I started growing microgreens almost by accident. I had a bag of radish seeds left over from a garden project, a spare tray sitting under the kitchen window, and about ten minutes of free time. Two weeks later, I had a thick carpet of spicy little shoots ready to cut. That first tray taught me two things: microgreens are absurdly easy to grow, and they taste better than anything you’ll find in a plastic clamshell at the grocery store.
Growing microgreens at home takes about 7 to 14 days from seed to harvest. You don’t need a garden, a balcony, or any special skill. A kitchen counter, a shallow tray, some soil, and seeds are all it takes. This guide walks through every step I follow on my own tray setup, with notes on the varieties I grow most: radish, sunflower, and pea shoots.
Not sure what microgreens actually are, or how they differ from sprouts? I cover that in our guide to what microgreens are and why they’re worth growing.
What You Need to Get Started
The supply list is short. Here’s what I use for every batch:
- Shallow growing tray (10×20 inches is the standard size, about $3 each)
- A second tray or lid for the blackout cover phase
- Growing medium: potting soil or coconut coir, about an inch deep
- Microgreen seeds, sold by weight rather than packet count
- Spray bottle for misting during the first few days
- Light source: a sunny windowsill or a basic LED grow light
- Sharp scissors for harvesting
Total cost for a first batch runs about $15 to $25 if you’re buying everything new. After that, each tray costs $2 to $4 in seeds and soil. Compare that to $5 to $10 for a small package of microgreens at the store, and the math works out fast.
Microgreens Growing Kit vs DIY Setup
You can buy a ready-made microgreens kit or build your own setup from basic supplies. Both work. The difference is convenience versus flexibility.
Kits like the Hamama Starter Kit (around $35) come with a tray, pre-seeded growing mats, and instructions. You add water and wait. They’re good for a first try, but the seed variety is limited and the refill mats cost more per grow than buying seeds in bulk.
A DIY setup using standard 10×20 trays, a bag of coconut coir, and bulk seeds gives you full control over what you grow and costs less per batch. I started with a kit, switched to DIY after the third grow, and never looked back. If you want to try multiple varieties (and you will), the DIY route saves money and gives you more options.
How to Grow Microgreens Step by Step
This is the exact process I follow every time I plant a new tray. The whole cycle takes 7 to 14 days depending on the variety you choose.
Step 1: Prepare Your Tray
Fill a shallow tray with about an inch of moistened potting soil or coconut coir. Level the surface with your hand or a small piece of cardboard. The medium should be damp but not soaking. If you squeeze a handful and water drips out, it’s too wet.
I use coconut coir most of the time because it’s lightweight, holds moisture well, and doesn’t attract fungus gnats the way some potting soils do.
Step 2: Spread Your Seeds
Scatter your seeds densely across the entire surface. Microgreens grow close together, so don’t worry about spacing the way you would with garden vegetables.
For small seeds like radish or broccoli, aim for about 10 to 15 seeds per square centimeter. Larger seeds like sunflower and pea need more room, but they should still sit close enough that most of the soil surface is covered. Give the seeds a gentle mist once they’re spread.
One thing I learned the hard way: sunflower seeds need 8 to 12 hours of soaking in water before you plant them. Skip the soak and germination is slow and patchy.
Step 3: Cover and Mist
Place a second tray or a solid lid directly over the seeds to block all light. This blackout phase pushes the seedlings to stretch upward, which gives you taller, easier-to-harvest shoots.
Mist once or twice daily during this covered period. Most varieties need 3 to 5 days in the dark. Radish seeds are the fastest I’ve worked with: they push up and hit the cover within 2 to 3 days. Pea shoots take a bit longer, usually 4 to 5 days before they’re ready to uncover.
Step 4: Uncover and Give Light
Once the seedlings are about an inch tall and pressing up against the cover, remove it and move the tray somewhere bright. A south-facing windowsill with direct sun works well. If your space doesn’t get strong natural light, a basic LED grow light positioned 2 to 4 inches above the tray does the job.
Give them 12 to 16 hours of light per day. The pale, stretched shoots will turn green within a day or two as they start producing chlorophyll. If you’ve got a smart garden like an AeroGarden already running, you know how fast plants respond to consistent LED light. Microgreens are the same way.
Step 5: Water Daily and Watch Them Grow
Once roots are established (you’ll see white threads along the soil edge), switch from misting to bottom watering. Set the growing tray inside a slightly larger tray, pour in a thin layer of water, and let the soil absorb it from below. This keeps the leaves dry, which helps prevent mold.
Check daily. Microgreens drink more than you’d expect. If the soil surface feels dry to the touch, add more water to the bottom tray.
Step 6: Harvest Your Microgreens
Harvest when the first set of true leaves appears. For most varieties, that’s 7 to 14 days from seeding. Cut the stems just above the soil line with sharp scissors.
My radish microgreens are usually ready in 7 to 8 days. Sunflowers take 10 to 14 days and grow the tallest of anything on my tray, usually 3 to 4 inches before I cut them. Pea shoots hit their peak flavor around day 10.
Rinse gently, pat dry with a towel, and store in a sealed container in the fridge. They’ll keep for about a week, though they rarely last that long around here.
Best Microgreens to Grow Indoors
If you’re growing for the first time, start with one of these four. They’re forgiving, fast, and produce solid yields. For a deeper look at each one, see our guide to the best microgreens for beginners.
Radish is the fastest variety I grow. It germinates in 2 to 3 days, and I’m usually harvesting by day 7 or 8. The flavor is spicy and peppery, which works well on sandwiches and in salads. If you want quick results to build confidence, start here.
Sunflower produces thick, crunchy shoots with a mild, nutty taste. It needs pre-soaking (8 to 12 hours) and a weighted cover during blackout to help the seeds shed their hulls. Harvest at 10 to 14 days. The yield per tray is the largest of any variety I’ve tested.
Pea shoots are tall, sweet, and tender. They’re the variety I eat straight off the tray most often. Harvest at 8 to 14 days, but I find day 10 is the sweet spot for flavor. They need a bit more vertical space than other microgreens since they can reach 4 inches easily.
Broccoli has a mild flavor, a fast cycle (7 to 10 days), and ranks as one of the most nutrient-dense options. A 2012 study by researchers at the University of Maryland found that microgreens contain significantly higher concentrations of vitamins C, E, K, and beta carotene compared to the same plants grown to full maturity.
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
Mold on the soil surface is the problem I hear about most often, and it’s almost always caused by too much moisture and not enough airflow. Switch to bottom watering once the roots are in. If you’re in a humid climate, a small fan pointed near (not directly at) the tray helps move air without drying out the shoots. Sunflower seeds are especially prone to mold. A quick pre-soak in 3% food-grade hydrogen peroxide before planting reduces the risk.
Leggy, thin growth means the tray isn’t getting enough light. Move it closer to the window or lower your grow light to 2 inches above the canopy. Leggy microgreens are still safe to eat. They’re just harder to handle at harvest.
Seed hulls stuck on leaves happen most often with sunflower microgreens. A heavier weight on the cover during blackout helps the seeds push out of their shells more cleanly. If hulls are still stuck after uncovering, mist the tray and gently brush them off by hand. Most fall away on their own within a day or two.
Uneven germination usually comes down to seeding density. If seeds are clumped in some spots and sparse in others, the tray grows unevenly. Spread more carefully next time. A salt shaker with the lid removed works surprisingly well for distributing small seeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does It Take to Grow Microgreens?
Most varieties are ready in 7 to 14 days from seeding. Radish is the fastest at 7 to 8 days. Sunflower and pea shoots sit on the longer end at 10 to 14 days. Warmer conditions and stronger light can shave a day or two off the cycle.
Can You Grow Microgreens Without Soil?
Yes. Coconut coir, hemp mats, and hydroponic pads all work as growing mediums. Coconut coir is my go-to alternative because it holds moisture well and is easy to clean up. Hemp mats are convenient but dry out faster, so you’ll need to water more often.
What Are the Best Microgreens to Grow Indoors?
Radish, sunflower, pea shoots, and broccoli. Radish gives you the fastest turnaround, sunflower produces the biggest harvest per tray, pea shoots have the sweetest flavor, and broccoli packs the most nutrition. I keep all four in rotation.
Do Microgreens Need a Grow Light?
A bright windowsill with direct sun works for most varieties. If your space lacks strong natural light, a basic LED grow light set 2 to 4 inches above the tray and running 12 to 16 hours daily produces healthy, even growth. A $20 clip-on LED panel is enough for a single tray.
How Much Does It Cost to Grow Microgreens at Home?
About $15 to $25 for a first DIY setup (trays, soil, seeds). Each batch after that costs $2 to $4. Store-bought microgreens run $5 to $10 per small package, so growing your own pays for itself within a few rounds.
Growing microgreens is one of the fastest, cheapest ways to produce fresh food at home. If you want variety-specific advice, check out the best microgreens to grow at home, or read what microgreens are and why they’re worth the counter space.