution (1-2% bleach to a gallon of water), then air dry. This will sterilize the containers.

Stack your containers together in a row about 3-6 containers high. Punch drainage holes with a drill, or other sharp object. A screwdriver and hammer will work in a pinch, but you will only be add to do one at a time. Add some rocks, or broken pottery.

Next, choose your favorite kind of potting soil. For micro greens, it really doesn't matter. You can purchase the most expensive, organic soil available, bargain store brands, or just use what you find in your yard. Micro greens are very simple to grow and will not make many demands on your skill level as a gardener. Fill containers to a depth of at least 2" with soil. Be that the soil is moist before you add the seeds.

Choose your seeds. Once again, they don't have to be the priciest seeds in town. Don't worry about whether they are hybrid, open pollinated or heirloom. Just buy some seeds for the type of greens that will appeal to your taste buds. After making your selection, sprinkle these seeds on top of the damp soil. Take some potting mixture in both hands, and gently rub your hands together over top of the seeds. Cover seeds in this manner with a thin blanket of soil. Use your palms to gently press this layer down. Spray the soil blanket with a light mist until dampened. Cover the container with plastic wrap. If you are recycling salad containers from a take-out salad, the clear plastic snap-on tops make an excellent cover. In essence, it creates the perfect mini-greenhouse!

Place your container on top of the refrigerator (for warmth). Check your container daily for signs of germination. Most greens will start to sprout within 3-7 days of planting. When the first seedling start to show, remove the lid or pull back the plastic cover. When the first 2-3 true leaves appear, your micro greens are ready to harvest! If you planted several containers at the same time, you can harvest enough greens to make a salad with your micro greens. Otherwise, you can use them as delectable additions to any salad, stir fry or as an edible garnish. The only limit is your creativity!

See how simple it is? Why not start your micro greens today?