Microgreen Live Tray Care 101

"Live" microgreen trays are growing and thriving when they arrive. There are a few simple steps you can take to extend their shelf life.

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR TRAY

Watering

The growing medial should remain moist but not saturated. When it is time to water, the simplest way is to remove or tilt up the greens tray and pour 1-2 cups of water into the lower tray.

GENTLY replace the greens. Repeat this process every 1-2 days until your trays are empty. Depending on the heat and airflow in your area they may need to be watered more or less frequently.

Air Flow

Plants love a gentle breeze. If possible, keep your microgreens in an area with moving air. A table near a ceiling fan or in a high traffic area works well. Try to avoid keeping the greens in an enclosed space.

Light

Microgreens will continue to grow without supplemental light but do benefit from some light during the day. A sunny window sill or table under a light fixture both provide enough light to keep greens going.

Chef’s Note: Most live trays can be held in the walk-in for up to a week. Be sure to store them on the top rack to comply with food safety regulations. They will not continue to grow but they will stay alive and be ready to cut when you are.

Harvesting Your Microgreens

The simplest way to harvest your greens is with a clean pair of scissors. Hold the group of greens you wish to use and cut close to the soil line. For harvesting the entire tray at once it is best to use a sharp knife and hold the greens well above the cut line.

As with any produce it is best to rinse greens before eating to remove any seed hulls or growing media. If you will be storing cut greens in the fridge, make sure the surface of the leaves is dry before packaging.

What to do with the remainder?

If you wish to make use of this resource yourself there are a couple of great ways to get the most out of your spent trays.

Chickens and other birds LOVE to pick through the soil for seeds and stems. They are an excellent source of minerals and vitamins for animals.

Feed your worms. If you have a worm bin at home you can just dump the growing media and roots directly into it. Worms adore decomposing roots.