Introduction: Growing Sunflower Micro Greens in a Plastic Salad Box
Sunflower micro greens are deliciously nutty with the flavour of raw sunflower seeds but with the texture of spinach. They are easy to grow in just about any container you can find around the house like clear plastic salad mix boxes.
Equipment:
*makeshift mini greenhouse
*organic black oil sunflower seeds
*clean potting soil
Directions:
No fancy equipment need for this high-brow salad trimming. I used a biodegradable plastic salad box (make sure it’s food safe); it's the perfect soil tray and greenhouse. You could also use a milk jug cut in half, a cake tray, or whatever you can imagine that would create a mini greenhouse.
Add about an inch of clean, rich soil to the bottom tray, and spread sunflower seeds over the top. I generously cover the soil with seeds not letting any of them overlap. Cover the seeds with just enough soil to hold moisture and put in a warm place out of direct sunlight.
The micro greens are ready to harvest when the mighty seedlings push up the soil (which helps to knock off the black husks) and grow two fat seed leaves. Snip the seedlings at the base and wash in a salad spinner.
For more ideas, check out growing sunflower sprouts in a chicken dome or the comments on the original post, Sunflower Micro Greens: A Time Lapse Photo Journal. There is some discussion in the original post on using birdseed which I don't recommend as it is not regulated for human consumption. I always buy my sprouting seeds from a trusted source that intends them for sprouting to ensure health safety.
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9 Comments
11 years ago on Introduction
Can you use black oil sunflower bird seeds? They're really cheap, and they still grow.
Reply 7 years ago
Yes! I grew from black oil sunflower bird seed and turned out great. I believe biggest difference between food grade and bird grade is they spend more time removing pebbles and such, but that matters nada growing microgreens.
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
Pizzapie500, I personally wouldnât feel comfortable using birdseed unless I see where there were grown and processed. Standards for food safety for humans donât apply to bird seed growing/harvesting/packaging/storing/etc, so I only grow sprouts from food packaged for humans.
8 years ago
I am gonna do dis. Gonna use a proppa garden seed tray instructifarian style ya know.
10 years ago on Introduction
Instead of soil I use perlite (rinsed it a few times first to get rid of powder). It's ultra cheap for a small bag and seems cleaner.
11 years ago on Introduction
Should holes be made in the lid? Also, have you tried this with other types of greens? Should I look out for mold?
11 years ago on Introduction
Can you use the ones sold as snacks (unroasted/unsalted)?
Reply 11 years ago on Introduction
ChrysN, yes you can. I've used them before and they work well. The black oil sunflower seeds taste a bit better, so if you like the striped ones, then venture out to try the others someday.
11 years ago on Introduction
How simple! Wonderful!