In this episode, Chris and I discuss using the blackout stage in growing microgreens, particularly broccoli, and whether it’s beneficial. The blackout stage involves keeping plants in the dark after the germination stage to make them taller and potentially increase yield. The trial tested different blackout durations (0 to 3 days) to observe effects on crop height, yield, appearance, flavor, and storage.

Key findings include:

• Height: One blackout day produced the tallest plants (7.5 cm), while three days resulted in weak, bent plants.
• Yield: Longer blackout periods slightly reduced yield, with three days of blackout giving the lowest yield.
• Appearance: The longer blackout made the plants paler, with smaller leaves and weaker stems, making them look worse overall.
• Texture and Flavor: Longer blackout made the plants chewier, though flavor wasn’t significantly affected.
• Storage: All plants stored well for 10-14 days, with minor differences.

The conclusion is that the blackout stage is not particularly beneficial for broccoli. A one-day blackout might help slightly with height but doesn’t justify the extra effort. The results might vary for other crops, like amaranth, which will be tested in future trials.

 

Get time and labor-saving farm tools and microgreen seeds at shop.modern grower.co

Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network:

• Farm Small, Farm Smart
• Farm Small, Farm Smart Daily
• The Growing Microgreens Podcast

Check out Diego's book Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Sell-Everything-You-Grow-Homestead-ebook/dp/B0CJC9NTZF

Chris's online course Growing Your Profitable Microgreens Business https://microgreens.teachable.com/courses