Shiso Microgreens & Baby Greens

🌱 Days to Sprout: 4-7

😋 No Plant Food

✂️ No thinning

🍅 Days to Harvest: 15-20

💡 Location: Nursery, then Gardyn (optional)

📏 Plant Size: < 6 in

💚 Care Level Rating: Beginner

Chefs in San Francisco first used Microgreens in the 1980’s. By the 90’s, Microgreens’ popularity had spread across America and has been growing ever since. While initially there were only a few types available, today there are over 25 unique Microgreen varieties.

Shiso has a bold, earthy flavor with an anise-like zing and crunchy, slightly wider stems and leaves.

Often referred to as “plant sprinkles” or “plant confetti”, Microgreens are the first leaves and second stage of a plant’s growth (sprouts are the first stage, Baby Greens the third). Microgreens are dense with nutrients, containing up to 40% more nutrients than the same plant when eaten at maturity, earning them a spot as a superfood. Microgreens have particularly concentrated levels of vitamins C, E, and K, as well as lutein and beta-carotene.

Baby Greens also provide a hefty dose of nutrients while offering a larger harvest and slightly mellowed flavors compared to their Microgreens counterpart.

Shiso pairs particularly well with hearty pastas and meats to balance richness. Microgreens and Baby Greens are perfect for adding to any meal to fill in nutritional gaps or add a pop of color and texture. Try them in salads, sandwiches, tacos, smoothies, stir-fries, curries, soups, pasta, pizza, omelets, and so much more!

💧☀️ Microgreens are incredibly fast-growing and easy to care for. Ensure your nursery always has enough water for the wicks to reach, and keep your nursery either on your Gardyn’s lid or on a warm, sunny windowsill.

🫶 Microgreens push off the cover paper as they grow, typically around days 3-10 of growth. Let the plants do most of the work, as pulling off the paper too early could damage them. If the paper comes off before all of the seeds have germinated, rotate the plate so the unsprouted seeds face the back of your Gardyn and away from the lights. Gently place the cover paper over the unsprouted seeds for another 24 hours to help them continue germinating, then remove it.

Learn more about the Microgreen-Baby Green life cycle here.

Once you remove the cover paper, it’s also best to remove the nursery’s lid to increase air circulation and let the cotyledon leaf pair fully open.

🌱 Harvest Shiso Microgreens within 15-20 days of starting them. For the most flavor and richest nutrients, aim to harvest when you see the cotyledon leaf pair fully open. Alternatively, you may choose to take your Microgreens at this stage and grow them into Baby Greens on your Gardyn once the roots are about 2 inches long - learn how here!

✂️ To harvest, use clean scissors to cut your Microgreens or Baby Greens just above the seed pad. You can harvest the entire seed pad at once, or over time (harvested seeds will not regrow).

Our Plant Health & Nutrition Team thoroughly tests each variety we offer to bring you the most flavorful and high-quality plants. We regularly rotate our plant portfolio, so please note, availability varies.