After you harvest, do you ever grow the plants like radishes in the garden to get actual radishes? It seems like a lot of energy was spent to make the sprouts and yay turned out so well. I would just put them in the ground and grow them for a few months for a big garden.
Two recommendations: 1. Switch to brown (unbleached) paper towels. White paper products of all types undergo significant chemical treatments to break down and whiten the cellulose; the more of that you remove from the medium the healthier your plants will be. It's quite possible that the stress you were seeing in the paper towel tray sprouts was due to these chemicals. 2. Use a wool carding brush to 'pre-soften' the towels before use. The needles in the brush will effectively puncture the towels as well as break up the fibre structure, allowing much easier penetration for the young roots. Try folding the towels once or twice and then place it on a surface that will permit the needles to travel all the way through the towels; a wooden cutting or soft plastic cutting board should work. Then just 'bounce' the brush up and down across the towel a few times. It will add less than a minute of time to your medium prep, so you'll gain not only on the cost of the medium, but also on your post-harvest cleanup. I'm enjoying your videos! Thanks for all your work!
Still would not want to grow my food in a towel that contains a soap or oil based wetting agent that most paper towels have. The wetting agent is to help it absorb water faster.
@@GEOsustainable Unbleached natural bamboo paper towels don't have anything harmful added. Who with a proper mind uses bleached paper towels made of unknown sourced wood pulp and contain known harmful dangerous industrial chemcials such as dioxin and strange unknown dangerous toxins to grow microgreens for food? One of the reasons the microgreens grew less optimally at beginning in this video was due to the harmful chemicals in the paper towels preventing healthy growth, stunting the seeds, when the harmful chemicals in the paper towels got washed away the plants became stronger as evident in this video, nothing to do with roots not able to dig deeper. I hope this video maker tries the same experiment with unbleached natural bamboo paper towels made without added harmful industrial chemicals in the manufacturing process, the problem was the toxic paper towels he was using in this video.
@@drew-shourd Small seeds especially gelatinous seeds such as flax seeds and chia seeds don't require presoaking, in fact presoaking prevents flax seeds and chia seeds from germinating!
I've been growing microgreens for just a few months but I started with those trays and instead of paper towels I use toilet paper which makes it much easier for the sprout roots to break through. I've also experimented with a top layer of toilet paper and no weight and it worked great. My experiments have shown that the highest yield was 20g of seeds and i got a grow ratio of 21:1. I also didn't use any lights :)
We will have to give that a try then Pat! Thank you so much for sharing! A 21:1 ratio is really amazing especially without grow lights! I assume that you are using a windowsill or outside growing right? Thank you again for sharing 🤗🌱🌱
@@OnTheGrow I could use some of your advice though when it comes to post-harvest handling. I find that I still have a lot of husks in my product, how do I take them out? Also after harvest I've noticed that the greens are still quite moist so if I put it in a container with paper towel and put it in the fridge, they still 'matte' together, get clumpy and eventually rot.
I’m glad to see you give paper towels a serious try. I use them often where I can since dirt or coco is messy and time consuming to deal with. To make it fast, I cut down an entire roll to 9” with a sharp knife. Haven’t tried an electric knife yet but it would probably work nicely. Then just roll it out on your table and cut it to 19-1/2” length with scissors (I marked my table so I don’t have to measure each time). Looks like you are using Bounty towels, as I do as well. The Bounties hold more water than the cheaper ones. The biggest problem is that it works so differently than the dirt or coco. You had to spend a lot of time getting the dirt & coco process down pat. Paper towels are a completely different learning process that has to take place to get it working properly. You just have to be willing to put in the time and fail some. The deal with the paper towels is that they need about 2 more days to get to acceptable growth. I had a customer request Dandelion, which is a very slow growing plant. I started them on dirt, they germinated then died in about a week. My second try is on paper towels, 3 layers to hold water well. I spray them lightly, sometimes skipping a day if the paper towels are still wet. They are growing nicely. Never give up after an initial fail. Thanks for your GREAT and wonderful videos!
Thanks for sharing all this! Cool to hear how you’ve made the process even more efficient by preparing the paper towels to size. Dandelions are really challenging, we failed on all our soil or coco trials with them so it’s really promising to hear you’ve got them working so far in paper towels! We are going to stick with it and see how much better we can get with them. We really appreciate your support and encouraging words! It really means a lot to us! 🌱🌱🤗
I cut a roll of paper towels down to 9" with a chop saw, then put down 6 layers, then slip a plastic mesh under the top layer. Place the seeds on top and cover with a piece of black plexiglass w/ weights. I am just using a slotted plastic trey on a slight slope with 2 Drip lines feeding it (1 at the top and 1 in the middle). Using Sunflowers as an example. 1 Cup of seed takes 4 days to germinate, 2 days in Black out, & 3-4 days under light to consistently yield an average of 550 Grams. This is fed by an Auquaponics system so any excess water drains back into the system.
@@wjm1319 I have indeed without too much success. The problem I have with cheesecloth is it cannot retain water very well as opposed to other mediums, and water retention is important. And the roots seem to blast through the paper towels with little difficulty. I even use a layer of paper towel before adding dirt. That keeps my bottom tray free from dirt for bottom watering.
Not to mention, paper towels have a wetting agent to help soak up water faster. The wetting agent is usually detergent but can be something you don't want your food growing in. This is also why paper towels streak glass.
I have been growing microgreens long before they were called that. We just called all of them “sprouts”. 😊I have never used anything but water and a plastic container. No soil or other growth medium. Weirdly enough they all grow straight up, none fell over and they grow to 7-10 cm without any problem. The roots intertwine making their own mat of solid roots that support the stems. I was looking at your system but noticed that the holes in the box is too large to sprout small seeds in it. Have you ever tried very fine layers of mesh on top? The seeds have something to grip on to and they won’t be floating away down the hole. I haven’t tried but guess that it will make the plant happier if it could dig itself through some layers of mesh. Won’t get the smell of rotting paper either.
A sprout usually means they are only grown until "seed leaves" appear, the seeds are kept on and eaten too. Sprouts only need water or moisture to grow and grow in any direction, piled on top of each other. With microgreens you do not eat the seeds, they are allowed to grow taller, until "true" leaves appear. They need some kind of support (growing medium or mesh or anything that give the roots stability) to hang on to and grow up straight (because your aim is to eat the stems and leaves that appear on top). That's the differences. You can call microgreens sprouts (I sometimes do), but it's not really correct to do so.
@@joey-lynnewald9588I believe it can be done on a mesh (plastic or stainless steel) or open weave cloth fabric (like a tea towel). You just have to make sure the roots are not disturbed as you water them and they sprout and grow, and there is water underneath that can be pulled up into the root. It's a tray of seeds in a tray of water, called hydroponics. There are many variations. Search for "soiless" sprouting and microgreens. Microgreens are sprouts that are grown in a single layer and allowed to grow tall until true leaves appear.
This was very interesting. A simple way to overcome the paper towel penetration issue would be, possibly, to take a thick sewing needle and just make a full set of holes 1 cm apart all the way around the roll top to bottom. will take a few minutes. the germination was great on both. penetration of the radicals was slower. The paper towel trays could have been left 2 more days and the harvest weight would have been the same. The leaf weight would have been better as well. The cost of grow medium and its availability definitely outweighs the day or two extra i would think. WDYT?
Palate cleanser "coffee" I LOVE IT! I think maybe if you have some kind of roller or maybe a meat tenderizer to poke tiny holes in the paper towels it would help. Just a thought.
Good idea. Perforated the paper towels somehow although in the long run not sure paper towel will give enough foundation for the roots to root and grab onto like coco or other medium unless they have enough water to root like in hydroponics
I like the way you cut the Radish. Pull it towards you a little and slice it shallow. Great way to do it and will try tomorrow. Parents are having a small gathering to sample some wine they have made this year and asked me to bring some greens by! Have learned a ton from you guys the last couple months, and feel confident bringing over Speckled Peas, Purple Radish, and Sunflower! Planning for a live harvest of some Purple Radish :) Thank you! Mike
Would love to see a video with more information on the business side of things! Such as how you find and maintain relationships with customers, how do you get product to your customers, how do you price things, what was your start up cost, etc :)
One of our local ladies has started selling at the flea markets and craft shows. She brings the whole trays and cuts to order for customers. It's been a bit of a slow start as she only started last summer but she did say it's been picking up. She was hoping to sell to restaurants but with covid and our laws here in MI its been hard. Not sure if it helps but it might help point you in the direction of starting out places.
You two are great! Love this one, Its cool to see how you can grow Microgreens on more readily available mediums. Thanks for taking the time to share what you learn.
Just thinking, we always snip away when harvesting so that we get the plant away from the growth medium. But with something such as paper towel where the medium is too heavy and will be left behind (as happened when you pulled a root through) Wouldnt we just be able to pluck them all out and eat the entire thing?
Great video. Seems like a hydrophilic mesh screen would be ideal. I'm sure many creative ways to add small holes to the paper towel. Would encourage unbleached paper towels. 2 ply towels can also be separated into single ply when dry (may be thinner than dedicated 1 ply towels). In further refining paper towel as medium, using its wicking quality may be a consideration - from bottom tray reservoir. Finally, a little stress may not be a bad thing. Xenohormesis suggests that plants produce healthy compounds as a survival mechanism. Are mildly stressed microgreens more healthy than unstressed microgreens?
Thanks for the support and the suggestions David! We totally agree that stress can actually produce a healthier crop. For example, if a plant never gets airflow, it grows much weaker than one that has to fight the wind. We tried unbleached in our first trials that failed months ago and then we moved on. I’d like to bring it back though and give it some more serious attempts. Thank you again for sharing and your support! 🤗🌱🌱
The problem here is the incorrect use of the paper towel. For seeds that are bigger than the holes in the tray (for example, radishes, cilantro, chick pea, green pea etc.), just put the seeds on the tray and cover with the paper towel to keep them moist. Once the roots are grown, you don't need the paper towel and you will be as good as all other techniques.
Hello, you two are so wonderful, thank you for all educations. I did use lunch paper napkin. Just one layer. Fit well on green tray With ociansolution.I will be keep leaning from you two. Thanks again. 😊
Have you thought about using food grade Hydrogen Peroxide diluted and sprayed over bottom water tray or directly on paper towels? This would add extra Oxygen and cut way down on molds and bacteria.
what if you put a piece of hardware cloth on the seeds before they germinate. the plants will grow through the holes and the wire will hold down the roots.
Don't seeds need soil for higher nutrient content of microgreens? It would be interesting for you to do the same test with unbleached paper towels to rule out a toxic chemical grow medium as the cause of a much lower growth rate.
I'd be curious to see if leaving the paper towel on top for longer and then switching to bottom watering before removing it would allow it to separate more easily. Also, multiple layers of paper towels on the bottom could allow rooting to take place quicker and help retain moisture. I might have to do a trial of my own. :-)
That's what I wondered, if top paper cover was allowed to dry a little would it be easier removed? Plus a small pincer clamp to hold paper to tray at starting edge for harvest, finish last row of cutting from other direction?
Green horn here. Can you put plastic wrap over the seeds to keep moister in? Can you blend the paper towels or recycled paper with sterile water to make your own paper media? I would think it would have more open pores and can be fluffier for the roots to bind to and you can put the plastic wrap over that? I have filtered well water, do I have to add anything to the water? Do you test your water to see what minerals you have? Thanks
9:22 "Having a top layer paper towel is gonna be the way to go!" 10:18 "I think that top paper towel is kinda useless on this tray." That's what I call try and error :) Nice experiment.
I feel that the radicles grow towards water. wet top paper towel confused it. may be the result would be better if you make pinholes in the single paper towel by using pinpad.
I definitely would of poked holes in the paper towels rack. Lay the paper towels down and poke through with a very small diameter skewer rod so seeds completely sink through. Just to give the roots a little help/guide busting through the paper layer.
How about an experiment with guaze and tissue papers (like the wrapping paper tissue paper & simple toilet paper)? Covered with parchment paper to keep the moisture in? Just a thought. I love the experiments yall do. So thought provoking!!
Thanks so much for this test! When I first tried paper towels, it was in 5x5 trays and folded so that it was 4 thicknesses. And yes, I misted more than 2x per day, as I remember.(That was before I started a spreadsheet to keep a record of my grows.) Used broccoli. Maybe the thickness allowed both for more water retention, and therefore faster germination and more place for the radicles to attach? Didn't get much height, and used scissors to harvest after lifting the whole grow out of the trays. Am running a tiny test right now on radish and mustard on 5x5 with layers of coco and paper towels to see how the rooting compares. I'm not as worried about harvest weight because I'm just growing for my own consumption, but flavor is a value for me. You guys are the best! ♥
I think that is if the flavors we’re pretty much the same, then you have to look, what is the easiest way to grow them without so much hassle! I would pick the coco coir!!
As you said there is a wide variation with paper towels. I use Walmart extra strength and get good root penetration. I tried dollartree brand and it was a failure. I thought being a thinner paper towel was better, but the roots had a hard time getting through. I use a potting mix, and then put the paper tucked in all 4 corners of the tray. The reason I do that is it pulls moisture from the soil and I have redworms in my trays. Usually by harvest day the worms have eaten most of the paper towel. It keeps my micros clean, but also allows me to grow organic. I have trays I have planted almost 60 times this way. Some seeds work better than others for the paper towel method. Works good for home use.
I see some green trays that look like what I have on the left side of the video, with white mesh-holed trays that sit inside them. I took a picture, but I can't see a way to share. Should I use a growing medium in those? If yes, do I need to put the growing paper down first so the growing medium doesn't fall through the holes? (The paper that came with the trays, not paper towels). All I have is some seed starter mix and maybe some potting mix on hand. Are those ok? I noticed in this video you said that these are ready to harvest because you are starting to see some true leaves. (For clarification, do you want to harvest before or after you see true leaves?)
I think you should (and please) also test tissue paper (the dry variant) and toilet paper (cheap one-ply paper-looking, and slightly-more-expensive multi-ply softer-looking/fluffier-looking) as well, in a new test including the papel towel and Coco Coir (or what else you use now). I think the tissue paper or toilet paper might be either more cost effective, or more root-growth effective or sprout-effective. The point being that if you can get a 10% loss for 20% lower cost (including the costs of the lighting and air conditioning), it would be a better business choice.
unfortunately you've arrived back at rock wool - the industry standard in many ways... it has the clean-ness of the paper towel, but allows for the root to dive down into the medium like the coco coir. the best of both worlds. only trouble is no one's making a 1/4" or 1/2" slab or if you do find someone selling it, the new problem is the price. XD
The ph of the paper towel is probably a factor. It may be worth adding a small pinch of sodium bicarbonate to the first watering and testing if that makes a difference.
I've used polyester quilt batting to grow microgreens for a bearded dragon to eat inside his terrarium. Seemed to work pretty well and he loved them, but its the only medium I've ever tried.
@@OnTheGrow Just a thought on a way to keep the cost ultra low but giving the radicals something to dig into. I know you mentioned multiple layers of paper towels molding, so this might be a disaster. Either way, I'd love to see you give it a shot!
I’m not sure if this is for expert growers, I’m a new gardener and it’s difficult to keep up and understand everything you’re doing. I’m trying to grow micro greens and I’m really confused as to what you’re growing, what fertilizer, how you did it using what and for how long ………. ?!
Try toilet paper... it almost dissolves in water. A couple layers might be better. Also, I've tried the same with peas, used 3 layers instead of one sheet.
@@OnTheGrow We use the 30ct. Egg carton paper mache' trays . They're biodegradable and they hold enough dirt to allow a close eye on the seedlings growth . The roots of anything we've planted in the trays have pierced the bottom of the tray. Everything has spawned off and taken hold very quickly . We even plant our corn in them .... Not typical peaches & cream ..... We have some upper end corn we don't want wild birds taking off with ....
Try commercial brown hand paper. A LOT cheaper than even paper towel. Like 3$ for 1000 feet. Also not bleached. If you run a meat tenderizer on the paper it might loosen up the fibers.
Hi Or diluted food grade Hydrogen Peroxide which kills pathogens and adds oxygen ! I spray it in my nostrils to stay covid free. Check out Dr. Thomas Levy ' Rapid Virus Recovery' which shows how! Shalom to us only in Christ Yeshua.
You guys are great. I've been growing broccoli and radish on top of 3 plies of paper towels for a year or so. No fertilizer. I top water and pour the standing water out of the no hole tray immediately. I water twice a day.The used paper towel goes out to the chickens. I cannot seem to grow sunflowers with this method, but I'll try a paper towel cover on top. Thank you for all your efforts.
Counterintuitive, I know, but I'm guessing a couple of layers of cheap unbleached paper towels might work a little better. Also, given a little more time in between root checks might allow them to anchor a little better. Great video, though. I love that you guys aren't afraid to take chances and continue to challenge convention. Keep up the great work!
Before composting I would throw those mediums to Chickens if you have them, they will get a bit of food and scratch that up real well for you as well as drop in a few nitrogen pellets for you.
I am fairly new to growing microgreens, but I am thinking I might try screen (made for food dehydrators) for structure for the roots to grab, and then maybe four layers of paper towel beneath to hold moisture.
We are actually experimenting with dehydrator mats right now and we should have a video on it for next week! It has worked really well without any paper-towels too!
The coco fiber has it's own nutrients, more so than the bleached paper towels. I think Lou B is right to switch to brown paper towels and maybe add nutrient water a day earlier for the paper towel group. I am interested in your techniques for growing food in space where space is limited in a station.
😉Ashley Denise Johnson ....We hate stress on the farm...HaHa! 🙂Would you Be~Leaf we're actively working on tasty recipes that will highlight the various flavors of your favorite microgreens in surprising ways...Not just a garnish...yum!!
Hi great to see these Just a thought what about a paper towel on top of the coco And another thought how would card board the flirted one like the worms like
Strip64 wonders about the chemicals used in whitening paper and such. Your idea seems even better, chemical-avoiding wise. I should work...I will try this out soonish
That reminded me of playing minesweeper without understanding the rules. Thanks now Ill re consider and not use paper towels...OR I might just try my own all the same. I use jars right now
There are "Bad Stuff" Leaching out of that paper probably, even if it's made out of 100% cellulose, they use many chemicals to produce it. (I bet it could not be sold as Organic, if its grown on ppr towels ). What are your thoughts on that ?
@@sandy-rr1by I did it a couple times as an experiment (I'm cheap lol). Ill stick with Coir instead though. it did make the cleanup easy and you just clean off the screen and reuse it after sanitizing it.
You can grow them outside with that wonderful Hawaii weather! We prefer to grow them outside with 5 hours or less of sun. Otherwise they become too strong and tougher to chew.
I LOVE YOUR IDEAS THANKS FOR SHARING I AM TRYING OUT YOUR PLASTIC CONTAINER MICRO GREENS SYSTEM WITH 12IN X 10FT ALUMINUM ROOF PANS AND COTTON FABRIC IN 5 GALLON BUCKETS OF WATER. THANKS AGAIN
Two trays definitely had protestations on the use of the white paper towels. Agreed, great video. Right now, I am trying broccoli on a tray with a single sheet and another with double sheet of paper towels. This video is very timely.
How about an experiment with putting paper towels through a shredder? It might act more like the coco coir and let the roots drill down easily. Additionally, use the eqivalent of 4 -6 ply instead of just 2. Also, id try saranwrap for only the first couple days instead of the paper towel on top. And one more thing, dont they use chemicals in manufacturing pt? Maybe that stunts their growth. Not sure id want to eat those. Dont think you could call those sprouts organic. if 'kick in the mouths' were closer to the fan, perhaps you had to give them more water, thereby unwittingly giving more nutrients too.
would it be worth pulping the paper towel to make it easyer for the roots to penatrate? with something to airate the pulp.or mixing the seed into the pulp directly sinted of on top......like the paper seed mixes u see that you can bury in yoru garden to get flowers.
It seem like paper towels are even a lot more work. Question, why do you put a weight on? I like to grow sunflower sprouts but never put a weight on them. What’s the difference doing it and not ? Thank you, aloha
Paper Towels are tricky... There are a few reasons for the weight. First, is that it helps push the seeds down into the growing medium, which keeps them moist and helps with germination... As they grow with the weight ontop, it makes them fight the resistance of the weight and really pushes them down into the grow medium for solid rooting and strong stem growth. It also helps with removing the seed coat during germination.
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After you harvest, do you ever grow the plants like radishes in the garden to get actual radishes? It seems like a lot of energy was spent to make the sprouts and yay turned out so well. I would just put them in the ground and grow them for a few months for a big garden.
These are for eating. As a sprout. Full of things good for you.
Two recommendations:
1. Switch to brown (unbleached) paper towels. White paper products of all types undergo significant chemical treatments to break down and whiten the cellulose; the more of that you remove from the medium the healthier your plants will be. It's quite possible that the stress you were seeing in the paper towel tray sprouts was due to these chemicals.
2. Use a wool carding brush to 'pre-soften' the towels before use. The needles in the brush will effectively puncture the towels as well as break up the fibre structure, allowing much easier penetration for the young roots. Try folding the towels once or twice and then place it on a surface that will permit the needles to travel all the way through the towels; a wooden cutting or soft plastic cutting board should work. Then just 'bounce' the brush up and down across the towel a few times. It will add less than a minute of time to your medium prep, so you'll gain not only on the cost of the medium, but also on your post-harvest cleanup.
I'm enjoying your videos! Thanks for all your work!
Still would not want to grow my food in a towel that contains a soap or oil based wetting agent that most paper towels have. The wetting agent is to help it absorb water faster.
@@GEOsustainable
Unbleached natural bamboo paper towels don't have anything harmful added. Who with a proper mind uses bleached paper towels made of unknown sourced wood pulp and contain known harmful dangerous industrial chemcials such as dioxin and strange unknown dangerous toxins to grow microgreens for food? One of the reasons the microgreens grew less optimally at beginning in this video was due to the harmful chemicals in the paper towels preventing healthy growth, stunting the seeds, when the harmful chemicals in the paper towels got washed away the plants became stronger as evident in this video, nothing to do with roots not able to dig deeper.
I hope this video maker tries the same experiment with unbleached natural bamboo paper towels made without added harmful industrial chemicals in the manufacturing process, the problem was the toxic paper towels he was using in this video.
#3 Presoak the seeds...
@@drew-shourd
Small seeds especially gelatinous seeds such as flax seeds and chia seeds don't require presoaking, in fact presoaking prevents flax seeds and chia seeds from germinating!
@@Anonymous------ I guess you never had a Chia Pet but n the 70’s…we always soaked the seeds as per the company’s directions…
I've been growing microgreens for just a few months but I started with those trays and instead of paper towels I use toilet paper which makes it much easier for the sprout roots to break through. I've also experimented with a top layer of toilet paper and no weight and it worked great. My experiments have shown that the highest yield was 20g of seeds and i got a grow ratio of 21:1. I also didn't use any lights :)
sorry correction... I used the amazon trays, they work great!
We will have to give that a try then Pat! Thank you so much for sharing! A 21:1 ratio is really amazing especially without grow lights! I assume that you are using a windowsill or outside growing right? Thank you again for sharing 🤗🌱🌱
Yes I try and make sure they get at least 4 hours of sunlight
@@OnTheGrow I could use some of your advice though when it comes to post-harvest handling. I find that I still have a lot of husks in my product, how do I take them out? Also after harvest I've noticed that the greens are still quite moist so if I put it in a container with paper towel and put it in the fridge, they still 'matte' together, get clumpy and eventually rot.
I imagine running paper towels through a shredder would work too.
I’m glad to see you give paper towels a serious try. I use them often where I can since dirt or coco is messy and time consuming to deal with. To make it fast, I cut down an entire roll to 9” with a sharp knife. Haven’t tried an electric knife yet but it would probably work nicely. Then just roll it out on your table and cut it to 19-1/2” length with scissors (I marked my table so I don’t have to measure each time). Looks like you are using Bounty towels, as I do as well. The Bounties hold more water than the cheaper ones. The biggest problem is that it works so differently than the dirt or coco. You had to spend a lot of time getting the dirt & coco process down pat. Paper towels are a completely different learning process that has to take place to get it working properly. You just have to be willing to put in the time and fail some. The deal with the paper towels is that they need about 2 more days to get to acceptable growth. I had a customer request Dandelion, which is a very slow growing plant. I started them on dirt, they germinated then died in about a week. My second try is on paper towels, 3 layers to hold water well. I spray them lightly, sometimes skipping a day if the paper towels are still wet. They are growing nicely. Never give up after an initial fail. Thanks for your GREAT and wonderful videos!
Thanks for sharing all this! Cool to hear how you’ve made the process even more efficient by preparing the paper towels to size. Dandelions are really challenging, we failed on all our soil or coco trials with them so it’s really promising to hear you’ve got them working so far in paper towels! We are going to stick with it and see how much better we can get with them. We really appreciate your support and encouraging words! It really means a lot to us! 🌱🌱🤗
Unbleached paper towels to be considered???
I cut a roll of paper towels down to 9" with a chop saw, then put down 6 layers, then slip a plastic mesh under the top layer. Place the seeds on top and cover with a piece of black plexiglass w/ weights. I am just using a slotted plastic trey on a slight slope with 2 Drip lines feeding it (1 at the top and 1 in the middle). Using Sunflowers as an example. 1 Cup of seed takes 4 days to germinate, 2 days in Black out, & 3-4 days under light to consistently yield an average of 550 Grams. This is fed by an Auquaponics system so any excess water drains back into the system.
Have you ever tried with cheesecloth? I'm wondering if the looser weave would allow the roots to penetrate down more.
@@wjm1319 I have indeed without too much success. The problem I have with cheesecloth is it cannot retain water very well as opposed to other mediums, and water retention is important. And the roots seem to blast through the paper towels with little difficulty. I even use a layer of paper towel before adding dirt. That keeps my bottom tray free from dirt for bottom watering.
Not to mention, paper towels have a wetting agent to help soak up water faster. The wetting agent is usually detergent but can be something you don't want your food growing in.
This is also why paper towels streak glass.
Oy vey
I have been growing microgreens long before they were called that. We just called all of them “sprouts”. 😊I have never used anything but water and a plastic container. No soil or other growth medium. Weirdly enough they all grow straight up, none fell over and they grow to 7-10 cm without any problem. The roots intertwine making their own mat of solid roots that support the stems.
I was looking at your system but noticed that the holes in the box is too large to sprout small seeds in it. Have you ever tried very fine layers of mesh on top? The seeds have something to grip on to and they won’t be floating away down the hole. I haven’t tried but guess that it will make the plant happier if it could dig itself through some layers of mesh. Won’t get the smell of rotting paper either.
Could you explain more indepth on how you grow the microgreens with just water and plastic containers?
A sprout usually means they are only grown until "seed leaves" appear, the seeds are kept on and eaten too. Sprouts only need water or moisture to grow and grow in any direction, piled on top of each other. With microgreens you do not eat the seeds, they are allowed to grow taller, until "true" leaves appear. They need some kind of support (growing medium or mesh or anything that give the roots stability) to hang on to and grow up straight (because your aim is to eat the stems and leaves that appear on top). That's the differences. You can call microgreens sprouts (I sometimes do), but it's not really correct to do so.
@@joey-lynnewald9588I believe it can be done on a mesh (plastic or stainless steel) or open weave cloth fabric (like a tea towel). You just have to make sure the roots are not disturbed as you water them and they sprout and grow, and there is water underneath that can be pulled up into the root. It's a tray of seeds in a tray of water, called hydroponics. There are many variations. Search for "soiless" sprouting and microgreens. Microgreens are sprouts that are grown in a single layer and allowed to grow tall until true leaves appear.
Hydroponic Sprouts are the best.
This was very interesting. A simple way to overcome the paper towel penetration issue would be, possibly, to take a thick sewing needle and just make a full set of holes 1 cm apart all the way around the roll top to bottom. will take a few minutes. the germination was great on both. penetration of the radicals was slower. The paper towel trays could have been left 2 more days and the harvest weight would have been the same. The leaf weight would have been better as well. The cost of grow medium and its availability definitely outweighs the day or two extra i would think. WDYT?
You guys make great videos. Great content, great camera work, and no annoying loop music in the background. Well done.
Palate cleanser "coffee" I LOVE IT! I think maybe if you have some kind of roller or maybe a meat tenderizer to poke tiny holes in the paper towels it would help. Just a thought.
Good idea. Perforated the paper towels somehow although in the long run not sure paper towel will give enough foundation for the roots to root and grab onto like coco or other medium unless they have enough water to root like in hydroponics
I like the way you cut the Radish. Pull it towards you a little and slice it shallow. Great way to do it and will try tomorrow. Parents are having a small gathering to sample some wine they have made this year and asked me to bring some greens by! Have learned a ton from you guys the last couple months, and feel confident bringing over Speckled Peas, Purple Radish, and Sunflower! Planning for a live harvest of some Purple Radish :) Thank you! Mike
That’s incredible man!! We’re so glad to hear that you’ve gotten more confident in growing! We really appreciate your support Mike! 🤗🌱🌱
Would love to see a video with more information on the business side of things! Such as how you find and maintain relationships with customers, how do you get product to your customers, how do you price things, what was your start up cost, etc :)
One of our local ladies has started selling at the flea markets and craft shows. She brings the whole trays and cuts to order for customers. It's been a bit of a slow start as she only started last summer but she did say it's been picking up. She was hoping to sell to restaurants but with covid and our laws here in MI its been hard. Not sure if it helps but it might help point you in the direction of starting out places.
Nice work. Perhaps TP for bottom paper layer because it dissolves in water. Plus it is even cheaper than PT. You make me wanna try. Neat setup.
You two are great! Love this one, Its cool to see how you can grow Microgreens on more readily available mediums. Thanks for taking the time to share what you learn.
Thank you for your continued support!! We love experimenting and can’t wait to try out a lot more paper towels soon! 🤗🌱🌱
maybe try getting one of those metal horse combs or a wire brush and poking it through the paper towels so theres tons of mini holes.
Just thinking, we always snip away when harvesting so that we get the plant away from the growth medium. But with something such as paper towel where the medium is too heavy and will be left behind (as happened when you pulled a root through) Wouldnt we just be able to pluck them all out and eat the entire thing?
Great video. Seems like a hydrophilic mesh screen would be ideal. I'm sure many creative ways to add small holes to the paper towel. Would encourage unbleached paper towels. 2 ply towels can also be separated into single ply when dry (may be thinner than dedicated 1 ply towels). In further refining paper towel as medium, using its wicking quality may be a consideration - from bottom tray reservoir. Finally, a little stress may not be a bad thing. Xenohormesis suggests that plants produce healthy compounds as a survival mechanism. Are mildly stressed microgreens more healthy than unstressed microgreens?
Thanks for the support and the suggestions David! We totally agree that stress can actually produce a healthier crop. For example, if a plant never gets airflow, it grows much weaker than one that has to fight the wind. We tried unbleached in our first trials that failed months ago and then we moved on. I’d like to bring it back though and give it some more serious attempts. Thank you again for sharing and your support! 🤗🌱🌱
Time to do a video with 2 sets of greens, one of which is shouted at for an hour each day.
@@GaryMcKinnonUFO reminds me of Audio Adrenaline's Houseplant Song! ROFL!
The problem here is the incorrect use of the paper towel. For seeds that are bigger than the holes in the tray (for example, radishes, cilantro, chick pea, green pea etc.), just put the seeds on the tray and cover with the paper towel to keep them moist. Once the roots are grown, you don't need the paper towel and you will be as good as all other techniques.
Fascinating
Nice. If paper towels are tripled then you wouldn't need daily misting and baby sitting on the tray.
I used a paper towel because the broccoli seeds were falling through the hole
Hello, you two are so wonderful, thank you for all educations. I did use lunch paper napkin. Just one layer. Fit well on green tray With ociansolution.I will be keep leaning from you two. Thanks again. 😊
I use 4-5 layers of paper towels, and it works just fine
I like viva paper towels they feel like cloth they are recycled bounty’s towels
Do you use any special kind of paper towel? Like non bleached? Do you have a brand you can tell me that has worked for you? Thanks 🌱
@@truueindeedi nope, nothing special.
Just ordinary paper towels
@@truueindeedi I'm in Indonesia, so I think you won't be able to find the same brand there 😂.
@@natalinegloriana3430 lol. Yeah prolly right
Have you thought about using food grade Hydrogen Peroxide diluted and sprayed over bottom water tray or directly on paper towels? This would add extra Oxygen and cut way down on molds and bacteria.
It stunts growth by burning the root hairs.
@@GEOsustainable record experiment and post results
what if you put a piece of hardware cloth on the seeds before they germinate. the plants will grow through the holes and the wire will hold down the roots.
Green Greg on utube shows dark environment growing
Plants need CO2 to grow. H2O2 produces more oxygen.
Growing mushrooms or crickets in the same room can increase net co2 and that can help growth.
You guys are so inspiring
Thank you so much!! Really cool to hear that!
Don't seeds need soil for higher nutrient content of microgreens? It would be interesting for you to do the same test with unbleached paper towels to rule out a toxic chemical grow medium as the cause of a much lower growth rate.
They don't for the short time..... they use the micronutrients from the seeds, decaying matter, water, sun... then snip you rest them
I use paper towels and cover with plastic wrap not touching the seeds (until they are germinated) and have no problems.
I'd be curious to see if leaving the paper towel on top for longer and then switching to bottom watering before removing it would allow it to separate more easily. Also, multiple layers of paper towels on the bottom could allow rooting to take place quicker and help retain moisture. I might have to do a trial of my own. :-)
If you did the trial, can you share the results?
That's what I wondered, if top paper cover was allowed to dry a little would it be easier removed? Plus a small pincer clamp to hold paper to tray at starting edge for harvest, finish last row of cutting from other direction?
Shamwow is an interesting option for a growing medium.
Funny!! I'm sure you were joking because a seed couldn't get through that at all lol!
I love your exhaustive experimentation as well as your willingness to share that information. I hope to be in a similar position someday soon.
We hope so too! Start small and build up! Thank you so much for your support!!
I usually use plain tissue paper (facial) and had been doing it for months on my sporadic microgreens growing
Would having water in the tray underneath help encourage the radicals to grow downward through the towel?
Green horn here. Can you put plastic wrap over the seeds to keep moister in? Can you blend the paper towels or recycled paper with sterile water to make your own paper media? I would think it would have more open pores and can be fluffier for the roots to bind to and you can put the plastic wrap over that? I have filtered well water, do I have to add anything to the water? Do you test your water to see what minerals you have? Thanks
9:22 "Having a top layer paper towel is gonna be the way to go!"
10:18 "I think that top paper towel is kinda useless on this tray."
That's what I call try and error :)
Nice experiment.
It's "trial and error".
@@daviedood2503 haha u got him
Nice comment tho
@@goprodude0075: Not so fast, could be Gboard error.
I feel that the radicles grow towards water. wet top paper towel confused it. may be the result would be better if you make pinholes in the single paper towel by using pinpad.
thank you for this. Can you reuse the coco coir?
I definitely would of poked holes in the paper towels rack. Lay the paper towels down and poke through with a very small diameter skewer rod so seeds completely sink through. Just to give the roots a little help/guide busting through the paper layer.
How about an experiment with guaze and tissue papers (like the wrapping paper tissue paper & simple toilet paper)?
Covered with parchment paper to keep the moisture in?
Just a thought. I love the experiments yall do. So thought provoking!!
I see you're using a 15 lb paver and am curious since your weighted test proved no benefit, which seeds do you use them on now?
Thanks so much for this test! When I first tried paper towels, it was in 5x5 trays and folded so that it was 4 thicknesses. And yes, I misted more than 2x per day, as I remember.(That was before I started a spreadsheet to keep a record of my grows.) Used broccoli. Maybe the thickness allowed both for more water retention, and therefore faster germination and more place for the radicles to attach? Didn't get much height, and used scissors to harvest after lifting the whole grow out of the trays. Am running a tiny test right now on radish and mustard on 5x5 with layers of coco and paper towels to see how the rooting compares. I'm not as worried about harvest weight because I'm just growing for my own consumption, but flavor is a value for me. You guys are the best! ♥
Hi Kathleen... please share your results here or on your channel. Thank you!
Yes please share. Sharing is caring ;)
Very nice demo!
Have you tried a few layers of cheese cloth?
Thank you so much for the support Escape From NY!! We are going to be making new content soon! 😄
Thanks for this content! In the growing space I'm preparing I will not have space to manage the compost of Coco so I also meant to investigate paper!
I think that is if the flavors we’re pretty much the same, then you have to look, what is the easiest way to grow them without so much hassle! I would pick the coco coir!!
Coco is definitely our favorite grow medium!
Dude i love your channel! You motivated me to grow microgreens. Wish me luck :D
Coco coire matting seems like it may be an option, then it's a thin sheet with no mess but enough substrate for them to take root.
As you said there is a wide variation with paper towels. I use Walmart extra strength and get good root penetration. I tried dollartree brand and it was a failure. I thought being a thinner paper towel was better, but the roots had a hard time getting through. I use a potting mix, and then put the paper tucked in all 4 corners of the tray. The reason I do that is it pulls moisture from the soil and I have redworms in my trays. Usually by harvest day the worms have eaten most of the paper towel. It keeps my micros clean, but also allows me to grow organic. I have trays I have planted almost 60 times this way. Some seeds work better than others for the paper towel method. Works good for home use.
I am so curious about the setup with worms in it! That's so cool
I see some green trays that look like what I have on the left side of the video, with white mesh-holed trays that sit inside them. I took a picture, but I can't see a way to share.
Should I use a growing medium in those? If yes, do I need to put the growing paper down first so the growing medium doesn't fall through the holes? (The paper that came with the trays, not paper towels).
All I have is some seed starter mix and maybe some potting mix on hand. Are those ok?
I noticed in this video you said that these are ready to harvest because you are starting to see some true leaves. (For clarification, do you want to harvest before or after you see true leaves?)
I think you should (and please) also test tissue paper (the dry variant) and toilet paper (cheap one-ply paper-looking, and slightly-more-expensive multi-ply softer-looking/fluffier-looking) as well, in a new test including the papel towel and Coco Coir (or what else you use now). I think the tissue paper or toilet paper might be either more cost effective, or more root-growth effective or sprout-effective. The point being that if you can get a 10% loss for 20% lower cost (including the costs of the lighting and air conditioning), it would be a better business choice.
I saw a video of someone growing greens in gravel. I couldn't find it but have you tried that.
We are actually about to try sand, clay pebbles and some other alternative grow medias! Great suggestion! We will give gravel a shot too! 🤗🌱🌱
unfortunately you've arrived back at rock wool - the industry standard in many ways... it has the clean-ness of the paper towel, but allows for the root to dive down into the medium like the coco coir. the best of both worlds. only trouble is no one's making a 1/4" or 1/2" slab or if you do find someone selling it, the new problem is the price. XD
The ph of the paper towel is probably a factor. It may be worth adding a small pinch of sodium bicarbonate to the first watering and testing if that makes a difference.
Could you use coffee grounds with something mixed in?
Thanks.. your videos are helpful.
I've used polyester quilt batting to grow microgreens for a bearded dragon to eat inside his terrarium. Seemed to work pretty well and he loved them, but its the only medium I've ever tried.
Really interesting. Thanks
Very informative . Thanks for sharing.
Well, maybe try shredded newspaper or shredded paper towels; something that might act more as a soil than a woven fabric?
That’s a great suggestion! We will see about giving that a shot. Thanks for sharing 🤗🌱🌱
@@OnTheGrow
Just a thought on a way to keep the cost ultra low but giving the radicals something to dig into. I know you mentioned multiple layers of paper towels molding, so this might be a disaster. Either way, I'd love to see you give it a shot!
Or toilet paper when wet it seperates the fibers and be like coco
I’m not sure if this is for expert growers, I’m a new gardener and it’s difficult to keep up and understand everything you’re doing. I’m trying to grow micro greens and I’m really confused as to what you’re growing, what fertilizer, how you did it using what and for how long ………. ?!
Try toilet paper... it almost dissolves in water. A couple layers might be better.
Also, I've tried the same with peas, used 3 layers instead of one sheet.
Have you tried ;
Charmin ( yes , toilet paper ) for medium above paper towel
To encourage roots to target the softer medium so it doesn't root upward?
We could give that a try! I think that it could have potential and is worth a shot! Thanks for the suggestion! 🤗🌱🌱
@@OnTheGrow
We use the 30ct. Egg carton paper mache' trays .
They're biodegradable and they hold enough dirt to allow a close eye on the seedlings growth .
The roots of anything we've planted in the trays have pierced the bottom of the tray.
Everything has spawned off and taken hold very quickly .
We even plant our corn in them .... Not typical peaches & cream ..... We have some upper end corn we don't want wild birds taking off with ....
Do you like the mesh trays?
Try commercial brown hand paper. A LOT cheaper than even paper towel. Like 3$ for 1000 feet. Also not bleached. If you run a meat tenderizer on the paper it might loosen up the fibers.
Great suggestion Ben! We will give that a shot!
I've also used synthetic paper towels though they don't compost the radical penetration is far greater and the towel won't fall apart when wet
If u use paper towels in a commercial grow... Are they considered "clean" or it is only possible to use it at home?
I wonder if you soak the paper towels for 2 days before seeding to get a more mushy medium for the roots to dig into?
Hello can you use regular soil?
Use neem oil in hot water and spray it on the paper towels to protect against mold and insects.
Hi
Or diluted food grade Hydrogen Peroxide which kills pathogens and adds oxygen ! I spray it in my nostrils to stay covid free. Check out Dr. Thomas Levy ' Rapid Virus Recovery' which shows how! Shalom to us only in Christ Yeshua.
You guys are great. I've been growing broccoli and radish on top of 3 plies of paper towels for a year or so. No fertilizer. I top water and pour the standing water out of the no hole tray immediately. I water twice a day.The used paper towel goes out to the chickens. I cannot seem to grow sunflowers with this method, but I'll try a paper towel cover on top. Thank you for all your efforts.
Counterintuitive, I know, but I'm guessing a couple of layers of cheap unbleached paper towels might work a little better. Also, given a little more time in between root checks might allow them to anchor a little better. Great video, though. I love that you guys aren't afraid to take chances and continue to challenge convention. Keep up the great work!
I agree on both points, thanks for sharing! Thank you so much for your support!!
Before composting I would throw those mediums to Chickens if you have them, they will get a bit of food and scratch that up real well for you as well as drop in a few nitrogen pellets for you.
Could do a comparison to just a mesh with no growing medium at all.
Very well done. Love the trailer, great for hauling the 911 to the racecourse.
I have a question Mr. Does it work the same for coriander seeds? Do they germinate the same time?
Can this way be used for the grass I'm growing for my cats?
I am fairly new to growing microgreens, but I am thinking I might try screen (made for food dehydrators) for structure for the roots to grab, and then maybe four layers of paper towel beneath to hold moisture.
We are actually experimenting with dehydrator mats right now and we should have a video on it for next week! It has worked really well without any paper-towels too!
The coco fiber has it's own nutrients, more so than the bleached paper towels. I think Lou B is right to switch to brown paper towels and maybe add nutrient water a day earlier for the paper towel group. I am interested in your techniques for growing food in space where space is limited in a station.
Stress makes plants taste great! Think of frosted purple tipped collards!
😉Ashley Denise Johnson ....We hate stress on the farm...HaHa!
🙂Would you Be~Leaf we're actively working on tasty recipes that will highlight the various flavors of your favorite microgreens in surprising ways...Not just a garnish...yum!!
I loved it! thanks for sharing
Thank you for the support!!
@@OnTheGrow Thanks for the feedback! You speak with authority and assurance! Infinite like for you and your team! thank you
can you eat the roots also?
Hi great to see these
Just a thought what about a paper towel on top of the coco
And another thought how would card board the flirted one like the worms like
Strip64 wonders about the chemicals used in whitening paper and such. Your idea seems even better, chemical-avoiding wise. I should work...I will try this out soonish
Paper towel has chemicals in it- I would never use it for food- flowers U don’t eat u could
So do the vats of hydroponic reservoirs with things like clear rez that ultimately bleach or petroleum oil derived plant food.
It's all chemicals. Plants are made of chemicals.
Did no one else notice the tap tap tap tap subtitles at 6:14 ? xD
That reminded me of playing minesweeper without understanding the rules.
Thanks now Ill re consider and not use paper towels...OR I might just try my own all the same. I use jars right now
There are "Bad Stuff" Leaching out of that paper probably,
even if it's made out of 100% cellulose, they use many chemicals to produce it.
(I bet it could not be sold as Organic, if its grown on ppr towels ).
What are your thoughts on that ?
have you tried window screen as a grow material? its reusable but the small seeds might fall through
Are you saying screen is useable? I am new to trying microgreens. Thanks
@@sandy-rr1by I did it a couple times as an experiment (I'm cheap lol). Ill stick with Coir instead though. it did make the cleanup easy and you just clean off the screen and reuse it after sanitizing it.
Hi. Love the video! Question: do you have a video on microgreens for dummies? I mean..for beginners!?!?😆
Look up "epic gardening microgreen master class"
Blend the paper and press the water out...it makes it easier..fluffy cloud look
What if you try paper towel on top of Soil or coco? Will it keep the finish product cleaner
Pretty sure that loss section of the paper towel was where you scraped them off the top?
Hi, is the procedure the same without light? Like in the house or outside? I live in Hawaii 😃
You can grow them outside with that wonderful Hawaii weather! We prefer to grow them outside with 5 hours or less of sun. Otherwise they become too strong and tougher to chew.
On The Grow what if there’s not much sun? I live on da Big Island Hilo side , very rainy and or overcast. I try to grow them under overhang
which serrated knife do you use? I notice its straight not curved.
I LOVE YOUR IDEAS THANKS FOR SHARING
I AM TRYING OUT YOUR PLASTIC CONTAINER MICRO GREENS SYSTEM WITH 12IN X 10FT ALUMINUM ROOF PANS AND COTTON FABRIC IN 5 GALLON BUCKETS OF WATER.
THANKS AGAIN
So does this mean that your radishes have a “radical” agenda?? 🤪😳😇. As always, great content!
Lol, thank you so much for your support Kim!! 😆🌱🌱
Two trays definitely had protestations on the use of the white paper towels.
Agreed, great video.
Right now, I am trying broccoli on a tray with a single sheet and another with double sheet of paper towels. This video is very timely.
Gr8 video. Y can't U harvest it with the roots on? Cheers
How about an experiment with putting paper towels through a shredder? It might act more like the coco coir and let the roots drill down easily. Additionally, use the eqivalent of 4 -6 ply instead of just 2. Also, id try saranwrap for only the first couple days instead of the paper towel on top. And one more thing, dont they use chemicals in manufacturing pt? Maybe that stunts their growth. Not sure id want to eat those. Dont think you could call those sprouts organic. if 'kick in the mouths' were closer to the fan, perhaps you had to give them more water, thereby unwittingly giving more nutrients too.
I have always used 3 layers of paper towel on the bottom. Where do I find these awesome large trays?
The trays are from this company :)
shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1148267&u=2175923&m=72437&urllink=&afftrack=
What trays do you recommend? My current plant trays are 72 cell 10 by 20. But I like the open tray like that
Hello. I like your video. I want to learn about your light sources. Do you use day light or full spectrum light for your microgreens? Thanks
What about punching holes in the paper towels in some way?
Great video what about the blue paper towel at home depot
These trays look great … where do you find them?
Bootstrap gardner has great trays. Try them. I just ordered trays for this purpose. Janice
would it be worth pulping the paper towel to make it easyer for the roots to penatrate? with something to airate the pulp.or mixing the seed into the pulp directly sinted of on top......like the paper seed mixes u see that you can bury in yoru garden to get flowers.
It seem like paper towels are even a lot more work. Question, why do you put a weight on? I like to grow sunflower sprouts but never put a weight on them. What’s the difference doing it and not ? Thank you, aloha
Paper Towels are tricky... There are a few reasons for the weight. First, is that it helps push the seeds down into the growing medium, which keeps them moist and helps with germination... As they grow with the weight ontop, it makes them fight the resistance of the weight and really pushes them down into the grow medium for solid rooting and strong stem growth. It also helps with removing the seed coat during germination.
I like vegetable for foods