Black oil sunflower seeds are some of the most beneficial sunflower microgreens. Not only are they one of the cheapest sprouts available, but they also hold an impressive nutritional value. High in calcium, potassium, and essential vitamins, these organic sprouts are chock-full of microgreens health benefits. They are made up of 25% top-quality protein, which makes them one of the most popular additions to the shelves of health-conscious people.
Black sunflowers are a growing feature of the natural medicine world, with their considerable zinc and vitamin B content. As a result, they are perfect for promoting fertility. One of the real reasons they sit at the top of buyer’s guides is their fat content.
Omega 6 is the main type of fat featured. When combined with a great omega 3 balance, it offers a tremendous boost to wellbeing. The chief benefit of Omega 6 is that it acts as an anti-inflammatory, which can reduce the bloating caused by diet, age, or injury.
People often turn up their noses at microgreen sprouts. The added fat content of the black oil sunflower has granted its seeds a much richer flavor. You can enjoy the taste of your sunflower shoots, while also allowing your immune system to reap the rewards.
Where To Begin:
Whether you’re growing microgreens for profit, or as an ingredient in your homemade smoothies, black oil sunflower seeds are the perfect option for gardeners at any level. Not only are they brimming with health benefits, but they are also remarkably easy to plant and sprout.
First, you need to soak your sunflower seeds in water to begin the sprouting process. By doing this for 12 hours, you will stimulate the early stages of growth in your sunflower microgreens. If you don’t see any change after the first 12 hours, you will need to continue soaking the seeds. You can do this in 8 hour cycles.
Since microgreens are incredibly fast bloomers, with the majority of black cultivators sprouting shoots after just 7 days. The ideal ph level for soil needs to be between 6.0 and 7.5. It should be located in a dark, well-drained area. For this, you’ll need a microgreen growing kit. These typically features the ideal soil mix for sunflowers seeds and a microgreen growing tray.
It’s best to plant your seeds densely across your growing tray, before covering them with another tray to block out any light. Unlike when growing sunflowers to full maturity, you don’t need to cover the sunflower seeds with additional soil.
It’s important to water your garden often, which encourages root growth and results in bigger microgreen sprouts. That being said, be careful to avoid over-saturating your soil as unwanted fungal diseases can start to develop.
As your sunflower shoots begin to grow, they will lift up the covering tray. When this happens you should remove the tray and expose the blooming microgreens to light. Placing your seeds near a south-facing wall creates a warmer microclimate that will help the micro sprouts to ‘green-up’.
How Can I Incorporate Microgreens in My Diet?
Growing your own microgreens is a cheap way to have a year-round, on demand supply of valuable nutrients. Originally used to garnish gourmet dishes, microgreen sprouts have recently been adopted as a staple of vegan cookery.
Black oil sunflower seeds are brimming with top-quality vitamins and minerals. They can be used in everything from microgreen salads to micro-sprout smoothies. As a result its has become one of the most popular migrogreens for chefs. Black sunflower seeds are often mixed with arugula, pea shoots, and beets to create delicious salads that make a great addition to many recipes.
Another popular use of sunflower shoots is to blend them with flax seeds, bananas, and strawberries. This results in a delightful smoothie that’s rich in potassium and magnesium. The combinations don’t end there either. The addition of ginger or lemon will add a detoxifying element to the mix.
Microgreens also mix seamlessly with healthy juices. Not only do they work well with classic orange or apple, they also compliment more complex tastes such as spinach or carrot.
By harvesting your own microgreens and growing sunflower sprouts, you have access to a catalog of unique flavor notes and nutrient-rich dishes.
Black Oil Sunflower Benefits:
Microgreens are a valuable addition to anyone’s diet, and black oil sunflower seeds stand as one of the most beneficial of the bunch. Heavily featured in trail mix, bread, and nutrition bars, black sunflowers offer an extensive array of benefits.
Packed full of wholesome fats and unique plant compounds, this results in one of the best tasting microgreens. The black oil sunflower sprout is filled with a rich flavor that is often lacking in other micro-seeds.
High in both vitamin E and selenium, sunflower seeds protect the body against a host of chronic diseases. Additionally, these microgreen sprouts also boast a collection of plant-based nutrients. This includes phenolic acids and flavonoids, both of which protect cells from free radical damage.
It’s not just the increased vitamin E that makes sunflower shoots so desirable though. High levels of vitamin B and zinc promote fertility in both men and women, as well as a healthier incubation period for babies.
Black sunflowers house a great deal of microgreen benefits and are also one of the easiest micro-sprouts to grow. That combined with their vibrant taste makes black oil sunflower seeds the ideal way to boost your immune system.
We also have a video series on black oil sunflower seeds that you can watch. Check out the full series on our YouTube channel and subscribe for more gardening and sprouting videos.
Black oil sunflower seeds video series
