Leek microgreens are nutritious and add a burst of flavor to your dishes. The best part is you can grow them at home in just 10 days and get multiple harvests from the same container. They are easy to grow and need minimal space to grow.
Are you ready to give microgreen leeks a chance? This article shares everything you need to know about how to grow leek microgreens at home, from selecting the seeds to harvesting them and all the stages in between.
What Are Leek Microgreens?
Microgreens are the young seedlings of mature leeks, which are part of the onion family. So if you love onions and garlic then you’ll definitely enjoy leek microgreens. They have a similar taste to onions but are a bit sweeter, and won’t make you cry.
Leek takes about three months to grow, but leeks microgreens are ready to harvest in just 10 days. They are relatively easy to grow indoors or outdoors and can grow all year long. Furthermore, micro leeks have more nutritional value and taste better than mature leeks.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Leek Microgreens?
Microgreen leeks have numerous potential health benefits when consumed as part of a healthy diet. Let’s look at some of them.
1. Rich in vitamins and minerals
The microgreens are rich in vitamins A, C, K, and E and minerals such as calcium, iron, and magnesium. The vitamin content supports a healthy immune system.
2. They contain antioxidants
Leek microgreens have a high level of polyphenols, which have numerous health benefits such as protecting cells from damage from free radicals, boosting heart health, and preventing chronic diseases such as cancer.
3. Have anti-inflammatory properties
The microgreens protect the body from inflammation, which would cause illness.
4. Rich in fiber
Leek microgreens are rich in fiber, which aids in digestion and alleviates issues such as constipation. Fiber is also beneficial for people who want to lose or maintain a healthy weight.
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Growing leek microgreens
Leek microgreens are ready for harvest in 10-14 days, depending on factors such as humidity, light, temperature, and soil quality or growth medium. They can grow in soil or use the hydroponic system. If using soil, ensure to use a well draining potting mix. They require sufficient light to grow. So place them in a sunny spot and use a grow light for 6-8 hours daily.
What do you need to start growing leek microgreens? Let’s look at the step-by-step process and everything you need to start growing leek microgreens.
Selecting seeds: The first step for growing leek microgreens at home is selecting the seeds. You can purchase them online from Amazon.
Ensure to choose leek seeds that have been labeled for Microgreen use. You need about one ounce of seeds per tray (10×20 inches). One inch is ideal since they have a strong flavor, and you will need only a little when cooking.
Buy Large American Flag Leek Seeds from Amazon.
Growing medium: you can purchase a seed potting soil mix, coconut coir, or any other growing medium you prefer. Ensure to ask for a growing medium that favors microgreens
Source of light: grow the microgreens in a spot exposed to sunlight for at least 6-8 hours or use a grow light (T5). A grow light is essential if your planting space has limited sunlight. However, for best results, use a grow light versus sunlight since extreme light can damage the plant.
Buy Grow Lights for Indoor Plants on Amazon.
Containers: use two shallow growing plastic, metallic, or ceramic trays. One should have a drainage hole and the other one without, which will act as a cover and a watering medium, as you will see in the next section.
Buy Seed Sprouting Tray from Amazon.
Spray bottle: to water your microgreens. You need to water the plant regularly to keep the soil moist. A spray bottle helps you water the plant without damaging the delicate plant.
Shears: you need pruning snips for harvesting.
Buy Pruning Shears from Amazon.
Steps for Growing Leek Microgreens
Now, let’s get to the enjoyable part of the process. Here is a step-by-step guide for growing leek microgreens. Keep the plant in the right growing conditions to enjoy a bountiful harvest. Gather all the materials mentioned above, and let’s get right into it.
1. Soaking
Should you soak leek Microgreen seeds? This is optional because even though soaking fastens the germination process, leek seeds germinate quickly even without soaking. If you choose to soak the leek seeds, keep them in a bowl of water for 6-8 hours before planting them.
2. Planting
Prepare the growing tray before you start planting. Fill the tray with drainage holes with potting mix or the growing mixture you have chosen with a layer of growing medium. Smoothen the potting soil with our fingers and let the soil fill the tray evenly just below the brim (1-2 inches).
Sprinkle the seeds evenly across the tray and light press into the soil. It is the same way you plant other microgreens, but you must space these out to avoid overlapping.
Using the spray bottle, moisten the soil. Cover the tray with the second tray without drainage holes or with a plastic lid. Don’t cover the seeds with soil. Add a small weight (5 pounds) on top to keep the tray in place and prevent any movement.
Covering the seeds gives them a blackout to allow them to germinate for about 3-4 days. Covering the seeds provides a humid environment ideal for the leek seeds to germinate.
Once they sprout, keep them covered for 2-3 more days to allow the sprouts to be strong and out the weight. The ideal temperature for the seeds to germinate is between 60- 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
You can use a heating mat to achieve this, but it is optional. Then, you’ll remove the cover and heating mat once the seeds sprout. Avoid exposing the plant to extreme temperatures, whether cold or hot.
3. Growing
Once the leeks germinate and grow strong by pushing against the cover and weight, it is time to remove the cover and expose it to light. At this time, they are pale because they are in darkness.
Keep the growing tray about 1-2 feet directly below the grow light, which should be on for 18 hours every day. In a short time, they will start producing chlorophyll and will turn bright green.
At this stage, you need to water the leek from the roots without getting the leaf water using a spray bottle. Avoid overwatering our microgreens to avoid the growth of bacteria.
Another way is to fill the other tray without drainage holes with 1-2 inches of water then place it beneath the growing tray to allow the plants to get water from the bottom.
Remove the tray after 20 minutes because, at this time, the plant has absorbed enough water, and you don’t need to keep the growing tray in water all through. Do this often when the soil looks dry. The microgreens grow to 3-4 inches tall in this stage and will be ready for harvesting.
4. Harvesting
Leek microgreens are ready for harvest in 10-12 days. Each seed produces a single cotyledon because leeks are monocots that hang onto the hull of the black seed. Thus, the microgreens of leeks give a polka dot-like look. You can eat all the parts of microgreens, including the black seed hulls.
When the plant is ready for harvest, avoid watering the microgreens 12 hours before you harvest because when they have excess moisture, they won’t stay fresh longer. Use the shears to clip the microgreens, careful not to disturb the rest.
Harvest just what you need to use and leave about half an inch of the stem. The best thing about leek microgreens is that they regrow after harvesting, and you can get 2 to 3 full harvests from a single growing tray. They grow from the base of the plant and not the top, so they can regrow after harvesting.
Add the leek sprouts to all the dishes like salads, sandwiches, stews, eggs, spring rolls, soup, or any other dishes that you add onion or garlic. Clean them properly before adding to your food to remove any dirt stuck in the layer. They can stay fresh longer as long as you don’t wash them.
To store extra microgreens, wrap them in a paper towel and keep them as dry as possible in an airtight container or plastic bag. They can last but a week in the fridge. Check regularly to discard those that have wilted.
FAQs
- Are leek microgreens good for you?
Leek microgreens have compounds such as polyphenols that reduce inflammation in the body. They contain essential vitamins and minerals that improve heart health and boost your immunity.
- Can you grow leeks as microgreens?
Yes, growing leek microgreens is super easy and takes a shorter time than mature leeks.
What can I do with leek microgreens?
Add leek microgreens to your salads, soups, sandwiches, and stew. You can roast or grill them to make a tasty side dish.
- What do leek microgreens taste like?
Microgreen leeks have a mild onion-like flavor but taste better than onion.
Final Thoughts
Leek microgreens add a burst of flavor and nutrients to your dishes. The tasty little microgreens are super easy to grow and are packed with essential vitamins and minerals that are good for your health. Plant them today, and you’ll have your first harvest in 10-12 days.
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