Microgreens are the young, miniature versions of edible vegetables. These small greens can even be grown in compact spaces with ease and very little maintenance. Not only do they provide intense flavors, but they are also densely packed with nutrients compared to their mature versions. A common question first-time growers may have is do microgreens regrow after cutting?
Do Microgreens Regrow After Cutting?
Not all microgreens can regrow after cutting and the ones that do grow back are not as tasty and as nutritional as the initial batch.
Some of the microgreens that can grow back are Fava beans, Green peas, Snow peas, Snap peas, Speckled peas, and Kale are some of the microgreens that can regrow after you have cut them.
Is Regrowing Microgreens Worth It?
No, regrowing microgreens is simply not worth the effort. The time and energy that is used in trying to regrow microgreens can be spent on growing a fresh batch of microgreens.
Microgreens are grown for their flavor and nutrition. Regrown microgreens do not taste as good as the first harvest and they also are not as densely packed with nutrition.
If you are experimenting with microgreens then trying to regrow them is worth it once but if you grow microgreens for commercial purposes, then regrowing microgreens does not make sense economically or commercially.
Which Types of Microgreens Should You Regrow?
Microgreens whose seeds are bigger in size compared to the plants are good candidates that may have regrowth potential. All varieties of peas and beans and leafy vegetables like Kale have a good chance of regrowing after they have been cut.
List of Microgreens that Regrow
Some microgreens that can regrow after being cut are,
- Fava beans
- Green peas
- Snow peas
- Snap peas
- Speckled peas
- Kale
- Spinach
- Corainder
- Fenugreek
- Basil
- Arugula
What Happens If You Don’t Harvest Microgreens?
Logically speaking, if you don’t harvest microgreens, they should simply grow into fully grown plants or their mature versions provided they have the means to do it.
But this doesn’t happen because microgreens are usually grown in small trays, in restricted space, and with little nutrition. Due to these restrictions, the microgreen will eventually die due to stress and lack of enough nutrition or a supportive environment to grow into their full versions.
If the microgreens are being grown in larger pots where they have enough room to spread their roots, are given enough sunlight and water, chances are there that they may grow into fully grown versions of themselves if not harvested.
Factors Affecting Microgreens Regrowth
You may think that if you provide enough water, sunlight, and nutrition, your microgreens may regrow again. But that is simply not the case. There are other factors that play a role in the regrowth of microgreens. Some of them are listed below,
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the process of converting light into chemical energy that can be used by plants to create glucose from carbon dioxide and water. This is what enables plants to grow, including microgreens.
The process of photosynthesis is done by the leaves of plants. So for your cut microgreens to regrow, they need to have at least the last leaves closest to the soil intact. If there are no leaves, the stem itself doesn’t have any chance of regrowing.
Cut healing
When a plant suffers a cut, various proteins in the plant promote the production of the plant growth hormone Auxin which helps in healing the cut. This activity is aided further by cell regeneration which requires a lot of nutrients. Until a plant is fully healed, it cannot develop or grow.
When you cut microgreens, you are effectively damaging the plant which will take time to heal and regrow. Even though this is a natural phenomenon in fruit-bearing plants, microgreens are not strong enough to endure this shock and hence may sometimes not survive.
Reduced defense against infection
When a plant is damaged, it is open to infections. Mold growth and fungus are quite common on plants that have sustained some sort of injury. Microgreens that have been cut are not in a position to heal and protect themselves and often fall prey to mold growth and decay.
Weak root system
Plants absorb nutrients from the soil through their roots. In the case of microgreens, due to lack of enough soil, roots do not grow strong and deep. As such, they are not very helpful in either providing support and stability or nutrients to the microgreens. Due to this, many microgreens do not stand a chance to regrow after being cut.
Tips on How to Harvest Microgreens for Regrowth
Even though it is not worth regrowing microgreens, if you want to try it personally to see how it works, then the following tips may be helpful to increase the chances of your microgreens regrowing.
- When harvesting your microgreens, always leave the lowest pair of leaves close to the soil intact. This set of leaves will help the microgreens continue with the photosynthesis process and provide the plant with the necessary food for growth.
- While harvesting, make a sharp cut with a good pair of garden scissors. The smaller the cut, the quicker and easier it will be for the microgreens to heal and continue to grow. A blunt pair of scissors may damage the plants more.
- Planting microgreens in larger pots and deeper soil will allow them to grow their roots more. This provides stability to the plants, letting them absorb nutrients better and grow fully.
- Water your microgreens regularly after harvesting but don’t overdo it. Excessive watering can lead to mold growth and damage your micgreens.
How Many Times Do Microgreens Regrow?
Microgreens may typically grow once after they have been harvested. Repeat regrowth is simply not possible due to the fact that these delicate plants will simply lose their ability to support regrowth. They will not have enough meristem, a type of plant tissue that helps in cell division and growth.
Don’t expect your microgreens to regrow every time you harvest them. Your time and effort will be much more productive if you invest them in growing a fresh batch of microgreens.
Do Radish Microgreens Regrow After Cutting?
No radish microgreens often do not regrow after cutting. Radish microgreens are not worth regrowing. It is better to grow a fresh batch of radish microgreens after you have harvested them.
Will Fenugreek(methi) Microgreens Regrow After Cutting?
Yes, microgreen herbs like coriander, basil & fenugreek do regrow after being cut but the taste may be affected. They may not taste as good as the first batch. Microgreens like these which are used to enhance the flavor of foods are best when harvested as the first batch.
Do Sunflower Microgreens Regrow?
No, sunflower microgreens do not regrow. Not much of their seed is left after their harvest and the remaining shoot won’t have enough energy to regrow.
Do Broccoli Microgreens Regrow?
No broccoli microgreens do not regrow. Broccoli seeds are not big like peas and once the broccoli microgreens have grown, there is not much left in the seed to further support the plant on its regrowth.
Do Arugula Microgreens Grow Back?
Arugula is one of the microgreens that can regrow once cut. If you harvest the microgreens by cutting just before the last set of leaves, new leaves may regrow. Regrowing microgreens more than once will alter their taste and may make them better.
Conclusion on Do Microgreens Regrow After Cutting
If you were wondering do microgreens regrow after cutting then understand that not all microgreens can regrow after they have been cut but some can. Even though regrowth in microgreens is possible, it is not worth the effort. It is better to just grow a fresh batch of microgreens if you want to have better taste and higher nutrition.