We now carry microgreens from Open Door Farm in Cedar Grove.
What exactly are microgreens? Microgreens are baby plants, grown in a shallow container of soil. They are harvested just above the soil line when the plant is 1 to 2 inches tall, usually within a few weeks. Microgreens include the cotyledons and one set of “true” leaves. In this stage, nutrients are concentrated, the leaves are tender, and the greens have the essence of the mature plant’s flavor. (In contrast, sprouts are seeds sprouted in water, and the whole thing [seed and seedling] is consumed. Sprouts are harvested after only a few days.)
When their love of gardening grew too large for their backyard, Jillian and Ross Mickens founded Open Door Farm, farming at Breeze Farm until buying their own place, a former tobacco farm in Cedar Grove. They grow row crops in the fields but have a greenhouse for the microgreens, which grow year-round. The microgreens are flavorful greens that can be added to salads.
Visit Open Door Farm online at http://www.opendoorfarmnc.com/ or on the Piedmont Farm Tour this April. Microgreens arrive in stores on Fridays, and there is sometimes a limited supply.