How to Grow Basil Microgreens in A Recycled Container

Learn how to grow basil microgreens in a recycled container. I always like to find ways to live more frugally and reduce waste as much as possible. This method of growing microgreens ticks off both of those boxes.

Keep reading to find out how you can easily and quickly grow some delicious and healthy microgreens to add to your next meal with items you may already have around the house.

Basil microgreens can be grown by adding a couple centimeters of soil to a clean, shallow, recycled tray that has drainage holes. Sow the seeds on the surface of the soil, and mist well. The first sprouts will form in about 3-5 days. Give your basil micro greens 3 weeks to mature before harvest. Harvest once the first true leaves have fully opened and plants are about 1 -2 inches tall. Cut off at soil level or pull the plants out completely. Rinse well, and then store in the fridge for up to five days.

BENEFITS OF GROWING BASIL MICROGREENS AT HOME:

• save money
• environmentally friendly
• nutritional and general health benefits
• access to fresh, flavourful microgreens whenever you want – even in winter

SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED:

• Shallow, recycled, food-grade plastic container
• Soil or other seed starting medium
• Basil microgreen seeds
• Grow light
  • in warm weather, you can put your microgreens outdoors in the sun as soon as sprouts are visible
• Spray bottle
• Drill with a small drill bit or, a nail
• Optional: heat mats
  • can be used to speed up the germination process, but not necessary

HOW TO GROW BASIL MICROGREENS: STEP BY STEP:

For this step-by-step portion, I will be providing details for growing your microgreens in soil. This is the way I have found to be the easiest and most successful. No matter what seed starting medium you choose, the idea will be the same. Always make sure to keep the growing medium evenly moist.

1. prepare your container by drilling holes in the bottom
2. pre-moisten the seed starting medium
3. fill the container with a few cm (1-1.5 inches) of soil
4. sprinkle basil seeds on top of the soil surface 
5. heavily mist with water to settle everything in
   • You will notice a milky white gel around the seeds – this is normal as basil has mucilaginous seeds – it is their way of holding in moisture for germination
6. Cover the container with a clear lid or plastic wrap and set in a warm spot
7. Once green leaves are appearing, remove the cover and put under bright grow lights
   • do not mist or water at all while waiting for the seeds to germinate
8. After seeds have sprouted, start watering
   • check daily with your finger, or by lifting the container to see if it is lighter
   • bottom water by placing your container in the sink or a solid container with about half an inch of water – let the microgreen container soak up the water through the drainage holes, once the soil looks darker remove it from the water
   • Don’t give too much water or you may experience damping off, or other fungal issues such as mould, or fungus gnats
9. harvest in three weeks once the plants have their first true leaves (more on that below)

Extra tip: have a couple of small containers going with a succession of microgreens. That way you will never run out.

WHAT CAN I USE AS a MICROGREEN TRAY?

You will want to choose a food-grade, plastic container that you have washed out well. If you can find one that already has drainage holes in the bottom that is even better. I like to use berry, mushroom, lettuce, rotisserie chicken, or take-out containers. There are many options to choose from.

It is best if you choose shallow trays that are a maximum of 2 inches tall. This will make harvesting easier. Also, it is not necessary to have deep soil since microgreens will not develop a huge root system as they are harvested so early.

I found my favourite type of container to grow basil microgreens. It worked out so well the last time. I used an old takeout tray like the one pictured below. I just needed to add some holes in the bottom. The lid made a perfect cover, and then became a second tray at the bottom to water in. It was great!

MICROGREEN STARTING MEDIUM:

There are many starting mediums that you can grow basil microgreens in. You could even choose to grow them without soil. My favourite option is a nice organic seed starting mix. 

Other people have success using paper towel, coconut coir, or a hemp grow mat. The one thing these options all have in common is that they are sterile and hold moisture well. So, you can feel free to experiment and see what works best for you.

I can see there being pros and cons to each. I think the big difference you will find is how well the different mediums retain water. This will make watering easier or more difficult depending on the one you go with.

One thing to note is that I would not recommend using garden soil. You want to keep everything as healthy and sterile as possible. You can not be sure what types of pests or things could be lurking in that soil, and you do not want to bring those inside. Also, it will most likely be much too heavy for this type of project.

Lastly, it is important to make sure to use fresh soil each time. I will just add my used soil to the compost pile or as a mulch to my other containers or garden beds.

WHERE TO GET BASIL SEEDS FOR GROWING MICROGREENS?

The two top places I would recommend buying your basil microgreens seeds from are West Coast Seed Company and Mumm’s Sprouting Seeds Ltd. Both websites also have some great information about microgreens and sprouts, as well as equipment. You may find more varieties on the Mumm’s Sprouting Seeds website.

It is important to use specific high-quality seeds for microgreens or sprouting as they have been tested and treated for pathogens. They are also organic, and you can be assured that no chemicals have been used on them.

There are many basil varieties that you can grow such as; purple basil, dark opal basil, Thai basil, lemon basil, cinnamon basil, common basil such as traditional Genovese basil microgreens, and more. Actually, all edible herb, vegetable, and flower seeds can be used for microgreens. So, feel free to experiment with different varieties. You could even create your very own basil microgreen medley. 

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE BASIL MICROGREENS TO GROW?

Basil is one of the slowest growing microgreens. They can be grown in about 14-21 days depending on your setup. For best results, you will want to give your basil microgreens at least 3 weeks of growing time before you harvest. This will ensure that you get the most out of them as they will be just a little bigger and more developed.

I took notes and photos along the way the last time I grew basil microgreens. Here are the details. I started my basil microgreens on Dec 5^th. The first sprouts appeared on Dec 10th which is when I took the cover off. I left mine to grow a little larger and harvested them on Dec 30^th.

Throughout that time, I bottom-watered them about once per week. We keep our house around 68 degrees F, so I think that this batch of microgreens may have grown just slightly slower because of that.

WHEN AND HOW TO HARVEST BASIL MICROGREENS

You will harvest your basil microgreens when they are about an inch or two tall and the true leaves are fully open. The best way to harvest them is by cutting the stems at the soil level with some sharp scissors. Alternatively, you could also pull out the entire seedling as it is all edible.

Feel free to harvest as you need them, or just harvest all at once. The longer you leave them to grow the more soil they will need and the more water, so I wouldn’t leave them too long.

Another reason to harvest them earlier is because they are the most nutrient-dense when they are younger. They will become less so as you get much past the first true leaves opening and as they become a mature basil plant.

Once they have been harvested you want to give them a good rinse with water. I do this by adding them to a fine mesh strainer and running cool water over them in the sink. Next, you will need to make sure to dry them off very well. You can either do this with a paper towel or by using a salad spinner if the holes are small.

I store them in a container in my fridge with a lid. I usually have a lightly dampened paper towel in the bottom of the container. They last for about a week this way. They should be firm, crisp, and have a fresh basil smell. Use your own judgment for how long you want to keep them.

COOKING WITH BASIL MICROGREENS

Basil microgreens still have that intense basil flavor that we have all come to know and love. It is best to eat them raw so that they maintain all those amazing nutrients. For this reason, I will add them in at the end of cooking just before you are ready to eat.

They are delicious as a garnish on pasta dishes, or soup. They also make a great addition to salads or on top of a sandwich. Yum.

Well, I hope that has inspired you to go on out there and give it a try. Also, don’t forget to pin this post for later reference.

Until next time!