Keeping Your Microgreen Trays Clean and Safe

When growing microgreens, keeping your trays clean and well sanitised is very important. Old soil, roots, and plant leftovers can carry bacteria, fungus, and diseases like damping off, which can harm your next crop.

If you want strong and healthy microgreens, it starts with how you care for your trays and equipment.

Leaving leftover roots, soil, or growing medium in your trays can cause buildup over time. This trapped material becomes a perfect place for bacteria and fungus to grow, which can affect future harvests.

 

Step-by-Step Cleaning Process

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Step 1: Remove all plant material
After harvesting, remove all leftover plants and roots from the tray. Make sure nothing is left behind, especially small roots that can stick to the tray.

 

Step 2: Wash thoroughly
Clean the trays using hot water and soap. You can also add a little vinegar for extra cleaning power. Scrub well and make sure all soil and plant residue is completely removed.

 

Step 3: Rinse and sanitise
Rinse the trays very well with clean water. Then spray them with a mixture of 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide in 1 litre of water. Let the trays air dry. If possible, place them in the sun, as sunlight helps with natural sterilisation.

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Why Use Hydrogen Peroxide?

Hydrogen peroxide is an excellent natural sanitiser for microgreen trays:

• It kills harmful bacteria

• It helps prevent fungal growth

• It removes mould and mildew

• It reduces the risk of damping off