Nature's Superfoods

Our new range of Sprouts and Microgreens from Mr Fothergill’s are tasty and nutritious – and quick to grow too.

Microgreens

Microgreens – Often called ‘vegetable confetti’, these are a healthy, colourful and delicious alternative to sprouts. Halfway in size between sprouts and baby greens they are usually harvested within two weeks of sowing. They are commonly grown in seedlings trays or in hydroponic trays and differ from sprouts in that they are harvested above the seed with a pair of scissors when there are two or more true leaves.

Microgreens provide texture and colour to a dish when used as a garnish and vibrant colour when used in a salad. Some of the more exciting varieties include amaranth, basil, chervil, coriander, garland chrysanthemum and rocket, and now Mr Fothergills has launched a seed packet range of microgreens with exotic flavours from around the world.

Grow them in a seedling tray filled with a thin layer of potting mix, or hydroponically in the specially designed Mr Fothergill’s Microgreens Growing Tray.

Top Tips for Growing Microgreens

• Remember to keep the seeds moist – if you are using a Microgreens Growing Tray, spray seeds often with a fine mist of water until the roots develop in a few days. You can cover your tray with foil between watering to reduce evaporation.
• Feed the plants with a half strength liquid fertiliser to encourage rapid growth.
• Harvest just before serving for maximum freshness and flavour.

Sprouting

Sprouting is possibly the easiest form of growing your own fresh produce. It also provides extremely quick results with crops ready to harvest in as little as four days. Often hailed as one of “Nature’s Super Foods”, sprouts are highly nutritious and packed with enzymes and powerful proteins.

Sprouts are effectively the first stage of development in a plant’s life cycle. Tasty and succulent, they make ideal additions to fresh salads and sandwiches as well as cooked meals such as stir-fries.

Commonly, sprouts are grown hydroponically (in water, without soil) so you can eat the entire plant with root, seed and all – maximising the intake of nutrients available.

Mr Fothergill’s Sprouts Alive seeds are food grade and are guaranteed to grow, so try them in a jar, bag or the fuss-free in the Mr Fothergill’s Kitchen Seed Sprouter.

Top Tips for Growing Sprouts

• Rinse the seeds at least twice a day
• Do not overfill the container with seed
• Harvest within a week of sowing
• Use only sprouting seeds that are safe for consumption

For more information go to www.mrfothergills.co.nz