The movement of increasing health and environmental consciousness is driving the popularity of ultra nutritious and sustainable foods, such as microgreens and sprouts. They are nutritionally dense, easy to grow, and uniquely flavoured, and once you start to incorporate these into your diet, you won't look back.
Amid the rise of sustainable agricultural practices, including vertical and urban farming, which require less water and land than traditional farming, microgreens and sprouts are quickly gaining traction. Making use of vertical shelving units, special LED lighting, innovative watering systems and unlikely spaces, such as warehouses and parking lots, these farming techniques allow agriculture to be accessible to all, regardless of location.
Micros differ greatly in colour, texture and taste, depending on the variety, hence why some are used by chefs to garnish, and others are used to add flavour to a dish. Growing times also vary between varieties, ranging between 1 to 6 weeks from germination to harvest, with Sango Radish taking 6 days, while Genovese Basil takes 24 days. They can be grown in soil or peat moss and both the stems and leaves are consumed once harvested.
There's a micro to suit your every need: to garnish, we recommend trying a variety with a touch of colour, including Bull’s Blood Beet, Red Vein Sorrel, or Red Garnet Amaranth.. For flavour, try out Lemon Balm, Peppercress, and Garlic Chive. For a nutritional burst, give Broccoli a go. Other popular micros include some of our Radish varieties, Sango and Daikon, as well as Red Cabbage, and Coriander.
Sprouts are relatively uniform in appearance, regardless of variety, and are used primarily to garnish for texture and taste, offering a nice crunch and nutritional boost. They are essentially germinated seeds that are grown in water, and take only 3 to 5 days to be ready for consumption, with the entire sprout being eaten, including seed, stem and leaves.
The best sprouts for flavour include Garlic Chive and Radish, for nutritional benefit, add some Kale and Broccoli sprouts to your meal, and for a tasty crunch, go for our sprouting Onion.
We are here for all your seeding needs - contact orders@ausallium.com if you have any questions about the best microgreen and sprouting seeds for you!
