How Densely Sow Microgreens Seeds? A practical guide with CHARTS to growing microgreens.
In the world of microgreens,👩🌾 farmers know how many factors affect the success of their crops.
- The germination time,
- the period of darkness,
- the soaking of the seeds,
- or the quality of the seeds, are some of the basic factors that every farmer knows very well. But that's not all!
Another essential factor that has a huge impact on the size and success of your crop is SEED DENSITY. Do you know what this exactly means and how to determine the density for a particular microgreens variety?🤔 In this article, we will go point by point through the issues of seed density for microgreens.
Ready? Here is the plan for our guide:
1. What is microgreens seed density?
2. Is microgreens seed density important?
2.1 If you sow too many microgreens seeds.
2.2 If you sow too few microgreens seeds.
2.3 If you sow microgreens seeds properly densely.
3. How to calculate seedling density for microgreens?
4. What's the seeding density for popular microgreens varieties?
4.1 Seed Density of Broccoli Microgreens🥦
4.2 Seed Density of Pea Microgreens.
4.3 Seed Density of Radish Microgreens.🌱
4.4 Seed Density of Nasturtium Microgreens.🌼
4.5 Seed Density of Tagette Microgreens.🏵️
4.6 Seed Density of Sunflower Microgreens.🌻
4.7 Microgreens seed table with sowing density.
1. What is microgreens seed density?
Microgreens seed density is nothing else than the amount of seeds sown in a given area, usually the amount of seeds is given in grams. And the space is represented by the 10×20 growing tray.
Density value determines how closely the seeds should be spaced from each other in the tray. The optimal density varies depending on the size of the seeds of a specific variety of microgreens being grown.
For example:
- the seed density of Pea Foxy is 250g seeds per tray,
- but for Basil, Red Opal is 20g.
The CLUE is that we cannot sow the same amount of pea seeds as we sow basil seeds in one tray because their seeds differ in size, gives different type of plant, need different space etc.
Now you know what the seed density value is, but is it really such an important issue? Does it really affect how good your harvest will be? Let's find out.
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2. Is microgreens seed density important?🤔
Well, imagine you're planting a garden. If you sow your seeds too close together, the plants will compete for resources like sunlight, water, and nutrients. They'll end up overcrowded and stunted. On the other hand, if you spread them out too much, you'll waste space and potentially reduce your yield.
Similarly, with microgreens, seed density is crucial for optimal growth. Let's say you're growing Radish Pink Microgreens. These seeds are small, so it may seem that you need to sow a lot of them to get a good harvest.
It is also worth keeping in mind here that a different sowing density will be required if you want to grow an adult plant, and a different to grow microgreens.
2.1 If you sow too many microgreens seeds:
- they will overcrowd each other,
- making the plants weak
- and fighting for space, air, or light.
- This often results in the development of mold, which is a common problem in growing microgreens.
2.2 If you sow too few microgreens seeds:
- you'll end up with uneven growth,
- and less abundant yields.
- You'll need more growing trays and more Cocomats for your persistence to grow the intended number of microgreens.
2.3 If you sow microgreens seeds properly densely:
- Each seedling has enough space to grow.
- Microgreens have access to the necessary resources such as water, light, and oxygen.
- Ultimately, this promotes the development of healthy, vibrant and evenly growing microgreens.
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3. How to calculate seedling density for microgreens?
OK, now you may be wondering, how do you calculate the correct seed density? Is it even possible?
There is an unwritten rule that about 20 g per tray is sufficient for small seeds. However, this is an approximate value and will not work well for large seeds, such as Sunflower microgreens seeds.
What's more, if you want to grow some varieties of microgreens for edible flowers, such as Nasturtium Thom Tumb, you need to reduce the density of seeds per tray, as they require more space to grow.
TIP: It's also worth mentioning at this stage that when sowing, the seeds should be distributed evenly in the tray, without forming piles or overlapping, which definitely has an impact on the success of the crop.
So, how do you sow seeds at the right density? At MP SEEDS, we take care of all the details. We've made it easy for you to browse our online store and choose your seeds. Next to each variety, you'll find a handy chart detailing exactly how many seeds you should sow in your growing tray.
Radish Red Rambo table with seed density⬇️
And if you need seeding densities for the many varieties you grow, we have something for you too.
In our article: 📚▶︎The Comprehensive Guide to 70 Microgreens Varieties for the Aspiring Urban Farmer in which we did an overview of all our varieties, you'll find a handy downloadable table with all:
- available varieties
- cultivation details,
- the flavors of the microgreens
- stem and leaf colors,
- and, of course, the sowing density.
So, at MP Seeds, you don't have to guess, just precise instructions that will ensure that your microgreens will thrive.
4. What's the seeding density for popular microgreens varieties?
Well, at the beginning of this article, we promised to give you some examples of seed density for popular varieties. We've chosen a few to illustrate the differences in seed density among various types. Let's dive in!
4.1 Seed Density of Broccoli Microgreens🥦
4.2 Seed Density of Pea Microgreens
Pea seeds, compared to others, are relatively large and heavy. If you're planning to sow the popular Pea Foxy, you should measure out 250g of seeds. For varieties like Pea Dunn or Pea Jumbo, the appropriate seed amount increases to 280g due to the size of their seeds. Remember to soak these seeds for effective growth.
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4.3 Seed Density of Radish Microgreens🌱
Radish seeds are smaller than peas. Whether you're growing Radish Red Rambo, Radish Rose, or Radish Daikon, the suitable seeding density for these varieties is 65g seeds per growing tray.
4.4 Seed Density of Nasturtium Microgreens🌼
This is one of the microgreens which represents our collections of edible flowers. Both the Nasturtium Thom Tumb Alaska Microgreens and the other seeds varieties of Nasturtium have a seed density value of 20g per growing tray.
But remember, if you want to grow this to stage edible flowers, you need to give more space to the seeds than in growing microgreens.
4.5 Seed Density of Tagette Microgreens🏵️
In our store, you'll find Tagette available in four different variants:
- Tagette Pink Microgreens Seeds
- Tagette Peruvian-Huacatay Microgreens Seeds
- Tagette Citron Microgreens Seeds
- Tagette Mexican Marigold Microgreens Seeds
Tagette seeds are small and extremely lightweight. For this variety, you'll need about 12g of seeds per growing tray.
4.6 Seed Density of Sunflower Microgreens🌻
These sweet and crunchy microgreens are sure to become your next favourite. To grow beautiful Sunflower Microgreens, you'll need to measure out 150 grams of seeds into a growing tray.
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4.7 Microgreens seeds table with sowing density
As shown in the examples, just like in every step of growing, each type of microgreens seed requires special care and instructions for planting seeds. So, before you start growing any kind of microgreens, it's smart to learn about the planting instructions. This helps increase your chances of success.
To make the process of sowing microgreens seeds even easier for you, below is a
TABLE of other microgreens varieties with their seeding density⬇️
|
Microgreens seeds varieties |
Sowing density per 10×20 tray: |
| AlfaAlfa | 26,5 g |
| Anise | 18,5g |
| Amaranth Red | 16g |
| Arugula | 23,7g |
| Asian Micro Mix | 40g |
| Basil, Italian | 20g |
| Basil Red Opal | 20g |
| Beet, Yellow | 110g |
| Borage, Violet | 70g |
| Broccoli Raab | 37g |
| Cabbage, Red | 45g |
| Carrot, Falla | 26g |
| Celery, Leafy | 6,5g |
| Chervil | 29g |
| Chickpea | 300g |
| Cilantro, Coriander | 34g |
| Cress | 32g |
| Dichondra repens | 25g |
| Dill, Dakota | 33g |
| Fava Bean | 450g |
| Fenugreek | 50g |
| Fennel | 33g |
| Kale, Red Russian | 28,5g |
| Lemon Balm | 5g |
| Lupine | 230g |
| Melon | 150g |
| Mizuna, Red Frills | 18g |
| Mustard, Radd | 35g |
| Mustard, White | 31g |
| Onion, Barbra | 50g |
| Pak Choi | 40g |
| Parsley | 25g |
| Pea, Salad | 280g |
| Pea, Foxy | 250g |
| PopCorn | 315g |
| Sage | 30g |
| Spinach | 65g |
| Turnip | 24g |
| WheatGrass | 200g |
| Marigold, Beauty | 3g |
| Shiso Red | 15g |
| Sorrel Red | 15g |
| Purslane | 15g |
| Shungiku | 10g |
Summary
Through this article, we've explored the importance of seed density, how to calculate it, and its implications for different varieties of microgreens. With precise guidance and tips provided by MP SEEDS, growers can ensure optimal seed density for healthy, vibrant microgreens.
You now know that seed density, which determines how closely the seeds are spaced in the growing tray, plays a key role in the successful cultivation of microgreens. It influences factors such as:
- competition for resources
- airflow
- water drainage
- and ultimately, the quality of the crop.
Remember, by finding the right balance in seed density, growers can create an environment where each seedling has sufficient space to grow and access essential resources, resulting in a bountiful and thriving microgreens harvest.🌱