LIVING MICROGREENS USE AND CARE

Blue Ridge Pepper Patch microgreens are grown on a soil-less hemp fiber media that makes it easy to transfer the microgreens to you without stopping their growth by cutting. (some large seeds, like beet and chard, may have some added soil on top of the hemp media). When the greens are cut, the nutrients begin to degrade as the young plant starts to die.

To use: simply cut the desired amount of microgreens just above the mat with clean kitchen shears, rinse in a mesh strainer, shake off excess water, and enjoy!

Keep the greens growing in the mat for a week or so, but not too long. Some varieties will quickly begin to develop a more fibrous texture, or structures like spines or hairs that make eating them raw undesirable. 

To keep until ready to use: cut away the lid of the packaging. Set the bottom of the box on a dish or tray to catch excess water. A casserole dish is great for this. You may also carefully take the whole mat out of the box and transfer to a dish. Place this near a sunny window. We do not recommend placing it outdoors, or even on a covered porch. Check the moisture in the hemp mat every day, if it seems dry, or if the greens aren’t standing straight, sprinkle a few ounces of water over the mat.

FAQ and tips:

“It looks like there is white mold at the base of my microgreens on the mat?!” It is unlikely what you’re seeing is mold. Since there is no soil, the roots are very visible, which is something we often don’t see. The initial root structures of a seedling plant are very hairy and fine, which can appear like a mold. However, sometimes spent seed casings may develop a bit of green mold if there is too much moisture in the growing area or not enough light. This is usually harmless, but you may pick out the spent seed casing and discard. If you see something like mold that is neither of these cases, or if anything appears slimy, you may have kept your microgreens around too long, or they may have received too much water and not enough light, and they will need to be discarded.

“What do I do with the growing mat? The box?” The boxes we use for packaging are bakery boxes and are recyclable. If you’re watering the greens in the box, the bottom may become soggy, simply allow it to dry out before placing in the recycling. The hemp mat is fully compostable in backyard compost systems. If you don’t compost, you can simply toss it in a hidden corner of your yard, or place in the trash as necessary. If you use a compost service like CompostNow, it is likely compostable with the service, but please check with your provider.

“Do they grow back after cutting?” They do not. Unlike things that grow from the bottom up, like wheat grass and green onions, microgreens are young plants that grow from the top, and cutting them from the mat removes the growing tip. But it’s ok, we’re happy to provide you with more!