Highlight of this article:
- Which Microgreen seeds are susceptible to mould?
- How do we prevent mould during the growing process?
- What do we do if mould has already emerged?
We shared with you two growing techniques that are specific to Microgreen. This episode, let us take you through the most difficult part which many growers experienced —— mould. Many factors can lead to mould. The cleaniness of the seeds, the growing containers, growing medium, and the watering method may all be contributing factors.
As a start, guess which seeds are the most susceptible to mould?
Seeds Susceptible to Mould
Sunflower seeds is one of the easy-to-grow Microgreen, given their bigger seed size and shorter germination period (Sunflower No.1 only need maximum five days to germinate). Another reason for them to be popular, is their sweetness alongside Swiss Chard and Red Amaranthus, which stands out from the spicy and pungent Microgreens. Therefore, they are the best choice for kids' first plant!
Pea is another popular variety. If you harvest on top of cotelydon, you can continue growing them for another 2-3 round of harvest. And they can be served raw or cooked. Similarly, peas are big seeds, making it easy to sow.
No needles with both ends pointed —— because of their bigger size and uneven surface, dust can easily hide within cracks, leading to fungal emergence, a reason for mould.
Avoid Seed Mould
To avoid mould on your seeds, professional Microgreen growers will spray hydogen peroxide (H₂O₂) on seeds. Some people will also spray alcohol. As homegrower, we may not be able to get these 'medicine' so easily, but as we have tried, as long as you clean the seeds thoroughly, you can prevent mould with small batches of Microgreen seeds too.
- Microgreen Sunflowers: Rinse your seeds thoroughly, then soak seeds in water for at least 30 minutes. Rinse afterward again. Don't wipe to dry your seeds, sow directly
- Pea: Rinse thoroughly, then soak for at least 2 hours, and rinse again. If you are not using growing medium, soak the seeds for 12 hours and grow in your tray
And not to confuse root hair with mould 👇
Root hair of sunflower is easy to identify. Mould is staggered, whereas root hair are like brushes
Mould can be prevented, if big seeds are soak and rinse thoroughly
Other factors leading to Mould
If you follow the Watering Principle from our first episode, you should be able to avoid mould caused by watering. Pay attention to the cleaniness of the containers and growing medium will help too.
- Containers: If you are using plastic containers, make sure they are washed with soal before growing Microgreen. If you are using paper or biodegradable materials, use new containers, make sure they are dry and consider using dryer
- Growing Medium: If you are using soil or coco coir, use sterilised medium
What to do if Mould still emerge?
Mould usually occurs on top of growing medium. We recommend that you discard the moulded microgreen. Hydrogen peroxide can kill mould, so if you are planning to grow continuously at home, it is worth investing in a bottle at home.
Microgreen Grow Like A Pro! - 1 (Reading time: 5 minutes)