You’d perhaps heard of clover as a bringer of luck – the four-leaf clover which the Irish consider as a lucky charm. Unfortunately, you will not see this four-leaf variety in clover microgreens. Regardless, that is not reason enough not to give clover microgreens a try. Clover microgreens have green leaves and light green stems. This is an easy microgreen to grow.
Classification Information:
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Tribe: Trifolieae
Genus: Trifolium
Clover Microgreen Trivia
- How to distinguish between clover microgreens and alfalfa? Check the color. Of the two, the leaves of clover microgreens have a lighter shade of green.
- Clover is also known as “trefoil”.
- There was a belief in the Middle Ages that if you are holding a clover, you can see fairies.
- Many people believed that Abraham Lincoln always carried a four-leaf clover for good luck and that on the night he was shot, he wasn’t carrying a four-leaf clover.
Clover Microgreen Buying Guide
Clover microgreens are sold in groceries, supermarkets, farmers markets, and other specialty stores. Ask around for local growers so that you can source your clover microgreens locally.
When buying clover microgreens, buy just enough until the next grocery day. If this is the first time you are buying clover microgreens, try to buy in small quantities first so that you can taste it; should you not like it, you don’t have a lot of clover microgreens to dispose of and you are not being wasteful.
When buying, make sure to inspect it thoroughly. See if the leaves and stems are of good quality. It is ok if one or two are wilted, but if most of the bunch are wilted and do not appear fresh, do not buy it.
If you are buying seeds so that you can grow your own clover microgreens, this will give you an idea of how many seeds you expect to get from a pack.
- 1-ounce pack contains approximately 8,000 seeds
- 4-ounce pack contains approximately 32,000 seeds
- 1-pound pack or bag contains approximately 128,000 seeds
- 5-pound pack or bag contains approximately 640,000 seeds
- 25-pound pack or bag contains approximately 3,200,000 seeds
Clover Microgreen Production & Farming in Texas
Growing clover microgreens is easy. Put soil on your growing tray. Moisten the soil if it feels dry but do not overwater it because if this happens, you need an extra hour just to make sure the excess water has fully drained. The next step is sprinkling the seeds on the growing medium. If you are unsure how many seeds you need, 1.25 ounces of seeds are enough to cover a 10×20 tray without the problem of overcrowding. Lightly mist the seeds using a spray bottle. Cover the tray with a lid and keep it somewhere dark with a room temperature ranging from 60°F to 70°F. Remove the lid and mist them lightly every day. Expect signs of germination in 48 to 72 hours. The next step is exposing them to sunlight. You can use grow light, artificial light, or indirect sunlight. Direct sunlight is not recommended because the microgreens will easily dry.
Clover microgreens are fast-growing microgreens. Clover microgreen seeds require no soaking. Clover microgreens are ready for harvest in about 5 to 14 days. Blackout time is between 3 to 5 days. Soil is the usual medium to grow clover microgreens but there are varieties like the Red Clover microgreens which grows best in a hydroponic system.
Tips:
- Buy clover microgreen seeds from a reputable seed seller or distributor.
- Water from the side of the tray to make sure the weight of the water will not squash the microgreens, or maintain water in the water tray.
- Free to sample a few each day starting from day 8. You’ll notice the subtle difference in flavor as the microgreens continue to grow.
- Rotate crop once it is exposed to light to avoid “bending” microgreens.
- Molds can “hop” from plants to your microgreens, so avoid putting your grow trays beside other plants just to be safe.
There are farmers and growers in Texas who grow clover microgreens, ranging from small backyard urban gardening to big commercial operations. Many here in Texas grow microgreens for their own personal supply and consumption. There are also initiatives in Texas like the Big Tex Urban Farms that help promote the business as well as the attitude of the public towards microgreens. Texas restaurants with microgreens on the menu use and mix different microgreens including clover microgreens.
Pesticides:
Pests are one of the reasons why a clover plant dies easily. Fortunately, this is not a problem for clover microgreens.
Microgreens are a fast-growing crop. This means there is very little time for pests to be a problem. If there is a pest `problem, it will probably involve aphids and whiteflies. If the problem requires the use of pesticides, make note of the following:
- Aphids – Kill aphids using neem oil, insecticidal soap, or horticultural oil. You can also use the pesticide malathion, which is the most commonly used organophosphate insecticide in the United States, or rotenone, a selective, non-specific insecticide typically used in home gardens for insect control.
- Whiteflies – Malathion or Pyrethrins are effective against whiteflies.
Geography:
Clover originated in Europe, found in the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Species of clover are also found in South America and Africa. Clover is grown and sold worldwide. Clover microgreens is another way to eat clover.
Because of grow lights and temperature-controlled rooms, it is possible to grow any microgreens anywhere in the world, and that includes clover microgreens. North America is a major microgreens market. The US, Canada, and Mexico are among the top producing countries of microgreens.
Packaging:
Clover microgreens are sold in transparent plastic clamshell packaging or Styrofoam food tray covered with plastic wrap.
Enjoying Clover Microgreens
When you eat a clover microgreen, you will notice that it has a mild, fresh, nutty, sweet but at the same time cool and refreshing flavor as you chew these crunchy microgreens. Clover microgreens have a very mild flavor, but they are fun to eat because they are very tender, not to mention nutritious.
Here’s a fresh idea for clover microgreens – after harvesting them, wash them thoroughly, dry them in a paper towel, and put them in a bowl on the table for some healthy snacking in between meals! You do not even have to cook them or prepare them.
But be careful not to eat too many clover microgreens if you have a history of having an allergic reaction to clover.
Storage:
If you have to store clover microgreens, make sure to wrap these in damp paper towels before you put these inside a resealable plastic bag or food container. They will last for a week this way. Freezing is not ideal because microgreens simply do not have the structural strength mature, full-grown vegetables have to survive being frozen and thawed. Most of the time, freezing and thawing will turn microgreens into slime, and what is left is unappetizing.
If the clover microgreens you bought came in clamshell packaging, use it to store clover microgreens in the refrigerator. If, for some reason, you need to transfer the clover microgreens to a different container, choose a plastic container with a lid. The least ideal storage is glass because it has the most condensation when in the refrigerator and the condensation contributes to the degradation of the quality of the clover microgreens inside. Avoid putting them near the vent of the refrigerator because if the temperature fluctuates, it will affect the condition of the clover microgreens. Put it on the lower shelf where the temperature is more stable. Remember that different microgreens vary when it comes to how long they keep in the refrigerator.
Cooking:
Clover microgreens are the answer if you want to add a crispy element to your sandwich. This is way healthier compared to potato chips! A fresh green salad is best enjoyed if there are crispy elements there too, and that is what clover microgreens bring to the table if you have it with you when making salads. You can use clover microgreens to replace alfalfa sprouts since they are similar when it comes to flavor and texture. If you sprinkle a handful of clover microgreens on a bowl of soup, it will add flavor and texture to an otherwise simple dish. Lastly, if you are making wraps or similar types of food like tacos, you can use clover microgreens as a crunchy, tasty, healthy filling.
Nutritional Benefits:
Clover microgreens are packed with vitamins A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, phosphorous, carotene, chlorophyll, amino acids, trace elements, and protein.
