Re: Trouble growing broccoli, radish, etc as microgreens

[Guest guest]

If I can make a video, I KNOW you can, Melody!! lol

Sent from my iPad

> Thanks very much . If I get to experimenting, I'll try some microgreens

and I'll make a video. Might take me a while. But I'll get there.

> lol

> Melody

>

>

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Mel,

> > > > > > > > Do you have room to do microgreens? I do very small containers -

round, 5 1/2 in. across. They sit on a little shelf that I built on my kitchen

window sill.

> > > > > > > > ew

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Re: Trouble growing broccoli,

radish, etc as microgreens

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > HI, I have a question. How come some people sprout in trays or

jars (like I do) and some do the microgreens (in some kind of medium, right? or

soil?)

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Is there a difference when one harvests this? Is the microgreen

more nutritious? I know one can then plant a microgreen and grow the plant but

I'm trying to figure out why I've never done the microgreen thing and all I have

done is sprouting?

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > lol

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Melody

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > --

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > >

[Guest guest]

Okay, got it!! No aluminum pie pans, no leaching of chemicals, nothing but

organic soil, or organic cotton batting.

As soon as I'm warm enough I shall explore this neighborhood and see if I can

find all items that I need.

When I do, I shall start a crop.

thank you my dear

Melody

[Guest guest]

I must know the name of that song, I want to download it on itunes so I can play

it in my kitchen while I am sprouting. It will probably drive Alan crazy.

lol

Melody

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > Mel,

> > > > > > > > > Do you have room to do microgreens? I do very small containers

- round, 5 1/2 in. across. They sit on a little shelf that I built on my kitchen

window sill.

> > > > > > > > > ew

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > Re: Trouble growing broccoli,

radish, etc as microgreens

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > HI, I have a question. How come some people sprout in trays or

jars (like I do) and some do the microgreens (in some kind of medium, right? or

soil?)

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > Is there a difference when one harvests this? Is the

microgreen more nutritious? I know one can then plant a microgreen and grow the

plant but I'm trying to figure out why I've never done the microgreen thing and

all I have done is sprouting?

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > lol

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > Melody

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > --

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > >

[Guest guest]

Mel, if you have a nursery near you, ask for seed starting mix. Or ask if they

have bags of perlite and peat, and go from there. If they have coir, it will

probably be compressed in a brick and you would have to reconstitute it. This

takes a five gallon bucket, and then some place to store a lot of wet coir.

You need to mist as often as the green need it. Which night be very often

depending on who hot the area is where you are growing them.

ew

Re: Trouble growing broccoli, radish, etc as

microgreens

Oh, so I can some aluminum pie plates, add a layer of some organic soil (I'll

go and look around and see if anyone around here sells this), then I take some

soaked seeds, sprinkle them, put another pie plate over that, add weights, wait

12 hours, take weights off, take top pie plate off, mist the seeds, and 12 hours

later.......

Did I get the time line right?

lol

Melody

>

> You

[Guest guest]

If the roots stand in water they will drown. They need oxygen. You notice in the

pie plate video, that she pours off the excess water. If you drown your roots

that will go bad and start to stink. You don't want to eat them after that. I'm

not saying that the pie plate method is wrong, but I prefer drainage.

ew

Re: Trouble growing broccoli, radish, etc as

microgreens

Oh, I remember that video because of the music. Love the music. But I'm

confused about something and if I can get this cleared up I can start growing

sunflower sprouts. They look wonderful.

EW said we need drainage, that's why I can't use a roasting pan. So where is

the drainage in your pie plate. I thought I had to use an aluminum pie plate and

poke holes. But you use a glass pie plate.

I happen to have 2 of these in the house so I'm all set. I can get the soil (or

whatever medium I can use) and I can follow exactly what you did. Oh lordy I

can't wait to try this.

But I want to understand the drainage thing.

Melody

[Guest guest]

Honey, there are only florists near me, no nurseries. But I will go in one of

them and ask.

Will update!!!

lol

Melody

> >

> > You

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

For a small amount of coir, you can buy the coir liners sold where garden pots

are-they are only a couple of dollars a piece, and are meant to line the cast

iron coir holders. I find them at Lowe's hardware.

Sent from my iPad

On Oct 28, 2011, at 7:38 PM, " Ernest Willingham "

wrote:

> Mel, if you have a nursery near you, ask for seed starting mix. Or ask if they

have bags of perlite and peat, and go from there. If they have coir, it will

probably be compressed in a brick and you would have to reconstitute it. This

takes a five gallon bucket, and then some place to store a lot of wet coir.

> You need to mist as often as the green need it. Which night be very often

depending on who hot the area is where you are growing them.

> ew

>

> Re: Trouble growing broccoli, radish, etc as

microgreens

>

> Oh, so I can some aluminum pie plates, add a layer of some organic soil (I'll

go and look around and see if anyone around here sells this), then I take some

soaked seeds, sprinkle them, put another pie plate over that, add weights, wait

12 hours, take weights off, take top pie plate off, mist the seeds, and 12 hours

later.......

>

> Did I get the time line right?

>

> lol

>

> Melody

>

> >

> > You

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you Jane. I think I just might do that this weekend. I gather I can take

my 3 part salad mix which is alfalfa, broccoli and radish seeds and turn them

into microgreens right?

Thanks much

Melody

> > > >

> > > > You

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

You can. Give it a try. But don't start wth too many seeds until you get it

figured out. I get mad at myself for a whole day if I waste seeds or ruin a

batch of sprouts

----- Original Message -----

From: Melody

Sent: 10/28/11 05:06 PM

EW.

Why can't I go to the fabric store and ask for organic cotton batting?

Mel

--

[Guest guest]

Don't live near any of those. No K-mart, Walmart, Lowes or Home Depot. WE don't

drive so we take public transportation.Even that is hard when you get bounced

around.

But I'll get to doing micro-greens EVENTUALLY.

lol

Melody

> >

> > Mel, if you have a nursery near you, ask for seed starting mix. Or ask if

they have bags of perlite and peat, and go from there. If they have coir, it

will probably be compressed in a brick and you would have to reconstitute it.

This takes a five gallon bucket, and then some place to store a lot of wet coir.

> > You need to mist as often as the green need it. Which night be very often

depending on who hot the area is where you are growing them.

> > ew

> >

> >

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

So I'll just buy a small batting thing, and try growing some of my

alfalfa,radish and broccoli seeds, right? Not sprouting, but microgreens. This

should be interesting.

Melody

>

> You can. Give it a try. But don't start wth too many seeds until you get it

figured out. I get mad at myself for a whole day if I waste seeds or ruin a

batch of sprouts

>

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: Melody

> Sent: 10/28/11 05:06 PM

>

> EW.

>

> Why can't I go to the fabric store and ask for organic cotton batting?

> Mel

>

> --

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks everyone for the great replies and ideas.

, thanks for the cotton batt idea, I just checked my local craft store and

it is cheaper than the Sure to Grow Pads, that I just recently switched

to.Probably cheaper still at Walmart.

I had switched to the sure-to-grow pads, which are sized to fit a standard 1020

grow tray, last planting for the broccoli, and radish, clover, and alfalfa

blends, and thought that they were going to damp off, but they didnt.I was able

to sell them at Saturday Farmers Market, and sold out. I had used these in the

past without much success. This time I used 2 trays, one with holes and one w/o

under it. Also unlike last time, I took someones advise here to flood the bottom

tray with water/kelp, and pour the excess off. I used to water not pour off, and

I was only using a single tray with no holes. This setup caused problems with

rot and damping off. I cant wait to try the cotton batt, as I think you all have

me on the right track now with this watering method and 2 tray setup without

soil. At least for all my small seed stuff.I'm doing an experiment with

sunflowers on sure to grow, and will let you know how that goes.

, normally for my sunflower and peas and wheatgrass, I still use a homemade

mix of 50% peat to 50% perlite, lime to adj PH of peat, equal parts of

greensand, soft rock phosphate, and trace minerals, (about 1/2 cup of each

mineral to 10 shovels of peat and 10 shovels of perlite) I also add 1oz of yucca

extract as a wetting agent. Sounds complicated, but I buy all the ingredients in

bulk and they last a long time with the exception of the peat and perlite, which

I use more of. It's working out to be a little cheaper than buying commercial

mix and I know whats in it. When I do buy a commercial mix, I use Fox farm

Warrior Light seed starting mix, and it works really well, just expensive. Any

good seed starting mix will work for sunflower micros, but I follow

Sproutpeople's advise to use 10 to 20% worm castings in the mix just for

sunflowers. Apparently they benefit from the extra nitrogen and fertilizer.

Also wanted to let you know that I got out of the habit of sterilizing my trays,

I was just washing them with mild detergent and rinsing, and I'm sure that the

pathogens started to take hold and being part of the damping off problem. I'm

back to using a 10% bleach to water solution that I soak my trays in for at

least 20 min. per the recommendation of someone here on the forum. I kind of

hate using such a caustic chemical, but may need to to keep the bad bacteria

down. I'm open to how you guys clean, or sterilize containers, and what products

you use.

Thanks again for all the feedback, I'll keep watching for more, if you have

itAnnie Mack's Family ProduceCrescent City,CA 95531

To: sproutpeople

From: berrywell@...

Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:17:23 -0400

Subject: Re: Trouble growing broccoli, radish, etc as

microgreens

I buy my batting at a local fabric shop. I called the company to find out

if it was treated with any chemicals, and it had not been. The true test for me

though was trying it as a growing medium and not having any reaction from it (I

am super sensitive to chemicals and detergents). I have no " proof " that it is

safe, but I figure it is likely to be as clean as local soil, which usually has

pesticides, and who knows what all, lol. It is made from organic cotton, and I

can sometimes get bamboo batting as well-both give me no reaction, so I consider

them " safe " for my use.

Sent from my iPad

>

> , that sounds like a good idea. Where do you get non bleached organic

cotton quilt batting? How do know if it is a safe growing medium? Henry

>

>

> >

> > > Mel,

> > > Do you have room to do microgreens? I do very small containers - round, 5

1/2 in. across. They sit on a little shelf that I built on my kitchen window

sill.

> > > ew

> > >

> > > Re: Trouble growing broccoli, radish, etc

as microgreens

> > >

> > > HI, I have a question. How come some people sprout in trays or jars (like

I do) and some do the microgreens (in some kind of medium, right? or soil?)

> > >

> > > Is there a difference when one harvests this? Is the microgreen more

nutritious? I know one can then plant a microgreen and grow the plant but I'm

trying to figure out why I've never done the microgreen thing and all I have

done is sprouting?

> > >

> > > lol

> > >

> > > Melody

> > >

> > > --

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

I recommend nixing the bleach, and cleaning with a solution of diluted food

grade peroxide and/or grapefruit seed extract. Bleach is caustic and toxic-I

try to avoid putting anything any where near my food stuff that comes with a

poison warning and skull and crossbone emblem!

Sent from my iPad

>

> Thanks everyone for the great replies and ideas.

> , thanks for the cotton batt idea, I just checked my local craft store

and it is cheaper than the Sure to Grow Pads, that I just recently switched

to.Probably cheaper still at Walmart.

> I had switched to the sure-to-grow pads, which are sized to fit a standard

1020 grow tray, last planting for the broccoli, and radish, clover, and alfalfa

blends, and thought that they were going to damp off, but they didnt.I was able

to sell them at Saturday Farmers Market, and sold out. I had used these in the

past without much success. This time I used 2 trays, one with holes and one w/o

under it. Also unlike last time, I took someones advise here to flood the bottom

tray with water/kelp, and pour the excess off. I used to water not pour off, and

I was only using a single tray with no holes. This setup caused problems with

rot and damping off. I cant wait to try the cotton batt, as I think you all have

me on the right track now with this watering method and 2 tray setup without

soil. At least for all my small seed stuff.I'm doing an experiment with

sunflowers on sure to grow, and will let you know how that goes.

> , normally for my sunflower and peas and wheatgrass, I still use a

homemade mix of 50% peat to 50% perlite, lime to adj PH of peat, equal parts of

greensand, soft rock phosphate, and trace minerals, (about 1/2 cup of each

mineral to 10 shovels of peat and 10 shovels of perlite) I also add 1oz of yucca

extract as a wetting agent. Sounds complicated, but I buy all the ingredients in

bulk and they last a long time with the exception of the peat and perlite, which

I use more of. It's working out to be a little cheaper than buying commercial

mix and I know whats in it. When I do buy a commercial mix, I use Fox farm

Warrior Light seed starting mix, and it works really well, just expensive. Any

good seed starting mix will work for sunflower micros, but I follow

Sproutpeople's advise to use 10 to 20% worm castings in the mix just for

sunflowers. Apparently they benefit from the extra nitrogen and fertilizer.

> Also wanted to let you know that I got out of the habit of sterilizing my

trays, I was just washing them with mild detergent and rinsing, and I'm sure

that the pathogens started to take hold and being part of the damping off

problem. I'm back to using a 10% bleach to water solution that I soak my trays

in for at least 20 min. per the recommendation of someone here on the forum. I

kind of hate using such a caustic chemical, but may need to to keep the bad

bacteria down. I'm open to how you guys clean, or sterilize containers, and what

products you use.

> Thanks again for all the feedback, I'll keep watching for more, if you have

itAnnie Mack's Family ProduceCrescent City,CA 95531

>

> To: sproutpeople

> From: berrywell@...

> Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:17:23 -0400

> Subject: Re: Trouble growing broccoli, radish, etc as

microgreens

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> I buy my batting at a local fabric shop. I called the company to find

out if it was treated with any chemicals, and it had not been. The true test

for me though was trying it as a growing medium and not having any reaction from

it (I am super sensitive to chemicals and detergents). I have no " proof " that

it is safe, but I figure it is likely to be as clean as local soil, which

usually has pesticides, and who knows what all, lol. It is made from organic

cotton, and I can sometimes get bamboo batting as well-both give me no reaction,

so I consider them " safe " for my use.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Sent from my iPad

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>>

>

>> , that sounds like a good idea. Where do you get non bleached organic

cotton quilt batting? How do know if it is a safe growing medium? Henry

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>>> Mel,

>

>>>> Do you have room to do microgreens? I do very small containers - round, 5

1/2 in. across. They sit on a little shelf that I built on my kitchen window

sill.

>

>>>> ew

>

>>>>

>

>>>> Re: Trouble growing broccoli, radish, etc as

microgreens

>

>>>>

>

>>>> HI, I have a question. How come some people sprout in trays or jars (like I

do) and some do the microgreens (in some kind of medium, right? or soil?)

>

>>>>

>

>>>> Is there a difference when one harvests this? Is the microgreen more

nutritious? I know one can then plant a microgreen and grow the plant but I'm

trying to figure out why I've never done the microgreen thing and all I have

done is sprouting?

>

>>>>

>

>>>> lol

>

>>>>

>

>>>> Melody

>

>>>>

>

>>>> --

>

>>>>

>

>>>>

[Guest guest]

Thanks ,Where do you get food grade peroxide, and what percent solution do

you use?

To: sproutpeople

From: berrywell@...

Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:16:51 -0400

Subject: Re: Trouble growing broccoli, radish, etc as

microgreens

I recommend nixing the bleach, and cleaning with a solution of diluted

food grade peroxide and/or grapefruit seed extract. Bleach is caustic and

toxic-I try to avoid putting anything any where near my food stuff that comes

with a poison warning and skull and crossbone emblem!

Sent from my iPad

>

> Thanks everyone for the great replies and ideas.

> , thanks for the cotton batt idea, I just checked my local craft store

and it is cheaper than the Sure to Grow Pads, that I just recently switched

to.Probably cheaper still at Walmart.

> I had switched to the sure-to-grow pads, which are sized to fit a standard

1020 grow tray, last planting for the broccoli, and radish, clover, and alfalfa

blends, and thought that they were going to damp off, but they didnt.I was able

to sell them at Saturday Farmers Market, and sold out. I had used these in the

past without much success. This time I used 2 trays, one with holes and one w/o

under it. Also unlike last time, I took someones advise here to flood the bottom

tray with water/kelp, and pour the excess off. I used to water not pour off, and

I was only using a single tray with no holes. This setup caused problems with

rot and damping off. I cant wait to try the cotton batt, as I think you all have

me on the right track now with this watering method and 2 tray setup without

soil. At least for all my small seed stuff.I'm doing an experiment with

sunflowers on sure to grow, and will let you know how that goes.

> , normally for my sunflower and peas and wheatgrass, I still use a

homemade mix of 50% peat to 50% perlite, lime to adj PH of peat, equal parts of

greensand, soft rock phosphate, and trace minerals, (about 1/2 cup of each

mineral to 10 shovels of peat and 10 shovels of perlite) I also add 1oz of yucca

extract as a wetting agent. Sounds complicated, but I buy all the ingredients in

bulk and they last a long time with the exception of the peat and perlite, which

I use more of. It's working out to be a little cheaper than buying commercial

mix and I know whats in it. When I do buy a commercial mix, I use Fox farm

Warrior Light seed starting mix, and it works really well, just expensive. Any

good seed starting mix will work for sunflower micros, but I follow

Sproutpeople's advise to use 10 to 20% worm castings in the mix just for

sunflowers. Apparently they benefit from the extra nitrogen and fertilizer.

> Also wanted to let you know that I got out of the habit of sterilizing my

trays, I was just washing them with mild detergent and rinsing, and I'm sure

that the pathogens started to take hold and being part of the damping off

problem. I'm back to using a 10% bleach to water solution that I soak my trays

in for at least 20 min. per the recommendation of someone here on the forum. I

kind of hate using such a caustic chemical, but may need to to keep the bad

bacteria down. I'm open to how you guys clean, or sterilize containers, and what

products you use.

> Thanks again for all the feedback, I'll keep watching for more, if you have

itAnnie Mack's Family ProduceCrescent City,CA 95531

>

> To: sproutpeople

> From: berrywell@...

> Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:17:23 -0400

> Subject: Re: Trouble growing broccoli, radish, etc as

microgreens

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> I buy my batting at a local fabric shop. I called the company to find

out if it was treated with any chemicals, and it had not been. The true test

for me though was trying it as a growing medium and not having any reaction from

it (I am super sensitive to chemicals and detergents). I have no " proof " that

it is safe, but I figure it is likely to be as clean as local soil, which

usually has pesticides, and who knows what all, lol. It is made from organic

cotton, and I can sometimes get bamboo batting as well-both give me no reaction,

so I consider them " safe " for my use.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Sent from my iPad

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>>

>

>> , that sounds like a good idea. Where do you get non bleached organic

cotton quilt batting? How do know if it is a safe growing medium? Henry

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>>> Mel,

>

>>>> Do you have room to do microgreens? I do very small containers - round, 5

1/2 in. across. They sit on a little shelf that I built on my kitchen window

sill.

>

>>>> ew

>

>>>>

>

>>>> Re: Trouble growing broccoli, radish, etc as

microgreens

>

>>>>

>

>>>> HI, I have a question. How come some people sprout in trays or jars (like I

do) and some do the microgreens (in some kind of medium, right? or soil?)

>

>>>>

>

>>>> Is there a difference when one harvests this? Is the microgreen more

nutritious? I know one can then plant a microgreen and grow the plant but I'm

trying to figure out why I've never done the microgreen thing and all I have

done is sprouting?

>

>>>>

>

>>>> lol

>

>>>>

>

>>>> Melody

>

>>>>

>

>>>> --

>

>>>>

>

>>>>

[Guest guest]

You can get it in the refrigerator section at most health food stores. Food

grade peroxide is 35 percent (standard stuff is 3 percent) so you just need to

make a weak solution with about 1/3 cup per gallon of water (or adjust

accordingly) I personally dont use the cheap stuff only because it is in

" purified " water, which is bleach water, basically. Don't mix the food grade

with tap water for that same reason-still bleach in municipal water systems,

lol. First grade science teaches against mixing such chemicals, but the

pharmaceutical industry and public water departments must have skipped first

grade

Sent from my iPad

>

> Thanks ,Where do you get food grade peroxide, and what percent solution

do you use?

>

> To: sproutpeople

> From: berrywell@...

> Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:16:51 -0400

> Subject: Re: Trouble growing broccoli, radish, etc as

microgreens

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> I recommend nixing the bleach, and cleaning with a solution of diluted

food grade peroxide and/or grapefruit seed extract. Bleach is caustic and

toxic-I try to avoid putting anything any where near my food stuff that comes

with a poison warning and skull and crossbone emblem!

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Sent from my iPad

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>>

>

>> Thanks everyone for the great replies and ideas.

>

>> , thanks for the cotton batt idea, I just checked my local craft store

and it is cheaper than the Sure to Grow Pads, that I just recently switched

to.Probably cheaper still at Walmart.

>

>> I had switched to the sure-to-grow pads, which are sized to fit a standard

1020 grow tray, last planting for the broccoli, and radish, clover, and alfalfa

blends, and thought that they were going to damp off, but they didnt.I was able

to sell them at Saturday Farmers Market, and sold out. I had used these in the

past without much success. This time I used 2 trays, one with holes and one w/o

under it. Also unlike last time, I took someones advise here to flood the bottom

tray with water/kelp, and pour the excess off. I used to water not pour off, and

I was only using a single tray with no holes. This setup caused problems with

rot and damping off. I cant wait to try the cotton batt, as I think you all have

me on the right track now with this watering method and 2 tray setup without

soil. At least for all my small seed stuff.I'm doing an experiment with

sunflowers on sure to grow, and will let you know how that goes.

>

>> , normally for my sunflower and peas and wheatgrass, I still use a

homemade mix of 50% peat to 50% perlite, lime to adj PH of peat, equal parts of

greensand, soft rock phosphate, and trace minerals, (about 1/2 cup of each

mineral to 10 shovels of peat and 10 shovels of perlite) I also add 1oz of yucca

extract as a wetting agent. Sounds complicated, but I buy all the ingredients in

bulk and they last a long time with the exception of the peat and perlite, which

I use more of. It's working out to be a little cheaper than buying commercial

mix and I know whats in it. When I do buy a commercial mix, I use Fox farm

Warrior Light seed starting mix, and it works really well, just expensive. Any

good seed starting mix will work for sunflower micros, but I follow

Sproutpeople's advise to use 10 to 20% worm castings in the mix just for

sunflowers. Apparently they benefit from the extra nitrogen and fertilizer.

>

>> Also wanted to let you know that I got out of the habit of sterilizing my

trays, I was just washing them with mild detergent and rinsing, and I'm sure

that the pathogens started to take hold and being part of the damping off

problem. I'm back to using a 10% bleach to water solution that I soak my trays

in for at least 20 min. per the recommendation of someone here on the forum. I

kind of hate using such a caustic chemical, but may need to to keep the bad

bacteria down. I'm open to how you guys clean, or sterilize containers, and what

products you use.

>

>> Thanks again for all the feedback, I'll keep watching for more, if you have

itAnnie Mack's Family ProduceCrescent City,CA 95531

>

>>

>

>> To: sproutpeople

>

>> From: berrywell@...

>

>> Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:17:23 -0400

>

>> Subject: Re: Trouble growing broccoli, radish, etc as

microgreens

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>> I buy my batting at a local fabric shop. I called the company to find

out if it was treated with any chemicals, and it had not been. The true test

for me though was trying it as a growing medium and not having any reaction from

it (I am super sensitive to chemicals and detergents). I have no " proof " that

it is safe, but I figure it is likely to be as clean as local soil, which

usually has pesticides, and who knows what all, lol. It is made from organic

cotton, and I can sometimes get bamboo batting as well-both give me no reaction,

so I consider them " safe " for my use.

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>> Sent from my iPad

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>> , that sounds like a good idea. Where do you get non bleached organic

cotton quilt batting? How do know if it is a safe growing medium? Henry

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>> Mel,

>

>>

>

>>>>> Do you have room to do microgreens? I do very small containers - round, 5

1/2 in. across. They sit on a little shelf that I built on my kitchen window

sill.

>

>>

>

>>>>> ew

>

>>

>

>>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>> Re: Trouble growing broccoli, radish, etc

as microgreens

>

>>

>

>>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>> HI, I have a question. How come some people sprout in trays or jars (like

I do) and some do the microgreens (in some kind of medium, right? or soil?)

>

>>

>

>>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>> Is there a difference when one harvests this? Is the microgreen more

nutritious? I know one can then plant a microgreen and grow the plant but I'm

trying to figure out why I've never done the microgreen thing and all I have

done is sprouting?

>

>>

>

>>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>> lol

>

>>

>

>>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>> Melody

>

>>

>

>>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>> --

>

>>

>

>>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>>

[Guest guest]

,So, do you mix with bottled distilled water maybe? I've also heard that

some people use distilled for watering.

To: sproutpeople

From: berrywell@...

Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:40:15 -0400

Subject: Re: Trouble growing broccoli, radish, etc as

microgreens

You can get it in the refrigerator section at most health food stores.

Food grade peroxide is 35 percent (standard stuff is 3 percent) so you just need

to make a weak solution with about 1/3 cup per gallon of water (or adjust

accordingly) I personally dont use the cheap stuff only because it is in

" purified " water, which is bleach water, basically. Don't mix the food grade

with tap water for that same reason-still bleach in municipal water systems,

lol. First grade science teaches against mixing such chemicals, but the

pharmaceutical industry and public water departments must have skipped first

grade

Sent from my iPad

>

> Thanks ,Where do you get food grade peroxide, and what percent solution

do you use?

>

> To: sproutpeople

> From: berrywell@...

> Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:16:51 -0400

> Subject: Re: Trouble growing broccoli, radish, etc as

microgreens

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> I recommend nixing the bleach, and cleaning with a solution of diluted

food grade peroxide and/or grapefruit seed extract. Bleach is caustic and

toxic-I try to avoid putting anything any where near my food stuff that comes

with a poison warning and skull and crossbone emblem!

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Sent from my iPad

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>>

>

>> Thanks everyone for the great replies and ideas.

>

>> , thanks for the cotton batt idea, I just checked my local craft store

and it is cheaper than the Sure to Grow Pads, that I just recently switched

to.Probably cheaper still at Walmart.

>

>> I had switched to the sure-to-grow pads, which are sized to fit a standard

1020 grow tray, last planting for the broccoli, and radish, clover, and alfalfa

blends, and thought that they were going to damp off, but they didnt.I was able

to sell them at Saturday Farmers Market, and sold out. I had used these in the

past without much success. This time I used 2 trays, one with holes and one w/o

under it. Also unlike last time, I took someones advise here to flood the bottom

tray with water/kelp, and pour the excess off. I used to water not pour off, and

I was only using a single tray with no holes. This setup caused problems with

rot and damping off. I cant wait to try the cotton batt, as I think you all have

me on the right track now with this watering method and 2 tray setup without

soil. At least for all my small seed stuff.I'm doing an experiment with

sunflowers on sure to grow, and will let you know how that goes.

>

>> , normally for my sunflower and peas and wheatgrass, I still use a

homemade mix of 50% peat to 50% perlite, lime to adj PH of peat, equal parts of

greensand, soft rock phosphate, and trace minerals, (about 1/2 cup of each

mineral to 10 shovels of peat and 10 shovels of perlite) I also add 1oz of yucca

extract as a wetting agent. Sounds complicated, but I buy all the ingredients in

bulk and they last a long time with the exception of the peat and perlite, which

I use more of. It's working out to be a little cheaper than buying commercial

mix and I know whats in it. When I do buy a commercial mix, I use Fox farm

Warrior Light seed starting mix, and it works really well, just expensive. Any

good seed starting mix will work for sunflower micros, but I follow

Sproutpeople's advise to use 10 to 20% worm castings in the mix just for

sunflowers. Apparently they benefit from the extra nitrogen and fertilizer.

>

>> Also wanted to let you know that I got out of the habit of sterilizing my

trays, I was just washing them with mild detergent and rinsing, and I'm sure

that the pathogens started to take hold and being part of the damping off

problem. I'm back to using a 10% bleach to water solution that I soak my trays

in for at least 20 min. per the recommendation of someone here on the forum. I

kind of hate using such a caustic chemical, but may need to to keep the bad

bacteria down. I'm open to how you guys clean, or sterilize containers, and what

products you use.

>

>> Thanks again for all the feedback, I'll keep watching for more, if you have

itAnnie Mack's Family ProduceCrescent City,CA 95531

>

>>

>

>> To: sproutpeople

>

>> From: berrywell@...

>

>> Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:17:23 -0400

>

>> Subject: Re: Trouble growing broccoli, radish, etc as

microgreens

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>> I buy my batting at a local fabric shop. I called the company to find

out if it was treated with any chemicals, and it had not been. The true test

for me though was trying it as a growing medium and not having any reaction from

it (I am super sensitive to chemicals and detergents). I have no " proof " that

it is safe, but I figure it is likely to be as clean as local soil, which

usually has pesticides, and who knows what all, lol. It is made from organic

cotton, and I can sometimes get bamboo batting as well-both give me no reaction,

so I consider them " safe " for my use.

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>> Sent from my iPad

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>> , that sounds like a good idea. Where do you get non bleached organic

cotton quilt batting? How do know if it is a safe growing medium? Henry

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>> Mel,

>

>>

>

>>>>> Do you have room to do microgreens? I do very small containers - round, 5

1/2 in. across. They sit on a little shelf that I built on my kitchen window

sill.

>

>>

>

>>>>> ew

>

>>

>

>>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>> Re: Trouble growing broccoli, radish, etc

as microgreens

>

>>

>

>>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>> HI, I have a question. How come some people sprout in trays or jars (like

I do) and some do the microgreens (in some kind of medium, right? or soil?)

>

>>

>

>>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>> Is there a difference when one harvests this? Is the microgreen more

nutritious? I know one can then plant a microgreen and grow the plant but I'm

trying to figure out why I've never done the microgreen thing and all I have

done is sprouting?

>

>>

>

>>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>> lol

>

>>

>

>>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>> Melody

>

>>

>

>>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>> --

>

>>

>

>>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>>

[Guest guest]

I use well water, but bottled distilled or spring would be fine. I am pretty

obsessive about water in general-most of it is loaded with chemicals. I have

done my own tests with various sprouts, microgreens and hydroponics-STUNNING the

difference good water makes! I have done a lot of side by side

comparisons-shocking results from the chemical municipal water-NOT something I

want to consume, if it will kill a sprout or a goldfish! lol

Sent from my iPad

>

> ,So, do you mix with bottled distilled water maybe? I've also heard that

some people use distilled for watering.

>

> To: sproutpeople

> From: berrywell@...

> Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:40:15 -0400

> Subject: Re: Trouble growing broccoli, radish, etc as

microgreens

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> You can get it in the refrigerator section at most health food stores.

Food grade peroxide is 35 percent (standard stuff is 3 percent) so you just need

to make a weak solution with about 1/3 cup per gallon of water (or adjust

accordingly) I personally dont use the cheap stuff only because it is in

" purified " water, which is bleach water, basically. Don't mix the food grade

with tap water for that same reason-still bleach in municipal water systems,

lol. First grade science teaches against mixing such chemicals, but the

pharmaceutical industry and public water departments must have skipped first

grade

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Sent from my iPad

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>>

>

>> Thanks ,Where do you get food grade peroxide, and what percent solution

do you use?

>

>>

>

>> To: sproutpeople

>

>> From: berrywell@...

>

>> Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:16:51 -0400

>

>> Subject: Re: Trouble growing broccoli, radish, etc as

microgreens

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>> I recommend nixing the bleach, and cleaning with a solution of diluted

food grade peroxide and/or grapefruit seed extract. Bleach is caustic and

toxic-I try to avoid putting anything any where near my food stuff that comes

with a poison warning and skull and crossbone emblem!

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>> Sent from my iPad

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>> Thanks everyone for the great replies and ideas.

>

>>

>

>>> , thanks for the cotton batt idea, I just checked my local craft store

and it is cheaper than the Sure to Grow Pads, that I just recently switched

to.Probably cheaper still at Walmart.

>

>>

>

>>> I had switched to the sure-to-grow pads, which are sized to fit a standard

1020 grow tray, last planting for the broccoli, and radish, clover, and alfalfa

blends, and thought that they were going to damp off, but they didnt.I was able

to sell them at Saturday Farmers Market, and sold out. I had used these in the

past without much success. This time I used 2 trays, one with holes and one w/o

under it. Also unlike last time, I took someones advise here to flood the bottom

tray with water/kelp, and pour the excess off. I used to water not pour off, and

I was only using a single tray with no holes. This setup caused problems with

rot and damping off. I cant wait to try the cotton batt, as I think you all have

me on the right track now with this watering method and 2 tray setup without

soil. At least for all my small seed stuff.I'm doing an experiment with

sunflowers on sure to grow, and will let you know how that goes.

>

>>

>

>>> , normally for my sunflower and peas and wheatgrass, I still use a

homemade mix of 50% peat to 50% perlite, lime to adj PH of peat, equal parts of

greensand, soft rock phosphate, and trace minerals, (about 1/2 cup of each

mineral to 10 shovels of peat and 10 shovels of perlite) I also add 1oz of yucca

extract as a wetting agent. Sounds complicated, but I buy all the ingredients in

bulk and they last a long time with the exception of the peat and perlite, which

I use more of. It's working out to be a little cheaper than buying commercial

mix and I know whats in it. When I do buy a commercial mix, I use Fox farm

Warrior Light seed starting mix, and it works really well, just expensive. Any

good seed starting mix will work for sunflower micros, but I follow

Sproutpeople's advise to use 10 to 20% worm castings in the mix just for

sunflowers. Apparently they benefit from the extra nitrogen and fertilizer.

>

>>

>

>>> Also wanted to let you know that I got out of the habit of sterilizing my

trays, I was just washing them with mild detergent and rinsing, and I'm sure

that the pathogens started to take hold and being part of the damping off

problem. I'm back to using a 10% bleach to water solution that I soak my trays

in for at least 20 min. per the recommendation of someone here on the forum. I

kind of hate using such a caustic chemical, but may need to to keep the bad

bacteria down. I'm open to how you guys clean, or sterilize containers, and what

products you use.

>

>>

>

>>> Thanks again for all the feedback, I'll keep watching for more, if you have

itAnnie Mack's Family ProduceCrescent City,CA 95531

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>> To: sproutpeople

>

>>

>

>>> From: berrywell@...

>

>>

>

>>> Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:17:23 -0400

>

>>

>

>>> Subject: Re: Trouble growing broccoli, radish, etc as

microgreens

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>> I buy my batting at a local fabric shop. I called the company to find

out if it was treated with any chemicals, and it had not been. The true test

for me though was trying it as a growing medium and not having any reaction from

it (I am super sensitive to chemicals and detergents). I have no " proof " that

it is safe, but I figure it is likely to be as clean as local soil, which

usually has pesticides, and who knows what all, lol. It is made from organic

cotton, and I can sometimes get bamboo batting as well-both give me no reaction,

so I consider them " safe " for my use.

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>> Sent from my iPad

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>> , that sounds like a good idea. Where do you get non bleached organic

cotton quilt batting? How do know if it is a safe growing medium? Henry

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>>> Mel,

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>>> Do you have room to do microgreens? I do very small containers - round, 5

1/2 in. across. They sit on a little shelf that I built on my kitchen window

sill.

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>>> ew

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>>> Re: Trouble growing broccoli, radish, etc

as microgreens

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>>> HI, I have a question. How come some people sprout in trays or jars (like

I do) and some do the microgreens (in some kind of medium, right? or soil?)

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>>> Is there a difference when one harvests this? Is the microgreen more

nutritious? I know one can then plant a microgreen and grow the plant but I'm

trying to figure out why I've never done the microgreen thing and all I have

done is sprouting?

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>>> lol

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>>> Melody

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>>> --

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>>>

>

>>

>

>>>

>

>>

>

>>>>>>