In a world where nutrition and flavor go hand in hand, the rise of microgreens has been nothing short of revolutionary. Among these miniature nutritional powerhouses, Red Kale Microgreens shine brightly with their vivid color, unique taste, and remarkable health advantages. But why are they essential additions to your daily diet? Let's delve into the reasons from the very start.

Nutrient Density: Red Kale Microgreens are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, offering a concentrated source of nutrition in a small serving.

Vibrant Flavor: These microgreens add a burst of flavor to dishes, enhancing taste and culinary enjoyment.

Versatility: Red Kale Microgreens are versatile ingredients that can be easily incorporated into a variety of dishes, including salads, sandwiches, smoothies, and more.

Easy to Grow: Red kale microgreens can be easily grown even in limited spaces, such as balconies or windowsills, and can be ready to be consumed within a few weeks of sowing.

Sustainability: Growing red kale microgreens can be part of a more sustainable approach to eating, as they require less water and space compared to growing mature vegetables, and can be grown at home, reducing the environmental impact associated with food transportation and production.

Health Benefits of Red Kale Microgreens

Nutritional Richness: Red kale microgreens are rich in essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, calcium, and potassium, which are important for overall health and well-being.

Antioxidant Properties: Red kale microgreens contain powerful antioxidants such as flavonoids and carotenoids, which help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body, reducing the risk of chronic diseases and inflammation.

Heart Health: The high levels of fiber, potassium, and antioxidants in red kale microgreens may help lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol levels, and support heart health.

Eye Health: The presence of lutein and zeaxanthin in red kale microgreens can contribute to eye health by protecting against age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.

Anti-inflammatory Effects: Red kale microgreens contain compounds with anti-inflammatory properties, which may help reduce inflammation in the body and alleviate symptoms of conditions like arthritis and asthma.

Digestive Health: The fiber content in red kale microgreens supports digestive health by promoting regularity, preventing constipation, and supporting a healthy gut microbiome.

Incorporating red kale microgreens into your diet as part of a balanced and varied eating plan can contribute to overall health and well-being. Now, let's delve into the details of how to cultivate red kale microgreens

Red Kale Microgreens Overview

Must-Have Tools for Growing Red Kale Microgreens

Essential Materials

• Seeds: High-quality red kale seeds are essential for successful cultivation.
• Trays/Containers: You will need two trays—one shallow tray with drainage holes to create an optimal growing environment, and another tray without holes to be placed underneath to catch excess water. Check out our selection here.
• Growing medium: Choose a nutrient-rich growing medium such as seed-starting mix or coconut coir to support healthy growth.
• Lighting: Ensure your microgreens receive optimal lighting for robust growth. While natural sunlight is effective, for enhanced results, we recommend our T5 LED Microgreen Grow Lights. Engineered with a 6500K spectrum, these lights are precisely tailored to provide the ideal light spectrum for growing microgreens, guaranteeing optimal growth and health.
• Spray Bottle: A sprayer bottle is necessary for maintaining proper moisture levels during germination and growth.

Optional Materials

• Humidity Dome: Use a humidity dome to create a moist environment during the germination stage, aiding in successful seed sprouting and early growth. Explore our selection of humidity domes here.
• Rack Cooling Fan: Enhance air circulation and regulate temperature for optimal growth conditions with our rack cooling fan. Additionally, you can control the fan speed using the fan speed controller, allowing for precise adjustment according to your specific needs.
• LCD Digital Thermometer Hygrometer: Monitor indoor temperature and humidity levels using our LCD digital thermometer hygrometer. This tool provides valuable insights into the growing environment, ensuring conditions are optimal for your microgreens' development.

Step-by-Step Growth Process

Now equipped with all the essential materials and knowledge needed to cultivate red kale microgreens, let's dive into an easy step-by-step guide for growing them:

STEP 1: Prepare Your 1020 Microgreen Shallow Trays

Take the shallow tray with holes and place the tray without holes underneath, so that they are stacked together. Begin by filling the upper tray with holes with soil until the surface is level and even - you can use a press or your hand to make the soil even and lightly fill any low areas.

STEP 2: Sow Your Seeds

Evenly spread the red kale seeds across the surface. Water the surface using the spray bottle, and add some water to the bottom tray to keep the soil moist throughout.

STEP 3: Germination Stage

To promote strong root growth, place a weight (up to 5 pounds) on top of the red kale seeds. During the 2-3 days of germination, place another tray over the seeds to maintain darkness. Once seeds sprout and lift the cover, remove the weight and transition to the growing phase.

STEP 4: Growing under T5 Artificial Intelligent Lighting 

Once the seeds have germinated, it means that they are now at their next stage of growth. Retrieve your 1020 tray from your designated dark space, and place it under the light source - we recommend using T5 LED 6500K lights, providing sufficient lumens (1200-2200 lumens). Ensure that you also use a timer to program the amount of light your plants need. This will ensure they are able to photosynthesize throughout their lifecycle and deliver the high level of nutrition that your body thrives on.

The distance from your light source is also very important. If your light source is too far from your seedlings, they may become overly stretchy and thin. However, if the light is too close, they may not fully stretch beyond the top of your 1020 tray, making harvesting difficult and reducing yields.

Therefore, we recommend that you place the top of your 1020 tray between 22-25cms from your growing lights.

Of course, if you live in a sunny location, you can certainly place your 1020 tray on the sunny-side of your house, such as on a window-sill or outside.

Temperatures should be similar to those in your germination room, but humidity levels will vary. As your seedlings continue to grow, they will not only require more space but will also continuously release moisture, increasing the relative humidity during the entire growing cycle. To reduce the chances of mold or similar quality issues, maintain your humidity level between 45-55% RH. There are relatively cheap, smart humidifiers available that help you maintain adequate RH. In addition, you can use a fan or ventilator to reduce moisture buildup and high humidity within your 1020  tray.

Watering is also crucial: when you notice that the soil is dry, make sure to water it from the bottom tray to allow the soil to absorb the water. This method is essential to keep the red kale microgreens dry, thus preventing fungal issues, which tend to be more prevalent with this type of microgreens.

STEP 5: Harvesting

Within just 8-12 days of planting, your red kale microgreens will be ready for harvesting. Look for them to reach a height of 2-7,5 cm (1-3 inches), with fully expanded cotyledons and vibrant coloring. It's best to harvest them before the first true leaves begin to emerge.

STEP 6: EAT YOUR MICROGREENS and Storage

After harvesting your microgreens, you can choose whether to consume them immediately or store them for later. Since we don't use any chemicals and our seeds are organic, they are perfectly safe to eat right after harvesting for maximum freshness and nutrition.

Especially if you're sowing your seeds in soil, we recommend giving your microgreens a quick soak or rinse. Then, pat them dry, and they will be ready for use right after.

If you prefer to consume them at a later time, take a container with a paper towel at the bottom and gently add your freshly cut microgreens. Make sure not to use a very tall container, as microgreens are sensitive to stacking and may spoil quickly if stored this way. Store your red kale microgreens in the refrigerator (at 8°C) and consume them within 7-14 days.

Note: the paper towel at the bottom of your container is intended to absorb moisture during refrigeration, which will also increase the shelf life of your red kale microgreens.

Microgreens Tips

• Watering: Water the microgreens from the bottom tray to allow the soil to absorb the water.
• Monitoring: Use the optional LCD digital thermometer hygrometer to monitor temperature and humidity levels regularly. Adjust conditions as needed to maintain optimal growing conditions.
• Air Flow: Microgreens are densely seeded and therefore require airflow. Keep your microgreens in an area with good airflow. You can either keep it close to an open window or add a small rotating fan. Try to avoid keeping your microgreens in an enclosed space without any airflow.
• Waste & Recycling: If you are using soil, coconut coir or another biodegradable growing medium, simply start a compost bin or look for waste recycling centers, such as in the city of Amsterdam and Amstelveen where used soil is sorted and recycled. Note: If you want a quick tip to start your own compost, simply find a compost sack or container that easily fits your 1020 tray for smooth sailing. Once you have a few trays of composted soil, add worms from your surrounding area or find some tiger worms online. Within 3-4 months, you will have rich compost soil that you can use in your outdoor garden. We do not recommend using compost for microgreens, especially when growing indoors
• Hydrogen Peroxide Food Grade 3%: An effective natural cleaning agent used to sanitize and to ensure food safety. Can also be used sparingly when combating mold.
• Chef’s Tip: Most uncut or ‘live’ trays can be stored in a walk-in refrigerator for 1 - 2 weeks. Be sure to store them on the top rack to comply with food safety regulations. They will not continue to grow in the refrigerated walk-in but will stay alive and remain fresh until harvesting.

Red kale microgreens are an exceptional choice to enrich your daily diet with an extra dose of health and vitality. Add a pop of color and flavor to your favorite dishes by incorporating these tiny treasures into your kitchen today!

Keywords: red kale; microgreens; sprouts ; microgroenten ; healthy ; gezond ; how-to