1. Microgreens Sub Title (optional) Name of Presenter Contact Email (optional)

2. College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

4. Photo credit: UFL IFAS

5. Vegetable crops harvested at an immature growth stage: Sprouts: germinated seeds with emerging root Microgreens: 2-3 inches in height; 7-21 days (harvest stem, cotyledons, and emerging true leaves) Baby greens: 4-6 inches in height; 21-40 days Mature greens: >6 inches in height; 40-60 days

6. Why grow MGs? Fun & easy to grow Harvest in 10-14 days Grow year-round $1/oz. in Whole Foods Why eat MGs? Vivid colors Tender texture Intense flavor Nutritious Versatile

7. Pea shoots and other microgreens growing in restaurant dining area

8. Commercial production at Great Kids Farm in Catonsville

10. http://agnr.umd.edu/news/mighty-microgreens

11. Nutrients assessment Objective: to analyze the concentration of vitamins and carotenoids in 25 commercially available microgreens. Nutrients analyzed: 1) Ascorbic Acid (Vc) 2) Phylloquinone (V K1 ) 3) Tocopherols (V E ) 4) Carotenoids (Provitamin A: β-Carotene, Lutein/zeaxanthin, Violaxanthin.)

12. Top 5 microgreens rich in carotenoids (provitamin A) No. 1 Cilantro No. 2 Red sorrel No. 3 Garnet amaranth No. 4 Red cabbage No. 5 Pea tendril

13. MGs for MG projects School and pre-school gardening AaMG plant clinics GIEI classes, demos, and events Working with seniors and people with limited mobility and energy Cute for plant sales Entrepreneurial gardens

14. Simple steps to microgreens Fill a shallow container with 1-1.5 in. of moist soilless growing media Sow seeds thickly and evenly Water from bottom Harvest with scissors when 2-3 in. tall ENJOY!

15. Try a variety of crops, containers, and locations

16. What can I grow? Fast and easy: arugula, kale, radish, broccoli, mustard, broccoli raab, bok choy, komatsuna and other Asian greens, cress, lettuces (fragile) More challenging: amaranth, beet, Swiss chard, cilantro, basil, pea and sunflower shoots Questionable: spinach (hulls), cabbage (odor?)

18. Crops in same tray should have similar germination rates!

19. Commercial flats (trays) for growing larger quantities of microgreens

20. Repurposed shallow food container (lid becomes saucer)

21. 1 ½-in. depth of growing media Tray-in-tray or container-in-container for bottom watering

22. Salad tables can be used for for outdoor microgreen production

23. 5 quarts of growing media/tray ($1.50 - $4.00) Re-use mix after roots dry out (add to fresh mix)

25. Recommended plant spacing: 3/16 in. to 1/4-in. Difficult to sow seeds evenly (no thinning necessary) 20-row seeding flat contains around 1,000 plants

26. Invasion of the “white fuzzies”

27. Indoor growing: need light and heat Window light may be insufficient Lettuce, arugula, mustards, Asian greens will grow ok in low light T-8 fluorescent lights can supplement or replace sunlight (keep tubes < 2 in. from plants)

28. 20-row seeding flat produced larger plants and root systems than plain flat

30. Cut at “soil line” when greens are 2-3-in. tall No re-growth Refrigerate for up to 10 days

31. Resources http://www.growingmicrogreens.com/- commercial site for microgreen supplies http://agnr.umd.edu/news/mighty- microgreens-UMD AGNR research project http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/0 9373.html- Health Benefits and Safe handling of Salad Greens Books: Microgreen Garden- Mark Braunstein Microgreens- Fiona Hill Microgreens- Eric Franks & Jasmine Richardson

32. Resources Grow It! Eat It! http://www.extension.umd.edu/growit – We have all types of practical food gardening tips and information. Check out our popular blog! Home and Garden Information Center http://www.extension.umd.edu/hgic – Here you will find factsheets, photos, and videos. You can also subscribe to the free monthly e-newsletter. – We answer gardening questions 24/7…just click “Ask Maryland’s Garden Experts” Maryland Master Gardener Program http://www.extension.umd.edu/mg – Consider becoming a trained MG volunteer!

33. This program was brought to you by the Maryland Master Gardener Program ______ County University of Maryland Extension