MICROGREENS!
Many people ask us, "What are microgreens?" or refer to them as "sprouts". Let's start with what they are.
Microgreens are baby plants which are seeded and grown for an average of 10 days (some longer, some shorter depending on the variety). These plants are then harvested at just prior to or just after developing their first true leaf. This then becomes the "microgreen" you consume.
By harvesting microgreens early they lock in a ton of nutrition in every tiny bite. All the nutrition needed to grow them full-size is still inside the plant and so you're actually getting a huge nutrient boost anytime you consume them. In fact, some micros are exponentially more nutritious than their full-grown counter-parts.
For example, Broccoli microgreens are up to 40x more nutritious than a full-grown broccoli stalk that you would normally eat! That's a lot of nutrition!
Are They the Same as Sprouts?
A common misconception about microgreens is that they are also known as sprouts. In fact, they are two completely different parts of the same plant! Sprouts are actually seeds grown in water without any growing medium. Once they sprout, the water is then drained and you are left with the roots of the plant, known as "Sprouts".
Microgreens, on the other hand, are grown in some form of growing medium, and you are actually eating the tops of the plants (minus the roots). Microgreens are much more nutritious than sprouts and technically, a bit safer (there are some
e. coli concerns surrounding sprouts since they are only grown in water and proper sanitation is an absolute must).
There are also many more varieties of microgreens than there are sprouts. In fact, there are hundreds of different kinds of microgreens (some growers say there are even upwards of 1500 varieties) including micro-herbs like basil, dill, and cilantro!
Also, there are several differences in how micros can be consumed versus sprouts. Micros tend to have many more uses, given their abundant varieties. They can also be juiced and cooked with many different kinds of dishes.
A simple way to remember micros versus sprouts is that micros are the tops and sprouts are the bottoms of baby plants.
Which Micros Are the Healthiest?
When it comes to microgreens you'll find a long list of nutritional benefits as well as many other health benefits. Among the top-tier of healthy micros are pea shoots, broccoli, cabbage, radish, and sunflower shoots.
Depending on the type of microgreen you choose, you may find additional benefits from consuming them (such as help fighting cancer, better control of blood pressure, help with your immune system, better digestion, help with blood sugar or weight management).
Micros are a great choice for healthy living!
What Varieties of Micros Does Regeneration Farm Grow?
The simple answer to this question is "Many!".
At our farm we have mainstay micros we grow everyday such as pea shoots, sunflower shoots, radish, broccoli, cabbage, fava bean, buckwheat, leek, and some mixtures like Mild Micros (broccoli, cabbage, kale and kohlrabi). We blend these micros into many different products which are then sold at grocery stores and our farmer's markets.
We also grow a large variety of specialty microgreens during our busy summer season (mainly sold at our farmer's markets and our online store). You'll find several micro herbs like basil, cilantro, dill, and sorrel. In addition, we grow unique varieties which we find fun to grow and we'll offer them for sale on random occasions. These may include things like Tokyo Bekana, Fenugreek, Amaranth, Fennel, Cantaloupe, Borage, and Shiso.
We've even grown some truly unique varieties like Marigold, Chrysanthemum, and Chinese Mahogany.
With so many varieties to choose from we'll nearly always have something new and exciting for you to try! Check our online store frequently to see what's available this week or visit one of our farmer's markets. You can find our current markets listed under our Where to Buy page.