Essentially, there are two ways to grow microgreens in a jar, with or without soil.
In this article, I am going to outline the method that I used to grow broccoli microgreens in a mason jar without soil.
Full disclosure, I have never grown microgreens without soil, so I am following the directions from thespruce.com to guide me in this process.
Please keep in mind that while I am following a method, the pictures in this article are mine, and the commentary is from my own experience growing broccoli microgreens in a jar without soil for the very first time.
Is it safe to grow microgreens in a jar?
Yes, it is safe to grow microgreens in a jar. If you intend to sprout your micros in water as opposed to growing them in soil, make sure you buy seeds that are specifically for sprouting.
These seeds are chemical-free and cleaned so that they’re pathogen-free. This will help reduce the chances of your sprouts harbouring salmonella or e. Coli.
I purchased my broccoli microgreen sprouting seeds from Mumm’s sprouting seeds.
How do you sprout microgreens in a mason jar?
As I mentioned above, before writing this article I have never grown microgreens in a jar before, so I will be following the method I found on thespruce.com.
I chose this method for no particular reason other than I had all the necessary items on hand to get started.
Let’s get started!
Equipment Needed:
- Cheesecloth
- Seeds of your choosing (I’m using broccoli)
- Wide mouth mason jar
- Bowl with a lid or food storage bag
- Paper towel
Instructions
1. Place the seeds in the jar and cover
Wash 1-2 tbsp of your chosen seeds in a clean, sterile wide-mouth mason jar.
* I washed mine in the kitchen sink using warm water with a tiny wire mesh strainer.
Make sure the seeds only take up about ¼ of the jar, as they will expand.
Cover them with approx. 2 inches of water.
Cover the jar with the cheesecloth and secure it with the canning lid ring or rubber band.
* I used a rubber band as the canning lid ring did not fit over the cheesecloth very well.
Allow mixture to sit overnight.
2. Drain Water From The Jar
Tip the jar upside down over a sink to drain the water from the jar.
Rinse the seeds.
Once you have drained all the soaking water from the container, rinse the seeds by adding new water to the jar.
Swish it around and drain again. Feel free to use the same cheesecloth you just used.
* I rinsed the seeds using the mesh strainer pictured above. I found that the seeds stuck to the cheesecloth and were annoying to remove. I used the cheesecloth for the final rinse since the seeds were staying inside the jar.
3. Allow for Circulation
Find an area out of direct sunlight and place the jar upside down at an angle to allow for drainage and air circulation through the cheesecloth.
Try using a bowl or dishrack to support the jar.
* I found a small tray and propped the mason jar up on the side of the counter. So far so good!
4. Repeat the Process
Repeat the soaking, draining, rinsing, and positioning for airflow process 2-4 times a day until your sprouts are the desired size.
The seeds should never be allowed to dry out completely or allowed to stand in water without being changed.
This repeated process should yield your desired results in 3-7 days, depending on the variety of sprouts you are growing.
5. Harvest the Sprouts
Sprouts are best to eat when they are still small and just starting to turn green.
After harvesting them, give the sprouts a final rinse, removing any unsprouted seeds.
Dry and store the sprouts in a covered bowl.
Use them within a week of harvesting.
6. Store Your Sprouts
Store your sprouts in a covered bowl or food storage bag in your fridge for up to a week.
It’s a good idea to add a paper towel to the bottom of your sprout storage in order to soak up any excess moisture. This will keep your sprouts fresher for longer.
Please let me know your results if you tried this method or any other method of sprouting microgreens in a jar.
Happy Gardening!
