Snow in April? Heat waves in October? Welcome to Michigan.
Detroit’s weather keeps you on your toes. In a week, it's not unusual to go from a hoodie to shorts and back. So, it’s a fair question to ask whether microgreens follow seasons like field crops do.
With urban farming and indoor farming, it’s completely different from what you might expect. At Planted Detroit, for instance, we grow fresh greens year-round, regardless of the outside environment. That said, we don’t completely ignore the seasons.
Let’s get down to the truth about indoor farming in Detroit and how it is changing the story around fresh local food.
Why Seasons Still Matter in the Age of Indoor Farming
Historically, farming has been tied to the rhythms of the sun, rain, and soil: spring brings planting, summer brings harvest, and winter usually brings rest. The seasonal cycle informs the time of the year when we can include certain crops grown outdoors, along with their taste and nutrient density.
Our cravings for certain foods follow a seasonal pattern as well. We seem to crave more crisp lettuce in the summer and heartier greens in the winter. However, with indoor farming, especially vertical farming like ours, we no longer have to rely on the weather forecast.
We produce food in controlled environments, with each providing optimal growing conditions for your favorite microgreens, which means you can have them year-round!
However, we still honor seasonality by designing menus around the flavors and feelings of the season.
What Is Urban Farming and Why Detroit?
Urban farming means growing food in the city, not miles away on rural farmland. It shortens the path from harvest to plate, reduces transportation emissions, and strengthens local food systems.
Detroit has a rich history of innovation. Once known as the auto capital of the world, Detroit is leading a different kind of innovation, rooted in food, equity, and regeneration.
Planted Detroit is proud to be part of that legacy. As the largest vertical farm in Michigan, we are growing more than greens. We are a growing community.
Urban Farming is a sustainable practice that helps us understand how city-grown food can reshape our world.
How Indoor Farming Keeps Microgreens Fresh Year-Round
At Planted Detroit, we grow microgreens with consistency. We can grow our greens 365 days of the year, unaffected by anything Mother Nature throws at us: no frost, no droughts, no surprise heat waves; just lush, green, good-for-you microgreens.
Our microgreens are grown in a hydroponic system that eliminates soil completely. Instead of feeding the plant nutrient-rich soil, we feed the plant via nutrient-rich water from the roots up to the leaves. We take advantage of full-spectrum LED lights, humidity control, and temperature control to simulate the perfect growing day, every day.
With this system, we’re able to grow our microgreens quickly (some in as little as 7 days). We don’t rely on pests or the weather to impact our crops. The consumer hence receives pest-free, clean greens that were harvested at peak freshness.
Year-round availability is more than convenience; it’s sustainability. Our growing method uses 90% less water than traditional farming and produces zero runoff. It also ensures budget-friendly shipping, which means less waste with no food miles wasted on guesswork.
We’re committed to growing high-quality, tasteful greens from the heart of the city, regardless of whether it’s January or July.
Interested in what’s currently growing on our farm? Check out our Microgreens page.
Do We Still Eat Seasonally at Planted Detroit?
While our microgreens can grow year-round, we're still driven to eat seasonally when it comes to planning our offerings at Planted Detroit!
In the summertime, we crave bright, peppery greens and a fun assortment of edible flowers. In the wintertime, we're looking for hearty textures, earthy combinations, and microgreens with a firm bite!
To abide by the seasonal nature of flavor, we create curated seasonal salad bundles. We listen to nature and create fresh mixtures that capture the flavors, colors, and moods of the moment!
Our farm team meets with our chefs to create rotating bundles that reflect trends in local food and people's flavor preferences. This method keeps our menu exciting and encourages our customers to eat with intention, regardless of what the environment might be!
Why This Matters for Detroit’s Food Future
Urban farming isn't just the production of microgreens. It is also about creating opportunity.
By keeping production local, we support Detroit restaurants, Detroit families, and Detroit food programs year-round. As a local business, we create jobs, reinvest in the local economy, and make sure that fresh food is always attainable, even under the blanket of snow.
We can deliver to your doorstep every Wednesday via Market Wagon Detroit. Our greens can also be found at farmers' markets and community kitchens across Detroit.
Taste the Future, One Bundle at a Time
You don’t need perfect weather to eat well. Our year-round greens are ready when you are- freshly picked, nutrient-dense, and delicious.
Check out a seasonal bundle, try a new microgreen mix, or stop by our gallery to see what’s fresh for this week. Indoor farming is changing the way we eat in Detroit, and we think you’ll taste the difference.