Despite popular belief, some plants don’t do well with harsh, direct sunlight and delicate microgreens are no exception! Not only can direct sunlight damage your little greens, it can also cause the water in your tray to dissipate faster and in turn throw off your growing cycle a bit.
Microgreens do not require any light during the initial stages of growth - In fact, they actually prefer the darkness as it can mimic the coverage that they receive from soil! The top layer of our Seed Quilts temporarily replaces this coverage by providing minimum exposure to light and although helpful, we encourage keeping the tray in indirect sunlight prior to the peeling stage to assist with this even further.
Once the seeds have sprouted and the top layer has been peeled, then you are able to supplement the greens with a bit of natural light to help the leaves open and to allow the microgreens to become a richer green color. We don’t recommend keeping the tray directly in the sunlight all day long if it is especially strong and hot (and we definitely don’t recommend keeping your tray outdoors!) In this climate, it’s always beneficial to keep an extra close eye on the water level to ensure the roots don’t run out of it prior to harvesting!
Microgreens definitely thrive in warmer temperatures! The warmer the location of the tray, the more likely the microgreens will germinate quickly and produce a strong & lush harvest. Ideally the temperatures should be anywhere between 65F-85F for the fastest and most successful results.
If you are in a very hot environment then it's likely the seeds will be able to grow faster and therefore take up more water than normal. You should harvest right away when they reach maturity, but if you decide to keep them in the tray a but longer, be sure to always keep an eye on the water level and the moistness of the cocomat to ensurethe greens don’t wilt prematurely.