How Many Times Do Microgreens Regrow?
Microgreens- Powerful, tiny edible vegetables are getting more and more famous across the world because of their healthy, nutritious benefits. Microgreens are close relatives of sprouts and baby greens. Similar to their cousins, microgreens are packed with nutrients and bioactive compounds like vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, etc.
In addition to health benefits, microgreens are also fairly easy to grow and look after. Usually, when people start growing microgreens, the very first question that pop-up in their mind is: How many times do microgreens regrow? Will a single sowing event can let them reap multiple benefits? Which microgreens regrow? Or how many times you can keep regrowing microgreens?
Do you also want to reap long-lasting benefits with a single investment? And wondering which microgreens can regrow? If yes, then we have answers to all your queries.
Do microgreens regrow after cutting?
Long story short- No. not all microgreens can keep regrowing. But some? Yes.
Typically speaking, not all types of microgreens keep regrowing after cutting/harvesting. Since the growing seedlings (leaves) are removed by cutting/harvesting, most microgreens don’t regrow. In addition to removing growing tips (leaves), some microgreens naturally show shunted growth after first cutting/harvesting. The soil is spent as the tiny plants have already sucked up all the nutrient benefits of the soil. So yeah, nothing is left for your plant to keep it regrowing.
However, in some rare cases, seeds that didn’t germinate at the beginning like other seedlings may regrow after getting enough sunlight and moisture. But again, it’s rare.
Fortunately, certain microgreens do regrow- pea shoots, coriander, and fenugreek microgreens may regrow and can be cut several times.
LIST OF MICROGREENS WHICH REGROW:
If you don’t completely remove the growing tip during harvesting/cutting, pea shoots, coriander, and fenugreek microgreens will have a good chance of thriving again in proper sunlight and water requirements If the growing tip is not removed by cutting, the seedling (leaf) will be able to continue growing, doing photosynthesis. But let us remind you, the growth rate compared to the primary shoots will be dramatically slower.
Following is the list of microgreens that have a higher possibility of keep regrowing:
Pea Shoots Microgreens:
Most of the microgreens that have higher possibilities of keep regrowing belong to pea family microgreens. The microgreens from the pea family can be cut several times if you cut them properly i.e, leaving at least one leaf (seedling). Following pea shoots microgreens are good options if you want them to keep regrowing.
Leafy peas
Green peas
Snow peas
Spotted peas
Speckled peas
Finding seeds of microgreens from the pea family might not be easy. These seeds are generally not available in grocery or natural food stores. Contact your local garden seed suppliers to order peas or seeds. High-quality peas or seeds are a must to grow healthier, nutrition-rich microgreens.
(Warning: To grow pea shoots microgreens, do not use flowering sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus). Flowering sweet pea is highly poisonous and, therefore, is not recommended to grow as a microgreen.)
Although pea shoots and sunflower microgreens are cultivated similarly, only pea shoots microgreens keep regrowing.
Steps to Grow Pea shoots Microgreens:
Soaking:
Before sowing, you must soak peas or seeds for at least 8 to 12 hours. It is highly recommended that you change the water midway to the soaking time. The peas or seeds which are healthy or workable will swell during the soaking time but the dead ones will not. This step will also help you identify healthy seeds and remove the dead ones. Remove the dead seeds or peas as they won't germinate and grow into shoots.
Soil:
Ideally, potting soil is best to sow the peas. If you want your pea shoots microgreens to keep regrowing, add fertilizer to the soil. If you don't have or want to use fertilizers, you can also add new soil after each cutting. This will let you pea shoots microgreens suck additional minerals and soil nutrients. As you have to add more soil after each cutting, use pint containers or seedlings trays. Both are more practical for adding new soil.
Sowing:
Evenly sprinkle the peas or seeds in the pint containers or seedling trays. Cover the Peas or seeds with a thin layer of potting soil. This will ensure the growth of all roots downward.
Watering:
During the early stages of growth, water the peas from the top to keep them well-hydrated. Indirect sunlight and stagnant air can develop mold on the peas. Remove any peas or seeds infected peas. Swift to side watering if mold developed.
Sunlight or Light:
Pea shoots microgreens don't require high heat to thrive. Ideally, your pea shoots microgreens will thrive best in a temperate environment. Provide your pea shoots with plenty of light. You can use LED lights in case of no sunlight. Sunlight and LED lights both work identically.
Harvesting:
The best thing about pea shoots microgreens is that you can harvest/cut them at least three times. Each tray will reward you with as many as three waves of pea shoots.
But, each wave of pea shoots will exhaust the nutrients. The texture and flavor of pea shoots will get affected with each cutting. Depletion in nutrients will also affect the growth of second and their wave of pea shoots. The number of pea shoots won't be affected but the growth rate and sweetness will be decreased. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you use fertile soil. Fertile soil will ensure that you get multiple returns with a single investment.
If you are giving your pea shoots direct sunlight, you can cut/harvest first cutting after ten to twelve days. If you have used LED light, you can cut or harvest your pea shoots after two weeks.
During each harvesting/cutting, find a knob at the very bottom of the stem. There you'll be able to see two tiny leaves. For each cutting, cut the stem just above the larger leaves if you want your pea shoots to keep regrowing. But if you’re planning to completely start all over again, cut the stems just about the soil.
How Many Times Does Pea Shoots Microgreens Regrow?
How many times pea shoots microgreens will regrow, depend on the caretaker, vigor of the peas or seeds, soil fertility, and how high up the stem you cut. Secondary waves of pea shoot might not taste as good as the primary because of the depletion of nutrients in the soil. With each cutting, the distance between the leaves of your pea shoots will increase. As a result, your pea shoots microgreens will have longer stems and fewer and smaller leaves. Experts advise not to continue regrowing pea shoots after the third cut as the first and second waves of pea shoots would have already completely sucked up the soil nutrients.
2. Coriander:
You can also expect to cut at least three waves of coriander shoots. Similar to pea shoots, coriander shoots will also lose their texture, taste, and growth rate with each cutting. Properly fertilizing the soil may help increase the number of cuttings per tray. But again, it is advisable to retire the tray after the third cutting.
The steps to growing coriander are identical to pea shoots microgreens with some minor changes:
soak the seed before sowing,
cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil,
water from the top during early stages of growth,
water from the side if you find any infected seed,
provide enough sunlight or light,
fertilize the soil,
and leave the lowest leaf while cutting or harvesting.
Fenugreek
Fenugreek shoots also have a higher possibility of keeping regrow if the soil is properly fertilized. These shoots have a bitter taste but over each cutting, fenugreek shoots will lose their original texture and taste. With high vigor of seeds, intense light, sufficient watering, and good fertilizer, you can expect to have at least three cuttings per tray. After the third cutting, the soil will be spent and your fenugreek soil would have sucked up all the nutrients of the soil, it would be better to stop regrowing at that stage. Follow the same steps you used to grow pea shoots and coriander shoots to grow fenugreek microgreens.
Is regrowing microgreens worth it?
From a nutrient or flavor point of view, no, it is not worth it. With each cutting, your tiny, bushy, healthy plant will lose its original bushiness, taste, and number of nutrients. Each wave of shoots will suck up the left nutrients in the soil, resulting in slacken growth and decreased sweetness. It’s worth noticing that your second and third wave of shoots will take a longer time compared to the first wave of shoots. Plus, you will be simply wasting too much time waiting for the shoots to regrow again and again.
If you’re running a business, then decreased sweetness and slacken growth will negatively affect your business. Instead of waiting for shoots to regrow, it’s better to sow new batches. If you want to sell or have distinctive fresh flavor, tender texture, and nutrition-rich microgreens, sow new batches after each cutting or harvesting.