DIFFICULTY | GROW CYCLE DAYS | GERMINATION DAYS | GERMINATION CONDITIONS | SEED PREP. |
easy | 7+ days | 3-4 days | stacked with weight | soak 6hrs min - 24hrs max |
SUPPLIES
3 Bootstrap Farmer microgreen trays
2x trays without holes + 1x tray with holes
1 blackout dome
Grow medium
we recommend loose coco coir
Water & sprayer
in the absence of a water source with spray nozzle, we recommend a pressure sprayer
1 portion of SowYummy Sweet Corn seeds per 1010 tray, or 2 portions per 1020 tray
10-15LB weight
PREPARE YOUR SEEDS
A minimum of 6 hours and a recommended maximum of 24 hours before you intend to plant your Corn microgreens, soak the seeds in room temperature water to activate the seed.
PRO TIP Mesh nylon produce bags work well to contain the seeds.
In our experience, unlike some other seeds, Corn germinates perfectly well even with a minimum soak time. They will however sprout pretty quickly if left to soak for longer than 24 hours.
Before you're ready to plant, drain the seeds, rinse them well, and allow excess water to run off them ("drip dry"). Sow your seeds while they are still wet.
PREPARE TRAYS
If using a medium other than loose coco coir, prepare it according to manufacturer's instructions.
Nest the tray with holes inside one tray without holes.
Pack the tray with coco coir about 3/4 full. We use approximately 2 1/4 litres of loose coco coir per 1020 tray or 1 1/4 per 1010 tray.
Be sure to distribute the coco coir as evenly as possible throughout the tray, packing it into the sides and corners to ensure good water retention and to give the plants something to anchor to.
Gently press the second tray without holes over the top of the coco coir to even out the surface. You don't need to press too hard, we are not compressing it just smoothing it out. Don't worry about the minor channels created by the tray, these will smooth out during watering and don't affect germination or growth.
CONDITION GROW MEDIUM
In a pinch you can use a spray bottle for this step, however, to ensure adequate saturation a spray bottle will be onerous.
Using your pressure sprayer set to medium/light intensity, spray over the grow medium in a zigzag pattern from edge to edge, starting at the top of the tray, slightly overlapping each stroke. We find that 1-2 passes over the tray are sufficient.
The medium needs to have enough water to sustain germination for about 3 days, but not be so wet that fungus will grow or that young shoots start to rot while in germination. Think damp not soggy.
To check if your medium is adequately saturated, make a small hole in a corner of the tray with your finger. The coco coir should be wet all the way through but not dripping into the bottom tray.
PRO TIP If you're working indoors and are concerned about water on floors or other surfaces, place your tray inside an adequately sized storage bin to contain the overspray.
SOW SEEDS
Using your hand, spread seeds as evenly as possible all over the grow medium. We like to start with Sweet Corn at the centre , spreading it out to fill the rest of the tray.
On a 1010 tray the seed will be quite dense. Use your hand to spread the seed so that every pieces makes contact with the medium and the seed isn't in piles.
Sweet Pea seeds do not need to be misted.
The video below shows Sweet Pea seed but the process is exactly the same for Corn.
GERMINATION
Stack the second tray without holes in a nesting position over the sown seeds and place a weight on top. Between 10-15 lbs is ideal. We use 15 lb sandbags.
Place the tray in a cozy area where it can stay undisturbed for a few days. A temperature between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit) is needed for healthy and even germination.
PRO TIP If heating your space is not an option, you can use a seedling heat mat under your tray.
Sweet Corn needs 3-4 days to germinate.
PRO TIP When calculating germination/grow cycle days, we consider the day you planted your seeds as day 0.
BLACKOUT
On Day 3 or 4 your Sweet Corn shoots are ready to come out of germination. Remove the weight and top tray. Your Sweet Corn shoots will be very small and pale. Bottom water your Sweet Corn with about 1/4 cup of water if you're using a 1010 tray, or 1/2 cup of water for a 1020 tray. This is the only time you will water your Sweet Corn microgreens.
To bottom water, lift only the tray with holes and pour water into the bottom tray without holes, then lower the tray with holes. The grow medium and microgreens will absorb the water through capillary action.
Place the blackout dome over the tray, making sure the venting holes are closed. Place the trays somewhere they can stay undisturbed and warm for 4 or 5 days.
HARVESTING & STORAGE
We prefer to harvest Yellow Sweet Corn microgreens before they open up and get leafy, at about day 7 or 8. In our opinion Sweet Corn microgreens are sweetest and most succulent at this stage.
If you intended to store the harvested microgreens, make sure the canopy and stems are dry. Microgreens stored when wet will start to decompose quickly. When you remove the blackout dome you may notice some condensation has formed on your Sweet Corn shoots. Allow the tray to sit exposed to air for ups o 30 minutes for condensation to dry.
The best way to harvest any microgreens is using a clean and sharp knife.
Scissors can work fine if you are harvesting to serve, however, if you intend to store harvested greens, scissors are not recommended. This is because scissors tear the stem rather than cut it, and torn stems bruise and start to decompose much quicker than stems cut cleanly with a disinfected knife.
We disinfect our knives using a solution composed of 1 part 3% food grade hydrogen peroxide mixed with 2 parts filtered water.
To harvest Sweet Pea microgreens, using one hand gently grab hold of a modest handful of the greens and slice the knife blade across the stems a little above the substrate to avoid picking up grow medium.
Store any microgreens in a clean airtight container in the fridge. If you are going to wash them, do so only when you intend to use them.
In our experience healthy, properly harvested and stored microgreens will keep in the fridge for at least 10 days.
Happy eating!