Grow your own micro herbs for Christmas
For August Bernstein, micro herbs are the antidote to winter’s lull in the greenhouse. In this article, she shares how these tiny, nutrient‑packed leaves keep the joy of growing alive and add a fresh punch to Christmas canapés. You’ll find a step by step guide on how to grow them, Augusts favourite varieties, and inspiration on what festive dishes they can be paired with.
Written by August Bernstein
https://www.instagram.com/augusts_garden/?hl=en
Why Micro Herbs?
It can be a challenge to keep the growing momentum up through the winter months, that’s why I love growing micro herbs.
Not only are micro herbs a great way to give you that growing fix you need through the cold months, but they are jam packed full of nutrients and flavour. You can grow these little beauties 365 days a year in your greenhouse and that’s why they make the perfect addition to your canapes for Christmas. You will need to get sowing them in November to make sure you have enough time for them to grow for your festive entertaining season. If the weather is particularly cold and your greenhouse is unheated, you may wish to germinate your micros in the house before moving them outside to the greenhouse.
I know a lot of people use the micro herb as a garnish, but I would say if you put the wrong leaf on a dish, it can either elevate or obliterate all your hard work.
I have popped together a step by step guide on how to grow them, along with some of my favourite varieties and a little bit of inspiration on what festive dishes you could pair them with.
How to grow Micro Herbs
Things you will need
- Propegator 37cm x 23cm
- 4 Cell inserts
- Seed sowing compost sieved with 4mm sieve
- Striking board
- Seeds
Method
Over fill your 4 cell inserts with seed sowing compost - I always mound up the compost making sure all the edges are fully covered.
Gently press the compost to firm into place then strike off the excess compost leaving a nice smooth surface. I always water my tray before sowing seeds because if you water after you have sown your seeds they become displaced or even get washed off the surface.
All seeds have different sowing requirements - small seeds are surface sown and gently pressed down, while bigger seeds are covered then pressed down. You are aiming for your seeds to be as evenly dispersed across the surface as possible. I use kitchen measuring spoons to weigh out my seeds, and the amounts suggested below are for an individual cell insert approximately 21cmx 7cm. If you do not have a propagator, you can also use plastic takeaway boxes using the same method and measurements. Make sure you leave the lid on the propagator or takeaway box until the seeds have germinated.
Different Micro Greens & What They can be used for
Red Giant Mustard
1/8th Teaspoon - Surface sown.What a spicy treat for the plate, this baby leaf starts off subtle then right at the end gives the tongue a real punch and mustardy zing. I like to make mini-Yorkshire puddings with roast beef canapes and I add the mustard micro as a nod to the horseradish spice.
Pea Shoots
1 Tablespoon – Seeds covered after sowing
Pea shoots are a real favourite of mine - the delicious, sweet flavour of a fresh pea leaf is a great addition to the plate. I usually make pea and fetta Croustades for my festive parties, topped with pinch of pea shoots for extra freshness and vibrance.
Beetroot
½ Tablespoon- Seeds Covered
The Beetroot micro has a fresh earthy flavour which I like to pair with my Beetroot and Celeriac canapes. A nice slice of cooked beetroot, topped with its autumn vegetable friend the Celeriac as a remoulade, and a fresh beetroot micro brings the whole mouthful to life.
Watercress
1/8th Teaspoon – Surface sown.
Most people think you can only grow watercress in water, but this isn’t correct. Watercress as a micro give that peppery twang we all know and love. I am a sucker for a smoked salmon blini and to top it with a pinch of watercress micros just adds that extra burst of flavour to the pallet.
Celery
1/8th Teaspoon- Surface sown.
Now this is a true showstopper! One baby leaf of celery brings a huge impact to the plate. Refine your cheeseboard by removing the giant fibrous stick of celery and sprinkling some celery micros across the board. I also find the celery micro particularly delicious sprinkled on top of a Bloody Mary.
There are so many different micros you can experiment with. Just remember the small seeds are surface sown and the bigger seeds need to be covered. My last top tip is the bigger the seed the more you need.
I hope you enjoy sowing and growing some nutritious leaves for Christmas.
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