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Alfalfa sprouts are one of the tastiest vegetables available. Rich in color yet mild in taste, alfalfa microgreens give that extra boost of nutrients to your smoothies and salads. The delicate flavor, full of nutrients, and availability are reasons to grow your own. While alfalfa sprouts are naturally rich in vitamins A, C, B6, and potassium they can be supplemented with a vitamin and mineral supplement. There are ways you can easily begin to include a nutrient-enriched diet for growing microgreens from your alfalfa sprouts.

HEALTH BENEFIT OF ALFAFA

• Support immune system
• Streamline nutrient processes within the body
• Important for taste and smell
• Help with energy production and helps facilitate protein creation
• Support bone and joint connections
• Help bones develop & connect
• Help with calcium absorption

How To Grow Alfalfa Microgreens

Equipment Needed to Grow Alfalfa Microgreens

Growing alfalfa microgreens is not a difficult task. Below is a list of things you will need to start growing your alfalfa microgreens.

A Growing Medium

First of all, a medium is required to grow your microgreens. You can use a traditional seed tray which you can get from your local garden centre or you can use a baking dish just ensure it’s at least 5 inches deep. 

Organic Seeds

Make sure you use organic and untreated seeds. Fungicides or pesticide seeds can be very harmful to your health as they contain many dangerous chemicals.

Soil

To keep your alfalfa microgreens organic and free of chemicals, you must use soil that is not contaminated with any kind of fungicide or pesticide. Your garden soil can serve the purpose, but it would be best if you used planting soil.

Light Source

In order for plants to grow they need light. Microgreens require 3 to 4 hours of daily exposure to sunlight for successful growth. A bright balcony or a windowsill that gets a sufficient amount of natural sunlight will be the best location for your microgreens to grow.

A Spray Bottle

A spray bottle filled with water will be needed to keep your alfalfa microgreens hydrated.

Water

Water is another essential factor needed to maintain the moisture in the soil. As mentioned above, a spray bottle would be the best choice. A harsh water flow can damage your baby plants, so fresh tap-water is the best option.

How to Grow Alfalfa Microgreens in Soil?

Below are ten valuable instructions for Microgreen growers to keep in mind while growing Alfalfa Microgreens. Your home-grown microgreens will be fresh, delicious and, nutritious.

Step 1: Quantity of Soil in The Container

Firstly, choose an appropriate container, tray, or pot in which you intend to grow your Alfalfa Microgreens, then fill it with 3-4 inches of soil. This quantity of soil is enough for the roots of the microgreens as they are only small.

Step 2: Sowing Seeds

After filling the container with soil, you sow the seed. You just need to sprinkle the seeds on the surface of the soil, an uneven sprinkling works just fine. The soil just needs to catch and absorb the seed, and it will do the rest of the job itself.

Step 3: Covering the Seeds with Soil

A thin layer of soil is enough to cover the seed you have sprinkled on the soil in the container. A gentle stroke on the soil with the palm of your hand is good enough to settle the seeds in the soil.

Step 4: Watering the Soil

The soil needs good moisture but be careful to avoid excessive watering. The water should not overflow from the container. Sprinkling water is enough. It does not need heavy pouring pressure.

Step 5: Temperature

For the growth of microgreens to be successful they need to be kept at a moderate temperature. The temperature should be no less than room temperature until the process of germination starts. Once the germination process has begun, it is better to keep the microgreens in the sun where they can get the necessary amount of sunlight of 3-4 hours a day.

Step 6: Watering Microgreens After 3-4 Days

A regular sprinkling of water twice a day is required for the successful growth of the alfalfa microgreens. You will notice small leaves appearing on the surface of the soil, as well as tiny buds within 3 to 4 days.

Step 7: Be Patient

You will need to wait a week for your microgreens to grown. Once it has been a week you will see the container full of alfalfa microgreens plants. Now, you can either cut them right away or wait a few more days to let them grow taller.

Step 8: Avoid Jumping into Harvesting

Your hasty cutting of microgreens can destroy them. The delicate microgreens need to be harvested carefully. You can cut them with a pair of scissors or a sharp knife. Ensure you hold them at the roots when you cut them. Another way of harvesting your microgreens is to pluck them out with the roots intact carefully although this could damage them if not completed with care.

Step 9: Washing Microgreens

If you have reached this step your microgreen growing process is complete. Now, you can wash them with clean and cold water thoroughly. You should leave them out for them to dry. To store them you can wrap them up in some kitchen paper and preserve them in the fridge.

Step 10:  Alfalfa Microgreens are Ready to be Enjoyed

The whole process from sowing to harvesting microgreens is straightforward and pleasing. This makes the homegrown vegetables enjoyable, nutritious and healthy.