Veg Growing Is Often Considered A Slow Process. It Needn’t Be. Here’s How to Grow Edible Crops Fast With Minimum Cost & Space.
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Imagine sowing seeds and harvesting a crop less than ten days later. It seems incredible. But it isn’t. It is easy, low cost and needs little space. And in this article I am going to demonstrate How to Grow Edible Crops Fast.
I say demonstrate as this isn’t some theoretical idea. Some crazy social media clickbait BS. It is reality and the photos here were taken in the few days before I wrote the article.
Not only am I going to show you how I grow edible crops from seed in ten or fewer days. I’m going to show you how to do it with recycled materials and minimum cost. Imagine a large tray of food grown in less than ten days that costs less than 50p. Imagine no more. Just read on and copy my method.
How to Grow Edible Crops Fast: With Recycled Containers & Compost
The easiest crop I know to grow very rapidly is pea shoots. Forget buying expensive seed, because we only want shoots we don’t need to worry about how high they grow and if the pods are best for mange tout or pods. I’m using dried peas from my local Asian store. But you can buy dried peas in many shops, so what is available near you and try them. In my case I paid £1.49 for 500g. They are also available in much larger weights .. by the sack if you like .. and are much cheaper per kilo.
The compost I am growing them in is recycled. Just take any compost you have previously used, sieve any coarse material out and zap in a microwave if you think it needs sterilising. You could actually germinate the peas on wet paper if you prefer but I find keeping them moist much easier if grown in compost or soil. The compost doesn’t need to be full of nutrients as the growing period is short and the growth is feed by the pea seed. this helps when recycling multiple times.
Now the container. In the first example here I have used a recycled fruit punnet. Try the sort that have held grapes or soft fruit. they often have drainage holes in them which saves you having to cut some and they are deep enough to hold a decent amount of compost and peas.
Fast Edible Crops: The Sowing & Growing Method
This is incredibly simple.
Part fill the container with moist compost.
Gently firm.
Add dried peas – space them out a bit. The sowing density is up to you, it depends on the size you want to harvest. You will learn from experience but start with something close to what I’ve done in the photo.
Add a layer of compost to cover peas.
Place in a warm light place.
Stand back and wait .. whilst watering occasionally as needed.
Scaling Up Growing Rapid Quick & Easy Crops
This is the scale I’m now growing at. I’m using recycled 5lb mushroom punnets. Greengrocers often throw them away so ask for them! It will save them a recycling cost.
How Fast Do the Crops Grow?
Look at these photos. The first is 24 hours after sowing the seed. The second is eight days later.
Growth is that rapid in January and February. In mid summer it will be quicker.
We now have a crop of edible pea shoots that can be eaten raw in salads or dropped into a dish such as a stir fry. Alternatively use them to decorate a plate with edible delights!
Alternative Rapid Edible Crops
Peas are extremely rapid in their growth. Most other seeds are slower. But many are well worth waiting just a few extra days. For example I grow coriander in a similar way to pea shoots. Some I harvest as micro greens, Some I leave to grow into mature plants. Some I leave to produce seed.
For leaf production only I again buy the seed in bulk from my local Asian store. It is good quality, available in kilo bags and is low cost.
The last image is of coriander eight days after sowing. Smaller than the peas but worth the wait.
