When compared to other plants, microgreens are very easy to plant and care for.
Microgreens are low maintenance and do not require consistent care for them to grow well.
Still, if you are growing your own microgreens, at some point you have cracked into the question of whether microgreens can regrow once cut.
While some microgreens can regrow once cut, there are some that are generally easier to grow. For microgreens that regrow after being cut, they tend to be larger seeds, such as peas or from the legume (Fabaceae) or mint (Lamiaceae) families.
Microgreens generally regrow through photosynthesis and cell degeneration. In this article, we will cover 5 different types of microgreens that regrow after cutting.
Notwithstanding, you can easily experiment with microgreens that you enjoy.
5 Microgreens That Regrow After Cutting
| Microgreen | Scientific Name | Conditions for Regrowing |
|---|---|---|
| Pea Shoots | Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon | Leave the first set of leaves with tendrils intact. |
| Kales | Brassica oleracea var. sabellica | Don’t cut the topmost leaf. They require 2 to 4 hours of sunlight per day. |
| Coriander | Coriandum sativum | Keep the temperature below 21 degrees Celsius. |
| Sage | Salvia officinalis | Warm and humid environment. |
| Basil | Ocimum basilicum | Keep it away from frost. Expose it to 8 hours of direct sunlight in a day. |
5 Microgreens That Regrow After Cutting
1. Pea Shoots
Pea shoots are one of the microgreens that do regenerate after a harvest.
They are one of the most popular microgreens because they taste great and have awesome nutritional value. Pea shoots are sweet and have that nutty chew.
If you want to be able to regrow a pea shoot after your first harvest, there is something to consider when you are cutting the plant.
You are going to want to cut the plant in order to leave the first set of leaves with the tendrils intact.
This is important because the plant will be able to photosynthesize and get the energy it needs to regrow.
You should also make sure that the object you are using to cut is as clean and as sharp as possible to avoid introducing any type of microorganism that may potentially harm the plant and delay regrowth.
Remember: if cared for properly, you should be able to get two to three harvests from a single batch of pea shoots before the flavor and taste start to diminish.
2. Kales
With the proper conditions, kales are fairly easy to regrow.
Simply, you should cut the leaves that are nearly at the bottom of the stalk.
But do not remove the top leaf , since without it there is no regrowth process to even start. The top leaf is what gives energy to the plant to actually grow back.
When you cut the leaves, have something sharp, like scissors or a knife, in order to avoid mis-cuts.
If the cut is not done correctly, then the re-growth process will take at least a week longer than usual. You also would want to remove old and dried leaves that could hold up growth.
Additionally, be sure to not cut when the plant is too young. Let the plant grow at least 6 weeks, so that the stems and the roots are mature enough to support the plant.
If the leaves are cut off too early in the plant’s young life stage, the plant could simply die off.
Kale is also a cold crop that requires light to grow.
Also, make sure that they are in sunlight for at least twoh ours or four to achieve the best.
3. Coriander
Cilantro is also known as coriander and is commonly encountered in Thai, Mexican and Caribbean cuisines.
Although cilantro grows slowly, it is great because it easily regrows.
When you are harvesting it as a micro-plants or in the grocery store, cut the plant about a 1/2 inch to 1 inch amount of the stem.
When you purchase it from the grocery store, just simply do the same cut and place the stems in a glass of water.
You want to allow the roots to grow long enough to plant into a tray or a wide container that will be about 6 inches in depth.
Important to Remember: Coriander does like a cooler environment so it is important to keep the temperature below 21 degrees Celsius.
4. Sage
Propagation stage, or sage plant cuttings, can be a long process. It can take you as long as a year before you will have a new sage plant to harvest.
So, you are going to have to be patient, as you want to be sure the sage grows back healthy.
To propagate your sage, take the bottom portion of the stem and remove the leaves, but be sure to leave the leaves on the top of the stem.
The leaves you leave on will be responsible for photosynthesis to provide energy for the plant to grow back.
Also be sure to leave about two inches of stem without leaves to encourage rooting.
If you wanted to speed up this process you might dip the stem into a rooting hormone to encourage the plant to grow.
Although it is optional and can be done without it, if you plan on growing it naturally.
Keep in mind sage grows better in warm and humid conditions.
Even better, if you have a greenhouse, keep it there.
5. Basil
Basil has a spicy clove flavor that is perfect for foods like:
- pasta
- pizzas
- pestos
This is relatively popular for many, let’s admit, these are foods that one loves to indulge in as frequently as possible.
Fortunately, this is one of the microgreens that will regrow, (maybe not grow back), but it does regrow easily once it is cut. To do this you cut off a stem with 4 to 6 inches of stem.
Then you put the stem into a glass of water and wait until roots grow below.
You would want to remove the leaves on the lower side of the stem so they won’t submerge into the water and rot.
Then transfer the plant from water to soil. Keep in mind basil is a heat loving plant, so if it is cold you would want to keep it in controlled conditions until sunshine is back.
During the summers, make sure the basil is getting 8 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Get Ready: In 3 to 4 weeks your basil is ready to be harvested!
How To Successfully Regrow Microgreens After Cutting
Although growing microgreens is relatively simple, regrowing microgreens is a bit trickier.
Regrowing microgreens requires more care to be successful.
So, you need to do some things to minimize failure.
Cut the Plants at the Right Places
The location in which you cut the microgreen makes a huge difference on whether it will regrow or not.
Naturally, you will want to leave anything that encourages and supports plant growth, such as the meristem. A meristem is capable of differentiating to form new stem tissue.
You will also want to leave the lowest leaves of the plant to grow if they are intact.
This is because they are located at a site of rich cell regeneration, and on top of that, perform photosynthesis to produce the energy the plant needs to produce new growth.
Protect the Plants from Pests and Diseases
Cut microgreens can be more vulnerable to fungal diseases than seedlings planted from seed.
So, it is imperative that the environment of their growth be kept super clean.
More so: use sterile tools when cutting them so the germ is not introduced in the plant.
Use Large Pots
Big pots allow for plenty of space in which the roots can grow.
For that reason, the plant has a better overall root structure than what could be experienced with a more confined growing space.
Final Thoughts
Most microgreens cannot regrow after being cut.
There are only a few exceptions, and it is critical the proper steps are taken and adequate care is provided. Most of these microgreens belong to the Fabaceae family that resprout, and the Lamiaceae family that has the potential of regrowing, both discussed in this article.
Regrowing microgreens requires precision, and you must take care to avoid “messing up!” For example, be particular with the height you are cutting the plant.
Finally, always be sure to use sharp and sterile tools for the cut, and for precision and to avoid infections!