December 2025: Beet Microgreens

This month’s seed kit features Beet Microgreens! 

Beet Microgreens

Beet microgreens have beautiful, variegated stems and leaves with an earthy, almost sweet flavor. Beet microgreens are easy to grow from seed in soil in 12-23 days. If left to grow longer, they will develop into full beet roots, though these are intended to be eaten as tender sprouts. 

Planting Instructions

Culture: Soak seeds for 8-12 hours (optional). Place a seed tray with drainage holes over another tray without drainage to allow for bottom watering. Fill the top seed tray with moistened seed starting mix. Scatter seeds densely, about ½ inch apart, across the top of the soil. Sprinkle a thin layer of soil on top. Cover with cardboard to block out light while seeds germinate, about 3-5 days. After 5-6 days, remove cover and use grow light or place in bright window, rotating regularly.

Water: Before seeds sprout, lightly spray top of soil to keep soil moist. After sprouting, pour a few inches water into bottom tray and allow soil to absorb the water. Pour out excess water. Do not overwater.

Harvest: Microgreens will be ready to harvest 12-23 days from planting, when they are a few inches tall. After the cotyledon leaves or after the first set of true leaves emerge, harvest by snipping at the base with scissors. Harvest as needed and store them dry in the refrigerator crisper.

More About Beet Microgreens

In the 18th and 19th centuries, sugar was one of the most valuable commodities in the world—and one of the most brutal. Cane sugar production depended heavily on enslaved labor in the Caribbean and the Americas. The sweet desserts and drinks people enjoyed were made possible by immense human suffering. But an unexpected crop—the humble beet—would eventually help challenge that system.

When scientists in Europe discovered that sugar could be extracted from beets, the idea of a “slave-free” sugar source began to take hold. In 1747, German chemist Andreas Marggraf first identified sugar in beets. By the early 1800s, large-scale beet sugar production was underway in France and Germany. This breakthrough offered an alternative to cane sugar, which was closely tied to the transatlantic slave trade.

Abolitionists quickly recognized the potential. They urged consumers to boycott cane sugar and instead purchase beet sugar or other “free labor” alternatives. Beet sugar became a symbol of ethical consumption—proof that indulging your sweet tooth did not have to come at the cost of human freedom.

Although beet sugar did not directly end slavery, it played a powerful role in shifting economic and moral perspectives. By reducing dependence on slave-produced sugar, it helped weaken one of the pillars of the slave-based economy. Today, the story of beets reminds us that even small innovations in agriculture can have far-reaching effects on justice, labor, and the human story behind what we eat.

Cooking with Microgreens

Beet microgreens are nutrient-dense young seedlings of the beet plant, prized for both their vivid color and impressive health benefits. Beet microgreens are incredibly versatile and can be used in many recipes to add color, flavor, and nutrition. Their mild, earthy sweetness makes them an easy addition to both savory and sweet dishes.

Salads and bowls: Commonly used as a salad base or garnish, often paired with citrus, goat cheese, roasted vegetables, grains, or nuts.

Sandwiches, wraps, and toasts: Add freshness, color, and crunch to sandwiches, burgers, or avocado toast—an elegant alternative to lettuce.

Breakfast dishes: Used as a topping for omelets, scrambles, or smoothie bowls to boost nutrition and visual appeal.

Main courses: Sprinkled on pizzas, flatbreads, grain bowls, or pasta dishes after cooking for a burst of flavor and color.

Smoothies and juices: Blended for extra vitamins, antioxidants, and natural sweetness.

Pestos and sauces: Blended into dressings, pestos, or dips for a nutritious, colorful twist.

Garnishes: Often used to finish soups, roasted dishes, or meats, adding freshness and aesthetic appeal.

Craft: Milk Jug Greenhouse

• Clear plastic milk jug(s)
• Scissors or utility knife (Children will need adult supervision)
• An icepick or screwdriver
• Duct tape
• Potting soil
• Seeds

Instructions:

1. Thoroughly rinse the milk jug and remove any labels.
2. Using your icepick or screwdriver, carefully poke drainage holes in the bottom of your jug (6 – 12 holes are ideal).
3. Starting just below the handle, use your scissors and/or utility knife to cut around the jug. Leave a small uncut section near the base of the handle, which will serve as a hinge for the top.
4. Fill the bottom half of the jug with your potting soil, add your seeds, and water until the soil is evenly moist.
5. Place your milk jug greenhouse in a sunny location. Keep the top open on warmer days and close it when it is cold. Seal the top with your duct tape when needed.
6. Check the soil regularly to keep it moist and watch your plants begin to sprout and grow!