Mung Bean Microgreens (How To Grow, Benefits, FAQ, Pests)

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As you can predict from the name, microgreens are tiny plants. They are incredibly short and small. They are about 1-3 inches tall. You can grow mung bean microgreens yourself. This article will cover everything you need to know about how to grow mung bean microgreens: the equipment you need, a guide to assist you on how to grow mung beans microgreens.

Mung bean microgreens have a very fast growth rate, you can actually harvest them in just one week, and they are very nutritional. They are small and green in color.

Compared to their size, microgreens provide quite a surprising amount of nutrients. You can add them to almost any kind of diet. The article will also guide you on growing mung beans microgreens inn different ways – in the soil, with a grow mat, in wood shavings, on growing paper. You will learn how to speed up the growth of your mung beans microgreens, the benefits of including it in your diet.

Like other plants, microgreens also suffer from the activities of pets and diseases. Hence, in this article, you will learn about the different pests or diseases that may cause harm to your microgreens, and how you can avoid them.

Lastly, we will answer some of the basic questions people ask about how to plant mung bean microgreens, questions such as the temperature needed to grow it healthily, the amount of light they need, and so many more.

Now that we know what mung bean microgreens are, let us get right into it.

Equipment Needed to Grow Mung Bean Microgreens

Growing your mung bean microgreen is not something difficult. It does not require having a big garden or an expensive equipment or materials.

Here are some of the things you need to grow your microgreens:

  • Soil – you will need this especially if you choose to grow your mung bean microgreens with the use of soil. You can either use the soil from your garden or get some from an outside source.
  • Water – water is essential in planting your mung bean microgreens. You have to water your mini plants adequately. For better circulation of water to your plants, you can get a watering can; it does not have to be big, a small sized watering can will do the trick.
  • Grow tray – You can also use a grow tray to plant your mung bean microgreens. Just make sure it is the right size, and it has no holes for letting water escape. If you are wondering where you can get them from, you can order them or visit the store in your local environment.
  • Grow paper – You can use this in place of soil.
  • Seeds – these are your mung bean microgreen seeds. Of course, you will need them when planting.
  • Light Source – There are two types of light source—the natural and the artificial lights. For the natural light, all you need is a sunny window. That simple! If all of your windows are shaded and there is no illumination in the space you plan to use, you’ll need to replicate the sun with grow lights, this is the artificial way. You can use both goosenecks grow lights and grow light panels to grow your mung beans with excellent results.
  • A space – You can’t grow your bean on your bed! You need a defined place set aside for your agricultural activities.
  • Wood shaving – You can use this in place of soil.
  • Spray can – You could get a spray bottle or sprinkler for this purpose.

How to Grow Mung Bean Microgreens in Soil?

Growing your mug bean microgreens in salt is not a difficult process at all. Here is a detailed breakdown of the process involved.

Step 1 – Prepare Your Growing Tray

Again, you can use growing tray to plant your mung bean microgreens with use of a growing tray. Confirm that there are no holes that may let water out during watering.

However, if you do not want to use growing trays, you can use containers or special plant pots. These are all fine, as long as they are all clean.

Step 2 – Soil

It is an additional advantage if your soil is sterile. This reduces the chances of your plants being prone to diseases. It also makes your mung bean microgreens healthier.

Add the soil to your growing tray or the container you intend to use. Let the soil be moist.

Step 3 – Seeds

After adding the soil to your growing tray, plant the seeds in the soil, and spread them all round.

Water the tray. Make sure you spread the water evenly and do not overwater it. You should use a watering can, or a sprinkling can for this if need be.

Thereafter, you may use either paper towels or vermiculite to cover your seeds. For the record though, paper towels are quite easy to use, as long as you do not let them get soggy.

Step 4 – Checking Up On Your Microgreens

After watering your plant, and covering it, you should check on your plants every day or once in two days to see how things are going. You can remove the paper towels once you notice that they start sprouting.

Step 5 – Harvesting

Once you can see the original leaves of the plants, it is time for you to harvest. Cut your microgreens at the level of the soil or above it.

Use or refrigerate immediately, after washing.

How to Grow Mung Bean Microgreens with A Grow Mat.

The Mung Beans is a microgreen, and it can be grown on a grow mat if you don’t want to use an actual farmland with soil. A grow mat is a fibrous byproduct of the tree and they are ideal for microgreens and other small plants with short rotations like sprouts and wheatgrass.

For a grow mat to be made, the fibers of the industrial help are separated, cleaned and needle punched. That allows for a totally biodegradable soilless growing medium for your microgreen. Because it is made from a plant, there are nutrients in it to grow your crop.

Some microgreen mats can be reused but it isn’t worth the stress of having to remove all organic matter and cleaning. It is just best to compost or mix them into your garden after one use. It saves you from a whole lot of stress.

While there are tons of videos on YouTube on how to make your own mat, you could just buy one or as many as you need to save stress. Now that you have your grow mat, let’s discuss other things you need handy while you grow your mung bean microgreen in it, and the steps needed.

Step 1 – Get A Mat

The first is to grab a mat to plant your seeds in!

Step 2 – Get Your Seeds And Plant

You can either purchase the seeds from the store and use those for sprouting or get from companies that offer special microgreen seed mixes that are great options for first timers.

Check your seed packages to ensure they are the ideal for the temperature and light exposure for the space you have prepared.

Place the grow mat on a flat dry surface in an area and ensure again that the right light requirements are met, be it natural or artificial.

Place the seeds carefully on the mat, ensure they are evenly distributed.

Step 3 – Check Up On Your Plants

Check them and irrigate your plants daily and watch them closely.

Step 4 – Harvest

Watch them closely when they germinate and harvest them as soon as they are ready.

See? Very simple, but it requires your commitment.

How to Grow Mung Bean Microgreens in Wood Shavings?

Wood shavings are also known as sawdust. They are gotten from activities related to woodwork. Wood shaving is an alternative to soil, and your mug beans microgreen will do just fine with it.

Also note that you cannot use the wood shaving more than once. Here are the steps to follow to grow your mung bean microgreens in wood shavings.

Step 1 – Prepare Your Tray

Remember that you can not only use a nursery tray, but you can also use pots, or containers. Clean it and make sure there are no holes that water may escape from, in the tray.

Step 2 – Add The Shavings

After cleaning the tray and making sure that there are no holes in it, add the wood shavings to the tray.

Step 3 – Add The Seeds

After filling up the tray with the woods-shavings, spread the seeds across the tray, make sure to spread it evenly. Add some water to it. It will be preferable if you do this with a watering can or a sprinkling can, as you want to avoid overwatering it.

Step 4 – Monitor Your Microgreens

Keep it watered and watch for anything.

Step 5 – Harvest Your Microgreens

And of course, the last step is to simply harvest your mung bean microgreens after 3-4 days.

How to Grow Mung Bean Microgreens on Growing Paper?

Growing paper is another method of growing your mung bean microgreens. Sometimes, it can be flat, and sometimes, you can also find one with ridges around the edges. A growing paper can fit well into your plant/nursery tray.

Follow these steps to grow your mug bean microgreens on growing paper:

Step 1 – Prepare The Paper

To do this, put the paper inside your nursery tray. You can also use a paper towel; just make sure whatever kind of paper you want to use does not get soggy. Also bear in mind that the paper must be feasible to use for agricultural activities, like growing your microgreens. Soak the paper for couple of hours. After this, drain the dray of all excess water.

Step 2 – Plant The Seeds

Plant the seed on the paper by just spreading it. You can add water to the nursery tray, if there is any need to.

Step 3 – Harvest

Once again, harvest your microgreens after 3-4 days.

How Can You Speed Up Growth?

Making your mung beans microgreens grow faster is easy. You can soak it before planting. Put it in some warm water for couple of hours, or better still, soak it overnight. Drain and rinse it before planting.

What Are the Benefits of Eating Mung Bean Microgreens?

Like other microgreens, the mung bean microgreens have a lot of nutritional values.

Let us have a look at some of them:

Vitamins

The mung bean microgreen contains some vitamins, which are of utmost importance to the body. Out of the reference daily intake of Vitamin B1, a cup of mung bean microgreen contains about 22%, it also contains other vitamins, like vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B5, and vitamin B6.

Nutrients

It does not only provide the body with vitamins, it supplies other healthy nutrients, such as calories, which give the body sufficient energy, a healthy supply of fat of less than one gram; fibres, and even carbs.

Minerals

Mung bean microgreens supply the body with adequate supply of minerals, both the macro minerals and the microminerals. A cup of mung bean microgreens contains 15% of the reference daily intake for potassium, 30% of the reference daily intake for magnesium, and many others.

Antioxidants

Mung bean microgreens contain antioxidants. Antioxidants offer some protection for the cells in our bodies. This protection reduces our risk of developing diseases and cancers.

Reduction in High Blood Pressure

According to statistics, many Americans are at the risk of getting high blood pressure. High blood pressure eve puts you at another risk of getting a heart disease. However, mung beans microgreens contain nutrients like magnesium, and others, which help to reduce the blood pressure.

However, you may want to be careful about your daily intake level, as it reduces blood pressure in people, irrespective of whether they have a high blood pressure or not.

Digestion

Mug beans microgreens contain fibre and starch, which aid the activities that occur in the body’s digestive system. It helps you to digest faster, and it reduces flatulence, which is gas in your alimentary canal.

Weight Loss

There is a high concentration of fibre and protein in mung beans protein, and these reduce the hunger hormones you get. As it reduces this hunger hormone, which is also known as ghrelin, you consume lesser calories, and this is one of the contributors to losing weight.

Healthy Pregnancy

Pregnant women need a lot of meals with high nutritional benefits. Folate is one of the required nutrients that they need, to prevent birth defects. A cooked cup of mung beans microgreens contains about 80% of the referenced daily intake for folate.

A cup of mung beans microgreens also contains other essential nutrients, like iron and fire, which are essential to the health of both the mother and the foetus.

Before moving on, it should be noted that raw mung bean microgreen may contain bacteria that may be harmful to the health of pregnant women; instead, they should cook it before consumption.

In essence, even though some people prefer to eat their veggies raw, pregnant women should avoid eating their mung bean microgreen raw, because of the dirt and bacteria that may be present in it.

Luckily, mung bean microgreens are easy to cook and include to one’s meal plan. Hence, one gets all the nutritional benefits that are inherent in it.

What Pests/Diseases Can Damage Microgreens and How to Stop Them?

Like other plants, these tiny plats also suffer from the activities of pests and diseases. These pests destroy them totally or halfway. However, there are ways to prevent this from happening to your plants. Bear in mind that these are very simple and easy pest-controlling methods.

Mites and beetles are usually the most common pests of beans. They can be easily curtailed by constant fumigation of the farmland. Bacterial diseases plague the Mung Bean too. However, let us dive right in into the discussion of some of these pests, and how to manage or prevent them from harming your tiny plants.

Halo Blight

Halo blight occurs as a result of bacteria that manifest like a tan spot and can infect mung bean plants, when they are just growing, or even when they are well grown and ready to harvest.  

The seeds get infected and move on to the plants. The plants act as the host for the diseases. You often times cannot see the symptoms of the halo bright until the seeds germinate as plants, which bring forth leaves.

When they get infected, rather than dying, the seeds go on to infect others – they harbor the infection and then infect others.

There are many ways through which the halo bright can be transmitted from the plants to another. Sometimes, when it rains, water moves from some parts of the plants to another, and this aids the spread of the disease.

Another way by which the disease can spread is if there is any point of entry on any of the leaves or plants. The bacteria can stay here for as long as possible. Your plants are prone to getting this disease when there is more moisture in the air and soil.

Tan Spot

Tan spot is also called bacterial scorch. It forms as a result of the actions and activities of a bacterium, and it can affect all plants, regardless of how grown they are.

When your plants become infected with these diseases, they mostly die. However, there are some who do not die, even though, they become significantly affected, in one part or the other. Also, they spread the disease by coming in contact with other plants.

One of the ways by which you can find out if your microgreen has it is by observing the leaves very well. Sometimes, they become discolored, and dry. The symptoms can be heavily noticed when the environment is dry and windy.

When a plant becomes affected, the remaining plants around it are prone to developing the same disease. The disease kills plants or leaves them with various growth problems. There are many ways through which the disease can affect the plants. This can occur when there is perhaps an open spot on the plant, which further serves as a host for the disease.

The bacteria that cause tan spots can survive on plants without producing symptoms. This disease is better controlled when the environment is not hot.

Damping Off

When this happens to your plants, it destroys them right from their roots. It should be noted that the fungus that causes this grows in moisture. This can be caused by a number of reasons. Your tiny greens may dampen off because of lack of proper ventilation or air circulation in the nursery tray.

It may also be as a result of applying too much pressure when watering them. Microgreens are not strong; they cannot withstand the pressure that comes with watering them from a very high position. The pressure from the water flow may kill them. I summary, too much moisture can cause your tiny greens to get dampened off.

To fight these diseases, practice:

Plant-Examination

Since many of the diseases that affect your tiny plants are found on the plants and seeds themselves, try to plant new sets of seeds, after harvest; especially if there are any suspected cases of your earlier plants having the disease.

Excellent Cleaning Habits

Since the disease can be transmitted by moving the affected soil, seed or plant, from one place to another, having hygienic habits will reduce the risks of them being transmitted during any of these movements.

Also, you should reduce transferring your soil, seeds or plants, from one place to other, especially if you suspect that they have the disease. Transferring them puts them in more contact with unaffected plants.

Sanitize all the things you use during the pre-planting, planting, and harvesting processes.

Also, try to protect your plants from being exposed to excess flow of water, the bacteria ca be found in water that comes in contact with the affected soil or plat.

FAQs

Mung Bean Microgreens Vs Mung Bean Sprouts (Which Is Better?)

Mung bean microgreens are better than mung bean sprouts. Microgreens have more nutritional quality compared to sprouts. Also, it is easier to grow mung bean microgreens than to grow mung bean sprouts. In almost all ramifications, the mung bean microgreens are better.

How Much Light Do Mung Bean Microgreens Need?

Not to worry, mung bean microgreens do not need as much light, compared to other plants. They only need minimal light, very minimal light. The seeds of a mung bean grow better with darkness.

What Temperature Do Mung Bean Microgreens Need?

Mung bean microgreens require above 55 – 60 degrees Fahrenheit. They grow better during cool and warm climates. 

How Long Do Mung Bean Microgreens Take to Grow?

There are various types of microgreens, including the mung bean microgreens, the broccoli microgreens, and others. However, on a general level, microgreens take at most three weeks to grow. They can also grow as fast as two weeks.

Do Mung Bean Microgreens Regrow After Harvest?

Yes, except you uproot them. This is why you should use scissors to just cut them a bit above the soil, or on the same surface with the soil, when it is time to harvest them.

How Should You Harvest Mung Bean Microgreens?

When it is time to harvest your mung bean microgreens, use scissors to cut the stems of your plants, o the soil surface, or a bit above the soil.

How Should You Store Mung Bean Microgreens?

If you need to store your mung bean microgreen, you can put it in a plastic bag that is sealed, then out in the fridge. This should last for up to three days.

Why Are My Microgreens Falling Over?

Your microgreens may be falling over for a number of reasons. It may be because you are growing it under an unfavorable temperature, light or technique. To find out specifically why it is falling over, review your growing conditions. It may also be because you are applying too such water pressure, while watering them. 

Mung Bean Microgreen Flavor + How to Use Them?

People include mung bean microgreen to improve the flavor of their meals. You can add them to your salads and soups.

How Do You Prevent Damping Off / Why Is Air Movement Important?

There are certain things you can do to prevent the rotting of your soil. You can prevent this by making sure there is proper air circulation. You can do this by placing a small fan close to the tray. When planting your seeds, avoid overcrowding the tray. Lastly, avoid overwatering the plants.

Recap

Mung beans microgreens can be added to almost all of your meals, including your salads, soups, and other meals. They are of great nutritional value and they promote a healthy living.

One great thing about how to grow mung bean microgreen is that the process is really simple, whether you choose to grow it on the soil, a growing tray, or through other methods. The pests are easily controlled also, making it a great plant to grow at home.

Sources

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