We learned to grow microgreens from a wide variety of edible plants. So why not broccoli? You may imagine tiny, shabby trees, but the broccoli microgreen is like any other young plant: all of the stems, roots, and cotyledons. It may not look like a full-grown vegetable, but these broccoli plants share the same nutritional value and health benefits with no full season commitments.
Growing broccoli microgreens at home is a simple and remarkably short process. It only takes 1-2 weeks from start to finish! This is possible because microgreens are harvested in the early stages of growth, usually just a few days after germination. Their crispy, earthy taste is the perfect addition to salads, sandwiches, or any food that needs a quick nutritional boost.
Broccoli microgreens, just like their mature counterparts, are rich in vitamins A and C, along with iron, calcium, fiber, and more. The broccoli microgreen also contains sulforaphane, which is believed to help fight cancer, diabetes, and aging. Best of all, however, you get more nutrients from eating broccoli microgreens than from ripe crowns. This makes them a great source of nutrients for kids who turn up their noses at grown broccoli.
Whether you want to try a new method of growing foods, need their health benefits, or are looking for fresh home-grown broccoli sprouts, microgreens are a fantastic choice. Let's start with these microgreens, which are quick and easy to grow at home.
Good products for growing broccoli microgreens:
Broccoli Microgreens Short Info
Broccoli microgreens like this purple sprouting broccoli are easy to grow.
| Taste: | Earthy, mild broccoli taste |
| Soaking: | No |
| Rinse / Drain: | No |
| Germination: | 2 days – 3 days |
| Ideal harvest: | 1-2 weeks |
Growing broccoli microgreens
As I said, growing broccoli microgreens at home is very easy. Once you get the hang of it, your kitchen will be filled with this high nutritional value food.
materials
Pick seeds like these Waltham 29 Microgreen Seeds from True Leaf Market.
Let's start by gathering the essential materials. Here's what you need to grow broccoli microgreens indoors or outdoors:
- seed: There are a wide variety of broccoli varieties, all of which can be grown as microgreens! The classic Waltham 29 is always a good standard, but there are plenty of other options if you want to broaden your horizons. We recommend the Waltham 29, Ramoso Santana, Green Calabrese, Purple Sprouting, or Di Cicco Broccoli Micro Green Seeds from True Leaf Market.
- Containers / trays: Grow microgreens in shallow trays with such drainage holes (you will need at least 2).
- Growing medium: We love this mix of seeds. Coconut-coconut is also a great option for growing broccoli microgreens at home.
- light: We strongly recommend using the Agrobrite T5 featured in our Grow Light Guide.
- Fogging bottle: These bottles will help in the early watering of microgreens
- Pouring bowl: a shallow bowl or container larger than the growing tray.
- heater mat (Optional)
The broccoli seeds you want to plant don't need to be specifically advertised for growing microgreens or sprouts. However, we recommend using a high quality organic brand. The containers and the seed soil are also important. Since we grow broccoli seeds in larger quantities than usual, you need fine-grained soil that the roots can easily navigate (seed soil is usually the best). The micro-green container needs to be flat and drained as we are pouring from below.
You can definitely use natural sunlight when growing microgreens indoors, but you will get the best results with a grow light. The microgreens will grow more evenly and are much less likely to etiolate. You can also control the exact time the plants get light.
soaking
These green Calabrian broccoli greens are a lovely light color.
You're off the hook here! Broccoli seeds are small, so they don't need much help breaking open. Soaking is not required to soften the outer seed coat. Instead, you can move on to the next step of growing broccoli microgreens at home.
plants
Growing microgreens requires a departure from traditional gardening methods. Before planting, fill your micro-green tray with soil to just below the edge. Then distribute the seeds as evenly as possible over the entire surface. We want to cover as much soil as possible so that a thick mat of broccoli sprouts grows. Microgreens are pretty small, so it takes a lot to get a decent harvest. Don't cover up the seeds – they'll be fine on them.
Give the seeds a good mist of water, being careful not to disperse them. Then, put the second tray on top of the first – essentially sticking it in. Over the next few days, the seeds will germinate with water and darkness.
If you want to speed up the process, place a seed mat under the bowl. This will raise the temperature and help the seeds grow faster. Without the mat, the temperature should be at least 70 ° F. For more general information, see our article on planting microgreen.
Growing
In the days after germination, we will focus on giving the broccoli sprouts plenty of water to grow. Fill your casting bowl and place the tray on it. After the bottom is filled with water, remove the tray to prevent the broccoli sprouts from becoming soaked and excess moisture to drain away. Water as often as necessary to keep the soil evenly moist.
When growing broccoli microgreen, don't confuse the root systems on the sprouts for mold, as it's just extra fibrous root material. Over time, they will settle in the ground and grow your broccoli sprouts. As long as you are watering from below you shouldn't have any problems with bacteria growth.
When the broccoli sprouts grow to microgreen, press the tray cover up (usually within 7 days). This is your signal to remove the cover and give the broccoli sprouts the light they deserve. Aim for 16 to 18 hours of light each day. The broccoli sprouts may be discolored at first, but should start producing more chlorophyll once they get some sun.
harvest
Di Cicco Broccoli Migrogreens have pale stems with lush greenery.
When each microgreen is 2 to 3 inches tall, it is ready to be harvested (between 7 and 14 days). This should be done before the real leaves grow in, which affects the taste drastically. Stop with the water around 12 hours before your planned harvest (this will help with storage later). Then grab some scissors and get to work!
Cut the microgreens in bunches just above the ground. You can harvest them all at once or just take what you use. However, plan to harvest the entire crop before it gets too old.
storage
You will get the tastiest results and the best nutrition when you eat your fresh harvest right away. Wash the microgreens in cold water, pat dry and cook! Use them in any food you like. However, we do not recommend micro-green ice cream.
When you have harvested them all at once, you need to store the microgreens correctly until you are ready to eat. Broccoli microgreens store best when they are dry. That's why we stopped watering before the harvest. To absorb excess moisture, fold the broccoli microgreens in a paper towel. Then seal them in a container or bag and keep them in the refrigerator. The home-grown microgreens stay fresh to eat for around 3 to 4 days.
frequently asked Questions
These Ramoso Santana microgreens have a luscious medium green color when ready to be harvested.
Q: Do broccoli microgreens grow back?
On a. Most microgreens are unique, so you will need to plant more broccoli seeds for a different crop. Fortunately, these nutrient sprouts are very easy to grow.
Q: Why are my microgreens falling over?
A: When you grow broccoli microgreens, it usually happens when they are underwater. A good drink should easily revive those broccoli sprouts. If not, it could be that the broccoli sprouts are etiolated, which means they are expanding to look for light. Adjust the lighting as needed for better light coverage.
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