How to Germinate Microgreen Seeds in Paper Towel

A microgreen is a sprout of an herb or vegetable harvested before fully developing into a plant. Microgreens, also known as baby greens, are harvested by cutting their stems at the first true leaf stage. When the seeds sprout, you plant them and wait for true leaves to appear. Microgreens are usually harvested when they reach three to ten cm (four to four inches) in height.

The easiest way to grow microgreens is on a paper towel, but you can grow them in various mediums. You can use this option rather than soil in your home because it is much easier and less messy.

How to Germinate Microgreen Seeds in Paper Towel

Select the Right Seeds for Your Microgreens

The first step to growing microgreens is deciding what plants to grow. Most vegetables and herbs with edible leaves can be grown as microgreens. There is a surprisingly strong flavor to the greens, similar to that of the full-grown plant. As an example, radish microgreens have a spicy radish taste. Various seeds can be grown as microgreens, including sunflower, amaranth, spinach, mustard, and basil.

Paper towels are not recommended for growing cabbage, beet, or carrot microgreens. The deeper roots of these varieties will struggle to grow on paper towels, even though they are commonly grown in soil trays. Not eating nightshade plants, like tomatoes, peppers, or eggplants, is also advisable since their sprouts are poisonous.

Get Your Microgreens Seeds Ready by Soaking Them

Ideally, seeds should be soaked in water before being placed on a paper towel. Depending on the species, it might be advisable to soak seeds overnight or for at least a few hours. This step is optional, but it assists in softening and opening up the seed’s hard shell. If we soak the seeds first, we will get better germination rates (more seeds sprout from the batch), and they will grow faster. Some seeds, such as basil or chia, cannot be soaked in advance. When wet, the seeds produce a thick gel, making it difficult to separate and spread evenly across your paper towel.

Take a Paper Towel and Plant Your Microgreens Seeds

Now is the time to start growing your microgreen seeds. You must ensure your microgreens grow correctly by getting the right moisture level. Your seeds will not grow if your paper towel becomes too dry. Paper towels that are too wet can drown seeds, or mold may develop.
Put a few sheets of paper towel in a water bowl and soak them for a few minutes. Once it has been soaked, you should squeeze out most of the water. Squeezing the paper towel will reveal only a drop or two of water, suggesting it is at the right level of dampness.
Now fold your paper towel a few thick layers, and line your container’s bottom.
If you plan to cover your microgreens, use a baking container with 5 to 10-cm tall sides to give them room to grow.
Ensure that the seeds are evenly spread across the surface of the paper towel with the help of a small spoon. You should not crush the seeds too much by applying too much pressure.
Use your water bottle to mist the seeds after you have added them. Add another paper towel to cover them.
The container can also be covered with plastic wrap or a clear lid to raise the humidity in a dry climate or during winter.

In case you missed it: How to Grow Microgreens in Greenhouse: A Step-By-Step Guide for Seed to Harvest

Put Your Microgreens in the Dark to Recreate Conditions of Underground

To mimic the conditions of growing underground, you must keep your seeds dark for about one week. Don’t expose your container to light by placing it in a cupboard or covering it with another container. Avoid exposing them more than necessary, even though it can be tempting to check on them.

Check Moisture Levels Daily and Rehydrate the Seeds on Paper Towels

If you soak the seeds before putting them on the paper towel, you will see some sprout after 24 hours.
Make sure your paper towel is at the proper moisture level every day. If the tray still feels wet, leave it and cover it again. It can be rehydrated by gently spraying it with water if it feels dry.
If you spray too hard, you may dislodge newly-formed roots or use a mist setting on the spray bottle.
Adding water as needed and checking on your microgreens is a process that should be repeated every few days.
It won’t take long for your seeds to sprout around day five. The nutrients and flavor of microgreens aren’t fully developed yet. Therefore, they aren’t truly microgreens yet.

Uncover Your Microgreens

You should notice that your microgreens have grown quite tall after seven days and have developed tiny leaves. In this step, expose your container to light by uncovering or removing it from the cupboard. Over the next few days, their color will change from a pale yellowish-white to a vibrant green as they begin to produce photosynthesis. Keep your paper towel moist but not too wet.

Harvest Your Microgreens

Microgreens are ready for harvesting after a few days of exposure to light and turning a deep green color. If you want your microgreens to grow and develop more nutrients, let them grow for a few extra days. However, a seed will eventually run out of energy to provide them, causing them to die. Hence, microgreens should be harvested after day 13 of planting. Simply separate your greens from the paper towel, and you can harvest them without wasting any.

In case you missed it: A Step-By-Step Guide for Growing Organic Microgreens

In this way, the seeds and roots will remain intact. Even though all parts of the microgreens are edible, some people do not eat the seed hulls. If you don’t want to eat the seed hulls, rinse your greens in cold water to cause them to float to the surface. The microgreens can also be cut off the paper towel with scissors or a knife instead of being pulled off by pulling them off.

Conclusion

Microgreens grow in various ways, each with its pros and cons. Finding a method that suits you and is easiest for your lifestyle and home setup is important. The paper towel is a great starting point, as you won’t need any soil, wood shavings, or any other growing medium.

How to Germinate Microgreen Seeds in Paper Towel