Wholly Water Farms Newsletter - August 2026
By Sara Johnson, President of Wholly Water Farms
Wholly Water Farms Newsletter
Issue 20 • August 2026
A Note from Sara
August on a Florida farm is when you find out what you're really made of. Everything is loud — the cicadas, the afternoon thunderstorms, the industrial hum of our cooling systems. The days blur together in a haze of heat and humidity. But inside the greenhouse, quietly and without complaint, thousands of tiny seeds are splitting open and reaching toward the light. That never gets old for me.
I've been thinking a lot about seeds lately. Not in some abstract, poetic way — literally thinking about the seeds we buy and where they come from. We switched one of our suppliers earlier this year, and the difference in germination rates was dramatic enough that I felt like we needed to write about it. If you grow at home, your seed source matters more than almost any other variable, and most people never give it a second thought.
We also dug into some fascinating research this month about microgreens and gut health. I'm not one to make health claims I can't back up, but the science that's emerging is genuinely exciting. And for anyone who thinks they don't have room to grow — we've got a post about apartment gardening that might change your mind.
What We've Been Writing
Why Seed Quality Is Everything
We ran side-by-side tests with seeds from three different suppliers — same variety, same conditions, same watering schedule — and the results were eye-opening. Germination rates varied by as much as 30 percent. Color, flavor, stem thickness — all noticeably different. This post walks through what to look for in a seed supplier, what "organic" and "untreated" actually mean in practice, and how to tell if your seeds are the reason your trays aren't performing the way you want them to.
Microgreens and Your Gut: What the Research Says
There's been a steady drumbeat of new studies looking at how microgreens interact with the gut microbiome. We spent a few weeks reading through the published literature — the actual papers, not the clickbait headlines — and put together an honest summary of what we know, what we don't, and what looks promising. The short version: the fiber and enzyme profiles in young plants may do things that mature vegetables don't, but we're still in early innings.
Growing Microgreens in an Apartment
"I'd love to grow my own, but I live in a tiny apartment." We hear this constantly, and we wrote this guide to put that excuse to rest — lovingly. You need a windowsill or a cheap grow light, a standard 10x20 tray, and about ten minutes a day. The post covers setup, variety selection for small spaces, and a realistic schedule for someone who has a full-time job and isn't trying to become a farmer. Just someone who wants fresh greens on Tuesday's sandwich.
Read the apartment growing guide →
Seasonal Tip: The Soak Test
Before you plant a batch of larger seeds like sunflower, pea shoots, or buckwheat, try this: drop a handful into a glass of water and wait eight hours. The seeds that sink are viable and ready to go. The ones still floating on top? They're either hollow or dried out beyond the point of recovery. Toss them. Starting a tray with a mix of good and bad seed is how you end up with patchy, uneven growth and bare spots that invite mold. Two minutes of sorting saves you a week of frustration.
Florida Spotlight: UF/IFAS Extension Programs
Not enough people know about the University of Florida's IFAS Extension programs, and that's a shame. They offer free and low-cost workshops on everything from soil health to food safety for small farms. Their county agents are genuinely helpful — real people who will answer your specific questions about growing in your specific microclimate. We've leaned on their resources more than once, especially when we were first figuring out pest management without chemicals. If you're growing anything in Florida, commercial or backyard, look up your local IFAS office.
Quick FAQ
Q: Do I need special seeds for microgreens, or can I use regular garden seeds?
A: Technically, microgreen seeds and garden seeds of the same variety are the same plant. But there's a practical difference. Seeds sold specifically for microgreen production are typically untreated (no fungicide coatings), tested for germination rates, and sometimes selected for traits that matter at the micro stage — like stem color or speed of growth. Regular garden seeds from the hardware store will often work fine, but you may get inconsistent results, and you absolutely want to confirm they haven't been treated with anything you don't want to eat. When in doubt, buy from a dedicated microgreen seed supplier.
Twenty issues of this newsletter. I just realized that. What started as a little experiment in staying connected with our customers has turned into one of my favorite things we do. Thanks for reading along, truly.
From the greenhouse,
Sara Johnson
President, Wholly Water Farms