🌱 What Are Microgreens?
Microgreens are young vegetable greens harvested 7–21 days after germination. They’re typically grown densely in shallow trays and snipped above the medium when they reach 2–4 inches tall. Despite their size, they can contain higher concentrations of vitamins and phytonutrients than their mature counterparts.
Fast
Ready in 7–14 days
Ready in 7–14 days
Compact
Grow on a shelf or windowsill
Grow on a shelf or windowsill
Nutrient-dense
Great for salads, smoothies, & bowls
Great for salads, smoothies, & bowls
🥗 Popular Microgreens & Nutritional Highlights
Kale
- Rich in vitamins A, C, and K
- High in antioxidants (lutein, beta-carotene)
- Tip: "Russian Red" kale has a mild, slightly sweet flavour that many prefer.
Broccoli
- Noted for sulforaphane (studied for cell-protective effects)
- Good source of vitamin C and iron
- Often mild, great for smoothies
Sunflower
- Higher protein for a green; rich in vitamin E
- Nutty, crunchy — kid-friendly
- Good for skin and post-workout bowls
Radish
- Peppery kick, boosts flavour
- Vitamin C for immune support
- Germinates fast — great first crop
Cabbage (Red/Green)
- Vitamins C & K; anthocyanins (especially red varieties)
- Mild to slightly sweet flavour
- Colourful garnish for tacos & bowls
Pea Shoots
- Sweet, crunchy tendrils; kid-approved
- Vitamin C, folate; a touch of plant protein
- Harvest a bit later (12–16 days)
Coriander (Cilantro)
- Fresh, citrusy-herbal flavour — great for tacos, bowls, soups
- Germinates slowly; best with a light top-dress of soil/coir
- Harvest ~16–20 days; cooler temps (18–22°C) help
Tip: Start with easy, forgiving seeds like sunflower radish pea before moving to finer seeds (kale/broccoli). Coriander is slower but worth it for the flavour.
🛠️ Starter Kit — What You Need
- Trays: Standard 10×20 shallow trays — one with drainage (top) & one without (bottom). A lid or blackout dome is helpful.
- Growing Medium: Peat-free seed-starting mix or coconut coir. Sieve out large lumps for an even surface.
- Seeds: “Microgreen-grade” (untreated). Single varieties are easiest to learn density.
- Light: Bright window or full‑spectrum LED (4000–6500K). Aim for 12–16 hrs/day.
- Watering: Fine mist spray bottle + bottom-watering using the solid tray.
- Airflow: Mini USB fan to create a gentle breeze if humidity is high. This helps prevent mould.
- Tools (nice-to-have): Small scale (seed dosing), stainless scissors, hydrogen peroxide (1–2%) for tray hygiene.
Where to buy (UK examples):
Amazon UK (trays/lights), Premier Seeds Direct (microgreen seeds), Vital Seeds (organic UK seeds), Suttons / Thompson & Morgan / Dobies (kits & seeds), local garden centres.
📦 Light & Soil — Beginner Settings
| Item | Starter Spec |
|---|---|
| Tray setup | 10×20, 1.5–2" depth, one with holes over a solid tray |
| Soil/coir depth | 2–3 cm, pre‑moisten to “wrung‑out sponge” feel (no dripping) |
| LED distance | ~20–30 cm above canopy; if seedlings stretch, move closer |
| Run time | 12–16 h/day on a timer; darkness at night helps plants rest |
| Airflow | Gentle fan 15–30 min every few hours (or low continuous) in humid rooms |
| Sanitation | Rinse trays, then 1–2% food‑safe H2O2; allow to dry |
🇬🇧 Quick UK Starter Picks
- 10×20 heavy‑duty trays (set) + humidity dome
- Coco coir bricks (5 kg) or peat‑free seed compost
- Full‑spectrum LED grow light (clip‑on)
- Mini USB fan for gentle airflow
- Premier Seeds Direct microgreen seeds • Vital Seeds (organic)
- Kits: Sow Seeds Microgreens Kit • Thompson & Morgan Microgreens Kit • Dobies GroFresh indoor unit
🇺🇸 Quick USA Starter Picks
- 10×20 trays (with & without holes) • Bootstrap Farmer heavy‑duty trays
- Coco coir bricks or True Leaf Market organic soil blends
- Full‑spectrum LED grow light bars • Jump Start grow light systems
- Small USB fan for airflow
- True Leaf Market microgreen seeds • Johnny’s Selected Seeds
- Kits: True Leaf Market microgreens kits • Bootstrap Farmer kits
🧰 Beginner Setups — Budget vs Premium
Focus on the Budget setup first — it grows excellent microgreens without big spend. Upgrade pieces over time.
🇬🇧 UK
| Component | Budget (recommended) | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Trays | Light 10×20 trays (holes + solid) — multi‑pack | Heavy‑duty 10×20 from Bootstrap‑style suppliers |
| Medium | Coco coir brick + a handful of compost (peat‑free) | Organic seed‑starting mix pre‑sieved |
| Light | Clip‑on LED (20–40W) 4000–6500K | Bar‑style LED kit with timer/stand |
| Airflow | USB desk fan (low speed) | Quiet oscillating fan on timer |
| Watering | Spray bottle + bottom‑water in solid tray | Fine‑rose watering can + capillary mat |
| Sanitation | 1–2% H₂O₂ or mild washing‑up liquid rinse | Food‑safe disinfectant + drying rack |
| Nice‑to‑have | Kitchen scale (seed doses) | Seed spreader, humidity domes |
| Est. Cost | £35–£70 | £120–£220 |
🇺🇸 USA
| Component | Budget (recommended) | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Trays | Economy 10×20 (holes + solid) | Bootstrap Farmer heavy‑duty trays |
| Medium | Coco coir brick or basic seed‑starting mix | Organic microgreen soil blend |
| Light | LED bar/clip‑on (20–40W) | Full rack light system with timer |
| Airflow | USB desk fan | Quiet oscillating fan |
| Watering | Mister + bottom‑watering | Fine‑rose can + capillary mat |
| Sanitation | 1–2% H₂O₂ rinse | Food‑safe disinfectant |
| Nice‑to‑have | Kitchen scale | Seed spreader, humidity domes |
| Est. Cost | $40–$80 | $140–$250 |
Budget tip: Prioritise light and airflow. A decent LED and a gentle fan prevent most beginner issues (legginess and mould). Everything else can be improvised.
🌍 Growing Mediums: Soil vs Coir vs Hydro
Soil
- Most forgiving; strong growth & flavour
- Use peat‑free seed mix; pH ~6–7; sieve lumps for a smooth bed
- Pre‑moisten thoroughly; avoid compacting — keep it airy
Coconut Coir
- Clean, renewable, holds moisture well
- Rinse and hydrate bricks with warm water; drain excess
- Neutral media — fine for short crops; optional light organic feed for longer ones
Hydro Mats
- Lowest mess; great for quick brassicas (radish, broccoli)
- Even bottom‑watering is key; can dry out at edges
- Less flavour variation vs soil; higher consumable cost
📖 Step‑by‑Step: Your First Crop
- Prep trays: Stack the holed tray inside the solid tray. Fill with 2–3 cm of pre‑moistened soil or coir and level with a straight edge. You do not need to press the surface hard — keep it airy.
- Sow: Sprinkle seeds evenly. As a rough start per 10×20: radish 25–30g, sunflower 150–200g (pre‑soak 6–8h), broccoli/kale 10–15g, pea 150–200g (pre‑soak 6–8h), coriander 20–25g (optional 6–8h soak).
- Cover by seed type:
- Surface‑sown (no soil on top): tiny seeds like broccoli, kale, cabbage — just mist to settle.
- Light top‑dress (2–3 mm): larger seeds like coriander, sunflower, pea. Lightly sift a thin layer of soil/coir over them. No firm pressing required.
- Blackout: Mist gently, then cover with a dome or an empty tray for 2–3 days to keep humidity high and light out. Check daily; if dry, mist the surface.
- Light on: When most seeds sprout (1–2 cm tall), remove the cover and move under the grow light. Set the light ~20–30 cm above the canopy for 12–16 h/day.
- Water: Start bottom‑watering by adding water to the lower tray. The medium should feel like a wrung‑out sponge. Avoid soaking the leaves from above.
- Airflow: If the room is humid or you see condensation/musty smell, run a small fan on low to create a gentle breeze. This greatly reduces mould risk.
- Harvest: Most crops are ready in 7–14 days (pea 12–16, coriander 16–20). Cut just above the medium with clean scissors.
- Store: Rinse if desired, spin or pat dry, and store in a lidded container lined with paper towel (3–6 days).
Hygiene matters: clean trays, fresh air, and avoid overwatering to reduce damping‑off. Optional advanced tip: gently cracking coriander seeds (they’re actually two seeds in a husk) can speed germination.
🧪 Quick Reference — Sowing & Harvest
| Crop | Seed (per 10×20) | Soak? | Days to Harvest | Flavour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radish | 25–30g | No | 7–10 | Peppery |
| Broccoli | 10–15g | No | 8–12 | Mild |
| Kale (incl. Russian Red) | 10–15g | No | 8–12 | Mild/earthy, slightly sweet |
| Sunflower | 150–200g | Yes (6–8h) | 8–12 | Nutty |
| Pea shoots | 150–200g | Yes (6–8h) | 12–16 | Sweet |
| Cabbage (red) | 10–15g | No | 8–12 | Mild |
| Coriander (cilantro) | 20–25g | Optional 6–8h | 16–20 | Citrusy-herbal |
❓ Troubleshooting
- Leggy (tall, pale) seedlings: Light too far/weak; move closer (20–30 cm) or increase hours.
- Mould/fuzz on soil: Improve airflow (run a mini fan), bottom‑water only, avoid over‑misting. A little white "root hair" fuzz at the stem base is normal; grey/patchy mould is not.
- Uneven growth: Seed density or dry spots — spread evenly and use bottom‑watering; rotate the tray daily under lights.
- Seeds not sprouting: Too cold/dry; keep 18–22°C and ensure the medium stays moist during blackout. Coriander is naturally slower.
Seaweed‑style flavour? No microgreen naturally matches seaweed’s iodine content. For a briny/umami note, try okahijiki (saltwort) microgreens if available, or pair brassicas with a sprinkle of seaweed flakes/iodized salt for nutrition.
🎥 Learn More — Popular Microgreens Videos
- Epic Gardening — Complete Microgreens Guide (start to finish)
- On The Grow — Tutorials & experiments (channel)
- MIgardener — Complete Guide to Microgreens
- RHS — How to grow microgreens at home (UK)
- Pots & Trowels — How to sow microgreens (UK)
- UK microgreens grower — small farm workflow tour
Extra playlists by crop: Broccoli • Coriander/Cilantro • Sunflower • Pea Shoots