Microgreens and Sprouts in DWC

[William Hall]

Does anyone have and photos or examples of starting and growing microgreen areas in a DWC system?

 

I'm going to use the Sure-To-Grow media but I'm scratching my head as to how to use the raft system but not saturate the plants.

[Bob Campbell]

I don't know much about Micro Greens, but I think the idea is to harvest them right after they sprout.   I don't think you need nutrient rich water to do that, and it may actually be better if you just used clean water. 

[Bob Campbell]

I did a little research, and found this site.   It has several step by step videos.  One thing he kept saying is stress the plants.  If they have no sunlight until the last couple of days then nutrient rich water is probably not required.

But now I'm wondering why Micro Greens are supposed to be extra healthy.   I never got into the wheat grass stuff, but I'm interested, and want to know more.   It looks like a real fast way to make a salad mix without much overhead.  No lights, tanks or fish.  Just germinate and harvest on a quick turn around. 

But I can't imagine some of those sprouts like rutabaga tasting very good.

[William Hall]

Awesome find Bob.

Microgreens (at least the ones I've tried) add a bit of POP in a dish or salad but I am right with you in not understanding how they are supposedly extra healthy w/o needing nutrient rich water.  I guess I'll find out and I'll make sure to report back!

[Chris Carr]

Growing something so small needs only very trace amounts of minerals and nutrient already contained in tap water. You'd be surprised how much will grow on tap water, especially if you change it out often enough. Depending on your source water, change frequency and crop you might even be able to grow something to harvest maturity without added nutrient.

Also seeds already have quite a bit of energy and goodies contained in them from the start but sprouting them transforms some of this, I believe into most notably amino acids and vitamins. While a seed sprouts you use up some of its stored energy reducing its caloric value however you increase its overall nutritional value in other forms which our bodies cannot synthesize on its own.

I do recall Wilson Lennard discussing microgreens in AP grown in "carpets" of media. The greens were harvested every couple of days using large blade that sheered the whole carpet all at once. Additional nutrients like found in AP would be needed if you were trying to sustain a crop from the same root source but probably not if you are growing from seed each time.

[Bob Campbell]

@William Hall - I became interested in growing Micro Greens after you posted this discussion.   At first I saw little reason to use AP water, but now that I too have started doing it I have found two reasons for it.

First is the need for a pH balanced water.  The AP system should be able to supply that, without the need to remove chlorine or make any further adjustments.   Even though I would have no problem spraying the sprouts with water from the fish tank I suppose it might be less appealing to others so maybe this should be done with clean tap water.

Second is that some seeds take quite a lot longer (up to four weeks) to become ready for harvest.   I was surprised that potting soil is recommended for many seeds.   If this is due to nutrient requirements then AP water would help supply these nutrients.

I started sprouting a salad mix that I bought at our local food co-op.  I'm looking forward to growing sunflower sprouts.  I may go get what I need for that today.

[William Hall]

Glad I inspired you!  I just got my trays and Sure-ToGrow media and should get my seeds this week.  What are you using to grow yours in?

Why would spraying sprouts w/aquaponic water be unappealing to some when, from what I understand, worm casting tea is a main remedy used in aquaponics?  I think I'd rinse off my produce no matter what even if I sprayed w/tap water.

Sounds like you basically landed on what I was thinking as well, if they grow so quick and are healthy when grown in soil they must grow REALLY quick and have LOTS of nutrients when grown w/aquaponics.

Keep us posted!

[Bob Campbell]

Some  people don't think the AP water is sanitary.

In the forefront is my cloner.    A day after starting this "sure to grow" micro greens on the right I threw some seeds into my bio-char experiment on the left

I took the clear top off the micro greens for this picture. They have only been exposed to about 2 hours of light, and have had no nutrients, just well water sprayed twice daily.  The bio-char is full of nutrients and gets 18 hours of light.  I started the micro greens 6 days ago the bio-char with fish water was started 5 days ago. 

William Hall said:

Glad I inspired you!  I just got my trays and Sure-ToGrow media and should get my seeds this week.  What are you using to grow yours in?

Why would spraying sprouts w/aquaponic water be unappealing to some when, from what I understand, worm casting tea is a main remedy used in aquaponics?  I think I'd rinse off my produce no matter what even if I sprayed w/tap water.

Sounds like you basically landed on what I was thinking as well, if they grow so quick and are healthy when grown in soil they must grow REALLY quick and have LOTS of nutrients when grown w/aquaponics.

Keep us posted!

[William Hall]

Awesomeness! Look at that contrast. I'd love to be able to test the two samples for nutrient levels.

[Bob Campbell]