Page 6 2025 Spring Home and Garden LINCOLN DAILY NEWS April 2025 Avid gardeners will recognize the midwinter longing for the day they can get back outside, dig in the soil, and watch the fruits and vegetables grow. What if we could grow fresh food all year round, even without a greenhouse? It is possible with some basic materials and the right knowledge. Dr. Jennifer Nelson, adjunct instructor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the College of ACES, provided the materials and the knowledge in her workshop entitled Growing Microgreens and Sprouts at Home at the Logan County Master Gardeners’ Russel Allen Garden Day on March 15 in Lincoln. Dr. Nelson provided information about supplies, safety practices, step-by-step instructions, as well as materials for getting started in this manner of indoor gardening that can provide fresh and highly nutritious homegrown produce all year long. Grow Produce Year Round with Microgreens and Sprouts Dr. Nelson began by explaining the difference between microgreens and sprouts. Microgreens need soil for growth and some light (though not necessarily grow lights) and we eat only the top; they take a longer time to be ready to harvest, but when ready can be harvested as needed. Sprouts, on the other hand, do not need soil or light and we eat the whole sprout. Sprouts must be consumed within one or two days after they are ready. Both microgreens and sprouts are nutritional powerhouses and are delicious on tacos, avocado toast, salads, in stir-frys, atop soups, or anywhere you might eat lettuce or other greens. When growing microgreens, there is no need for special seeds, although microgreen seeds may have a better germination rate. Microgreens are actually vegetables and herbs in the seedling stage of the plant’s life cycle and can be grown from broccoli, basil, radish, and other common seeds. The key to growing successful microgreens is to not let them dry out. Although microgreens will not grow back after being cut, they are easy to grow in succession planting. Sprouts can be grown with just water, but they must not be allowed to get too wet. There should be no standing or pooling Continued --
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