Shoots to thrill

BECOME A MICRO CONNOISSEUR OF GREENS AND HERBS. IT'S MUCH EASIER THAN YOU THINK

- DIARMUID GAVIN

I'LL never forget the excitement as a young boy when I first discovered how seeds grow into plants. A neighbour showed me how to germinate cress seeds.

She sprinkled them across some damp layers of kitchen towel which was in a shallow container. She sprayed them with water and I carefully took them home and put them on the kitchen windowsill.

With strict instructions to keep them damp, I checked them every few hours and within a day or so, to my amazement, they began to sprout. I watched day by day and within a week I had an edible crop.

Today, growing microgreens such as cress has become trendy but the principles remain the same. Seeds require water in the first instance to germinate.

A continuous supply of water is necessary for germination to proceed but the growing medium, whether that is some kitchen towel, cotton wool or compost, must not become waterlogged as that will starve the embryo of oxygen.