Frequently Asked Questions

In this section, we'll address some of the frequently asked questions we receive on a daily basis. If you have any questions that are not mentioned below, please reach out to us through our contact page and we'll respond in a jiffy. :-)

Before we get into our list, we must address the question we receive the most which is "Why do my microgreens smell?". The bottom line is this; Microgreens are very potent vegetables. Therefore, the normal produce smells you're used to are intensified. Think 40x more nutrients equals 40x more scent. Broccoli happens to smell the strongest but it's also our most popular microgreen due to the high amount of Sulforaphane which is natures most powerful compound to fight against our most common diseases. 

 

1)  What is that white stuff at the base of the stems?

This is by far, one of the most frequently asked questions we receive. The short answer is, it’s not mold. Those are called micro root hairs, a normal horticultural phenomenon with hydroponic microgreens. The plants use these microscopic hairs to wick up moisture to feed itself. With proper care, your microgreens should not develop mold or rot. If mold does appear it will usually appear as a small ball of fuzz higher and closer to the leaves of the microgreens. Rot is usually brown and slimy. Gross! We dedicated a page on our website to talk more about this question so you can educate yourself on the difference between mold and micro root hairs. Go check it out here ====> Microgreen Mold or Microgreen Root Hairs?

2) How should I cut my microgreens?

We recommend cutting your microgreens with a sharp scissor roughly 3/8" above the pad or just above the micro root hairs (white fuzzy stuff). This reduces waste so you get the most out of your microgreens purchase. There are plenty of nutrients in those stems. So don't just consume the leaves of your microgreens!

3) When will I get my microgreens after I place an order?

1) If your order contains only microgreens from our "In-Stock Microgreens" collection, they will ship within 2-7 business days by US Postal Service Priority Mail. Our shipping days are on Tuesday and Friday.  You'll receive a shipping confirmation once they're all packed up and ready to go.

2) If your order contains microgreens from our "Grown-to-Order" collection, we will begin seeding your microgreens on Saturday which is our main seeding day. Yes, we're growing microgreens just for you! This ensures that you always receive the freshest "Living" microgreens with every order. After your seeds are sowed, we'll reach out to you by email with an estimated delivery date. Believe us, it's worth the wait!

3) If you placed an order that contains a combination of Always-in-Stock and Grown-to-Order microgreens, we will ship your items once your Grown-to-Order microgreens are ready. This usually takes 10-14 days after you place your order. If you would like your Always-in-Stock microgreens shipped immediately, please reach out to us and we'll do our best to accommodate you.

4) If you're a commercial client, please call us for lead times and delivery dates for large orders. Thanks!

4) How long do microgreens stay fresh?

It all depends on the variety and how strict you follow our care instructions. Typically, microgreens can remain fresh from 7-10 days. Here's a link to our Microgreens Care Guide. 

5) Can I cancel my "Subscribe & Save" subscription?

Of course, you can! Keep in mind, that once you cancel your subscription, you will have to contact us to reactivate it. This is done to stop people from selecting the "Subscribe & Save" option on every order to save 5%, immediately cancel it and try to activate it again on their next order to save 5% again. Basically, it's to stop people from doing something that they know isn't right but they do it anyway to save a buck or two.

6) Do microgreens really have the health benefits that you state on your website?

Absolutely! If you research the health benefits of microgreens, you'll find a plethora of studies that show how powerful these little greens are. Think about it. These are just the small version of the larger plant but with up to 40x more nutrients! So whenever you read about the health benefits of other vegetables, it applies to microgreens as well! Please keep in mind, these are not our claims and we do not, in any way, say that these are miracle greens that can cure everything. We use widely available scientific studies to make our own assumptions based on the facts. We highly recommend you do your own research before making a purchase so you fully understand what microgreens are.

7) Is it ok if I cut them and store them in ziplock sandwich bags or containers?

Yes, you can cut your microgreens and store them in ziplock bags or Tupperware containers. When putting them in bags, make sure the microgreens are dry and you press out as much air as possible. This will keep them fresher, longer.

With that said, we don't recommend cutting your microgreens and storing them in this fashion. You just purchased "living" microgreens that have all of the nutrients mother nature put in them. Once you cut your microgreens, they begin to lose their nutritional value. This goes for all vegetables. That's why we chose to deliver our microgreens still alive so you can harvest and eat them with the maximum health benefits they offer.

8) Do microgreens need to be washed before eating them?

According to the USDA (United States Agriculture Department), it is recommended that all produce should be rinsed before consumption. Our microgreens are grown in a sterile environment, so we feel rinsing is not mandatory. But if you feel more comfortable rinsing your microgreens before consumption, please do so. Just make sure to give them a very quick rinse with filtered water. Try not to soak your microgreens when washing them. Keep in mind that our microgreens are grown in purified water. So, if you do not have filtered water in your home, you will be introducing chlorine and other toxic chemicals to your microgreens before consumption. You don't want that! Rinsing your microgreens will wash off any seed hulls as well as any coco coir that you might have cut off when you harvested them. The coco coir won't hurt you if consumed, but it sure isn't tasty and has zero nutritional value.

9) Can I cook with microgreens?

No. You cannot cook your microgreens. Since these little greens are still in their infancy, if you subject them to high heat, they will quickly break down and lose all of their nutrients. Therefore, we recommend adding them to your dish once it's ready to be served. If you're having hot soup, drop your microgreens in right before you're about to eat. This is ok. It will still retain all of their nutrients because it's not actually being cooked.

10) Can I dehydrate my microgreens and put them in smoothies?

Yes. We actually recommend dehydrating microgreens if you have some left over and they look like they're about to spoil. Smoothies with an added spoonful of microgreens powder can really pack a healthy punch!

11) Are they organic?

We are not certified organic growers. Our growing method is considered organic because we don't use any fertilizers, pesticides or soil that might be contaminated. Plus we only use Non-GMO seeds and purified water. So technically, it is organic growing, BUT not every seed we purchase is organic. Some of the seed varieties are not available as organic. We try our best to only purchase organic seeds but even if they are not organic, rest knowing that they are all Non-GMO seeds grown in an organic way! So it's as close to organic as you can possibly get. It's actually considered veganic. 

13) Can microgreens be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze microgreens, but it is not recommended. When you freeze any plants or vegetables, they can lose 40% to 60% of their nutrients! Therefore, we highly recommend dehydrating your microgreens instead. Dehydrating results in a nutrient loss of only 3-5% and retains flavors better than canning or freezing. You can use the dehydrated microgreens in smoothies or sprinkle on your food for an extra kick of flavor and nutrients. You can purchase an inexpensive dehydrator such as the Nesco Snackmaster Pro which sells on Amazon for roughly $60. This is the one we personally use and it works great! The Nesco dehydrator has the added option of purchasing extra trays to increase its capacity if needed.

15) How do I know if my microgreens are spoiled because I've had them for too long?

There are a few ways to tell that your microgreens are about to expire and should be either thrown away.

1) The leaves begin to shrivel up. Once you see this happening, it means the water content of the microgreens is no longer existent. Basically, they are losing their nutrients. You can still consume them at this stage but they won't taste as fresh or provide that nutritional punch that you're looking for.

2) They begin to smell really bad. As with all produce, once they start to decay, they give off a foul odor. Keep in mind, that some microgreens don't smell that great, to begin with. For instance, take broccoli. It's one of the most powerful microgreens but the smell isn't much to be desired. So don't think it's bad just because it smells a bit. You should be able to smell the difference of decaying produce and ones that just don't smell great based on the particular variety.

3) The stems become mushy. This is usually where decay begins. Too much moisture can decay any produce so when watering your grow pad, make sure not to submerge it up to the stems. Only the bottom of the grow pad should be in the water.