Microgreens at Home
Grow microgreens at home in 10 days - the simple tray-and-cover setup, the best seed varieties, the exact day-by-day timeline, and how to avoid mould.
Microgreens are the most rewarding edible plant project you can do indoors. From soaked seed to plate-ready harvest is 7 to 14 days, the equipment is two trays and a bag of seed, and the result is restaurant-quality garnish that costs supermarkets £3 for 30 grams. At home, the same harvest costs about £0.20.
Microgreens are the seedling stage of vegetables - pea shoots, radish shoots, sunflower greens, broccoli sprouts - eaten when they’re 5 to 10 cm tall, after the first true leaves appear but before the plant matures. They concentrate more vitamins and minerals per gram than the adult vegetable. They taste vivid: peppery radish, sweet pea, nutty sunflower.
This guide gives you a complete day-by-day system that produces a tray every 10 days indefinitely - no grow lights, no special soil, no expensive kit.
What You Actually Need
The minimum kit:
- Two shallow trays (one with drainage holes, one without) - standard 1020 nursery trays or 25 × 38 cm. A cake tin works in a pinch.
- Soil - a fine seed-starting mix or a 50/50 mix of peat-free compost and coco coir. Two cm depth is enough.
- Seeds - bought specifically as “microgreen seeds” (untreated, food-grade). About 30 grams per tray for most varieties.
- A spray bottle for watering.
- A bright spot - south-facing window or a small grow light.
That’s it. No heat mats, no humidity domes, no fertiliser. Once you catch the growing bug, the wider edible gardening section walks you through full-size vegetables.
The Best Beginner Seeds
Start with one of these - fast, forgiving, and great-tasting:
- Radish (any variety) - 7 days to harvest, peppery, vigorous germination. If you enjoy the shoots, the full radish growing guide covers taking them to maturity.
- Pea shoots - 10 days, sweet, easy.
- Sunflower - 8-10 days, nutty and substantial.
- Broccoli - 8 days, mild, high in sulforaphane. See the broccoli crop guide if you want to grow full heads too.
- Mustard - 7 days, spicy, beautiful in salads.
Avoid for first attempts:
- Basil and other tiny seeds - slow and finicky.
- Chia, flax, cress - they form a sticky gel when soaked and need a different setup.
- Cilantro - slow germinator that often disappoints.
The 10-Day Timeline
Day 0 - Soak (some seeds)
Sunflower, pea, and beet seeds soak in water for 6-12 hours before planting. Radish, broccoli, mustard go straight in dry.
Day 1 - Plant
- Fill the no-drainage tray with 2 cm of moist soil. Tap to level.
- Scatter seeds densely across the surface - they should cover the soil with no gaps but not pile up.
- Press seeds firmly into the soil with a flat-bottomed glass (no covering with more soil).
- Mist with water.
- Cover with the second tray inverted on top to create darkness and pressure (this mimics being buried).
- Set aside on a counter - no light needed yet.
Day 2-3 - Wait
Lift the cover briefly each day, mist if dry. Seeds will start sprouting white roots and pushing the top tray upward.
Day 4 - Uncover
When sprouts are 3-4 cm tall (yellow and pale - they haven’t seen light yet), remove the top tray.
Day 5-6 - Greening
Move to bright indirect light or under a grow light. Sprouts turn from pale yellow to vivid green within 24-48 hours. Water from below - pour a thin layer into the cover tray and set the planted tray on top so soil wicks up moisture.
Day 7-10 - Harvest
Microgreens are ready when:
- They’re 5-10 cm tall.
- The first true leaves (the second set, different from the seed leaves) are starting to show or just about to.
Cut with sharp scissors just above the soil line. Rinse if needed, dry on a clean towel, store in a sealed container in the fridge - they keep 5-7 days.
Why Microgreens Often Fail
Three things cause almost every failed tray:
- Mould. Looks like fuzzy white growth on the soil surface during the dark days. Caused by overwatering and no airflow. Fix: mist less, use less dense sowing, ensure the tray isn’t sitting in standing water.
- Distinguishing mould from root hairs: root hairs are fine white fuzz only on the developing roots and disappear when misted. Mould is on the soil surface and stays.
- Leggy pale shoots. They didn’t get enough light after uncovering. Move closer to the window or use a brighter grow light.
- Sparse uneven growth. Sowing too thinly, or seeds too old. Sow densely - coverage should be near-continuous.
A Continuous Harvest System
The trick is to stagger trays so you always have fresh microgreens.
- Plant a new tray every 3-4 days.
- After 10 days, you’ll harvest the first tray.
- Compost the spent soil and roots (or use as garden mulch).
- Restart the cycle.
With three trays in rotation you eat fresh microgreens daily.
Costs
| Item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Two trays | £8 | Garden centre or Amazon |
| 500 g radish seed | £6 | Microgreen seed supplier |
| 500 g pea seed | £5 | Same |
| Bag of seed-starting mix | £6 | Garden centre |
| Total to start | ~£25 | |
| Cost per harvest (50-80 g) | ~£0.20 | After setup |
Supermarket microgreens: £3-5 per 30 g. Home growing pays back the kit cost in roughly 5-10 trays.
Using Microgreens in Cooking
- Salads - toss a handful on top.
- Sandwiches and wraps - replace lettuce entirely.
- Eggs - sprinkle on scrambled, omelettes, or fried eggs.
- Soups - float on top as garnish.
- Smoothies - broccoli or kale microgreens are mild enough.
- Pesto - pea shoots make a sweet variant; sunflower works nutty.
Don’t cook microgreens - heat wilts them to nothing and destroys most of the nutrition. Always raw.
Soil-Free Methods
Some growers skip soil and use:
- Hemp grow mats - clean, mould-resistant, compostable. Best for sprouting trays in a kitchen.
- Coconut coir pads - similar to hemp.
- Plain water (hydroponic) - works for pea shoots and sunflower; trickier for tiny seeds.
Soil grows the best-tasting microgreens; mats are tidier. Try both.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do microgreens take to grow?
7 to 14 days depending on variety. Radish, broccoli, and mustard are the fastest (7-8 days). Pea shoots, sunflower, and beets take 10-14 days. Basil and cilantro take 20+ days.
Do I need a grow light for microgreens?
No, if you have a south-facing window. Yes, if your window light is weak - a basic LED grow light (10W) for 12 hours a day produces consistent, vigorous greens.
What’s the difference between sprouts and microgreens?
Sprouts are eaten very young (3-5 days) with the seed and root still attached, grown in just water. Microgreens are grown in soil to 7-14 days, then cut above the soil - only the stem and leaves are eaten. Microgreens taste better and are less prone to bacterial contamination.
Can microgreens regrow after cutting?
Pea shoots will sometimes regrow once if you leave a few leaves. Most others won’t. It’s cheaper and faster to start a fresh tray.
Are microgreens really that nutritious?
Yes - studies have measured 4-40× the nutrient density of mature versions of the same vegetable for some compounds (vitamin C, vitamin E, sulforaphane). Per gram, they’re among the most concentrated vegetables you can eat.
🛒 Recommended Gear on Amazon
- Microgreen trays & seed kits - top picks - current bestsellers & verified reviews on Amazon.
- Microgreen seeds variety pack, grow light - popular bundles to round out your setup.
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