Growing your own red clover microgreens is a fun and easy way to grow your own food at home. Red clover microgreens are super delicious. Their sweet flavor tastes alive and vibrant, which is the only way I can think to describe it. In just 7–10 days you can be enjoying this super food that you grew yourself. Also, it’s fun to grow plants from seed, you get to have something green growing in the house, and it makes you feel good and accomplished.
Red clover microgreens are packed with antioxidants and plant compounds called isoflavones, which may help balance hormones especially during menopause. They’re also rich in vitamin C, K, calcium and magnesium, making them a solid pick for supporting immunity, bone health, and detoxification.
Supplies Needed to Grow Red Clover Microgreens
- Organic red clover seeds
- Coconut coir mixed with earthworm castings. See my detailed post on using Coconut coir for growing microgreens.
- A shallow tray with drainage holes. You can buy a 5 x 5 or 10 x 10 inch growing tray, or reuse a berry container with a lid, or a greens cloche with a lid (be sure to poke or drill small holes in the bottom for drainage)
- Spray bottle for misting
- Grow light and heat mat or a sunny windowsill
Prepare the Soil
Again, I have a detailed post for using Coconut coir for microgreens here. Start by hydrating your Coconut coir until it is soft and fluffy, think moist chocolate cake, not soupy. Mix in about 20% earthworm castings by volume. This gives the greens a little extra nitrogen and micronutrients, which they love. Fill your tray or berry container with the mix and smooth it out, pressing gently so the surface is even.
Sow the Seeds
First soak the seeds in water for 8-12 hours. You don’t have to do this, but it will speed up germination. After the red clover seeds have soaked spread them evenly and generously across the surface of the coir mixture. There is no need to bury the seeds, just press them gently into the surface so they make good contact with the coir.
Blackout Phase
Use your spray bottle to lightly mist the seeds. Then cover the tray with a second tray, or if you’re reusing a berry container or a greens cloche, cover with the lid and a tea towel or a piece of aluminum foil. This will keep the light out and the moisture in to allow for even sprouting. Place the container on the heat mat to speed up germination. After 2-3 days you’ll notice the seeds have started to grow. There should be no need to water at this time because coconut coir is excellent at retaining moisture, and the lid should help to keep the moisture in as well.
Give Them Light
Once the red clover seeds have sprouted and have leaves, it’s time to expose them to light. Remove the cover or lid and place them under a grow light or by a sunny window. They’ll green up fast and grow an inch or two over the next few days.
Watering
Coconut coir is excellent at water retention so not much watering should be needed. But if you notice the coir starting to dry out ( it will turn a light brown color ) you can mist with a spray bottle, or if you don’t have a spray bottle try watering from the side so you don’t damage the tiny little plants. You can also water from the bottom by setting the tray in a shallow dish of water for a few minutes, and the coir will soak up the water.
Harvest
Your red clover microgreens are ready are ready to harvest once they are 2-3 inches tall and have open leaves. Simply cut them just above the soil line with kitchen scissors or a serrated knife. Rinse and dry and consume right away. Microgreens don’t store that well, so it’s best to eat immediately, but if you need to store them, put them in the fridge in a sealed container, lined with a paper towel.
Conclusion
Growing red clover microgreens is simple, satisfying and seriously rewarding. The taste is so fresh and delicious. Try it once and you’ll probably want to have a tray growing all the time.
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