Growing microgreens indoor during winter

In the spirit of growing year round, I experiment with cold tolerant crops when most people can't grow outdoors. I've tried a makeshift mini polytunnel/greenhouse with little materials.

Additionally I grow microgreens indoors under grow lights, and on the porch turned into a mini greenhouse. Right now I'm growing microgreens in the porch greenhouse.

Recently I covered the porch in two layers of transparent plastic sheeting to protect my starters and seedlings.

I debated whether or not to bring all the houseplants back inside for the winter, so I only brought in a few and am starting over so to speak.

Honestly, there's too many for my house and I worry about the weight of the plants collectively in my house, plus the moisture, and my cats messing with the plants-- all makes my decision to get rid of the houseplants.

All of the houseplants were covered under the porch greenhouse with blankets over them, but they couldn't survive the temperatures this winter.

However, I wanted to provide you with some inspiration from others' indoor grow operations for microgreens and other food. These are perfect for winter months when you need a little green and freshness to liven the mood of a dreary winter season.

How to Grow Microgreens

Green gold farms

Sprouting seeds of love

Healthy lady

Healthy lady blog

Infusion fibers

Microgreen farm

Acosmic gardens

Pinimig

Pinimg

Spring flowers and hoop tunnels garden tour video

Garden Hoop houses polytunnels

Netting on mini hoop houses to keep out the cats and rabbits

Hoop polytunnels for spring transplanting

Netting polytunnels in the garden

It was 74 degrees today--in early February in Kentucky! We have had the craziest weather. It has been warm all week when last week it was 0 degrees.

So, I'm doing a little bit of garden work everyday since it's a warm week. I put a polytunnel over one mound and put netting on top to keep my cat out. But I can also place transparent plastic over top on those extremely cold spring nights.

I'm slowly putting up more polytunnels over the garden mounds. It's slow going because I always run out of resources fast on these projects. I bought plenty of netting, but ran out of garden stakes and plastic tubing. So tomorrow I'm going to buy these before work so I can work on them through the weekend.

I covered my flower gardens because the weather is going to be cold again

These are the crocuses I have transplanted in pots

Growing microgreens indoors with plastic recyclables

I have been eating on the microgreens. And I have more to chew on growing under the indoor lights.

It's nice to have some greenery indoors when its 0 degrees outside. The pipes have froze but lets hope they don't bust.

Microgreens under grow lights & tropical plants on shelf

Microgreens to eat from indoor growing, plus produce I buy as a
supplement until I have food growing in the gardens 

Here, I have garnished the ramen with microgreens. And I have used the microgreens in other soups, salads, and sandwiches. They're quicky, easy, and nutritious, so I encourage you to grow what you can, too.

Hoemeade Vegan ramen with kimchi and microgreens.

And not surprisingly, the tulips, crocuses, irises, ferns, and daffodils are emerging up from the soil. I cleaned up around the spring flowers, grubbing the weeds out, and I spread peat moss over them. Tomorrow, I'm going to cover them with sheets of plastic and cloth until March.

I transplanted some of the crocuses to ceramic pots, because I thought that looked better than growing around my yard for two weeks. Crocuses don't bloom long, and I would rather dedicate yard space to something else that blooms longer. I have many more crocuses to transplant though.

There's so much to do, so little time. But with these warm days in the forecast, I'm taking advantage of it, and mulching/composting and cleaning up the vegetable and flower gardens and the fruit trees.

Eating microgreens in january (growing indoors)

Everyday these seedlings grow taller and greener. Last night I cut from the tray of Daikon radish seedlings. They were getting mature, so it's time to harvest them. I ate the seedlings as a garnish over vegan ramen with kimchi.

I don't remember what I planted here. Maybe I didn't because nothing is growing yet. 

The turnip greens are very lush. I can't wait to harvest them to eat in a salad or sandwich.

I'm excited for the new year of growing. I have bigger plans and ideas! So stay tuned.

Starting microgreens in January

Daikon radish sprouting, bok choy, and other seed germinating

 Last Saturday, one week ago, I sowed 7 top turnip, white icicle radish, and daikon radish seed. I sowed the seeds in a seed starting mix with coconut coir. And I am using recycled plastic to use as containers to grow the microgreens.

After a couple of days, the seeds germinated, and I have kept the grow lights on them for 8 to 12 hours.

Turnip sprouting

I'm going to use these microgreens to garnish in salads, soups, and sandwiches. In a couple of weeks, I'll be starting broccoli, cabbage, and other brassicas to transplant outdoors in the garden in late March--early April.

Radish sprouting 

There's no point starting a bunch of plants this early in the year. The temperature outside will be single digits at night this week. And it will be at least another 6 weeks till I can plant cold hardy veggies outdoors. And I still need to compost and mulch my gardens and fruit trees, and till my other gardens.
I am ordering more cucumber, tomato, and pepper seed to start indoors in March to transplant outdoors in May. There's not much I can plant now, but I'm get antsy to see some greens to pick. I encourage you to grow something green today! 

Blackberry garden harvest pie!

The holidays are almost over for the year. It has whipped by quickly and I am in anticipation for the upcoming grow season. I hope I can manage it while working full time. I'll just be doing a lot on the weekends, I guess.

Anyway, I snapped a couple of pictures of vegan desserts that grandma made for xmas...they were delish! Even one of the desserts was a pie made with blackberries from the garden that had been frozen this summer.

At the holidays, I paint winter scenes for family members, and here are two I painted and gifted.

This is one painting I did & gifted as well

 Of course, if you aren't already, you can see my other works of art at my other blog, Art Landfill or on my Instagram for pictures of art and my gardens.

I painted this winter scene too 

Lovely holiday stuffed acorn squash recipe

Oooh made something delectable that is a delicious dinner wrapped in fall season flavors! In fall, gardeners usually harvest winter squashes. Acorn squash are one of those fall season delights that are perfect for a holiday dinner.

For this meal, I cut he top and bottom of the acorn squash so that it can sit flat in he oven. I preheat the oven for 450 degrees. Then scoop out as much of the squash and chop with some onions, spinach, and vegan soy sausage in a skillet of oil. Toast two slices of bread, chop, then add to the soy sausage mixture. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes or until squash is soft.

Meanwhile bake squash in the oven while fying soy sausage mix, then add mixture to the acorn squash vessel. Bake for 30 mi utes or until squash is soft on the outside skin.

Of course I didn't take a picture of this meal  but I'll make sure to get a shot when I make it with the butternut squash for the upcoming holiday dinner.

But I did snap a picture of this rice, carrot, cabbage cooked with ginger, garlic, sugar and the microgreens I grew garnished on top.