Microgreens: Your Complete Guide to Growing Nutrient-Packed Greens Indoors
Looking for something fun to grow indoors this winter while the outdoor gardening season winds down? Microgreens might be exactly what you need. This easy, rewarding crop works for anyone, at any scale, and honestly? It's kind of addictive once you get started.
🏠 Perfect for Indoor Growing
No yard? No problem. Microgreens thrive on a sunny windowsill or under grow lights in your kitchen.
💪 Nutrient Powerhouse
These tiny plants pack up to 40% more nutrients than their full-grown versions. Talk about bang for your buck!
💰 Side Hustle Potential
Restaurants and health-conscious consumers pay premium prices for fresh microgreens. This could be your new income stream.
What Exactly Are Microgreens?
Microgreens are basically baby vegetables and herbs, harvested super young—usually when they're only a couple of weeks old, depending on what you're growing. And despite their size, they pack some serious nutritional punch.
People sometimes confuse microgreens with sprouts, but they're actually different. Sprouts are germinated seeds that you eat whole—root, seed, and shoot. Microgreens include a variety of edible immature greens that you harvest with scissors. You're eating the stem, the cotyledons (those cute little seed leaves), and the first set of true leaves.
Why Microgreens Are Amazing
These tiny plants contain up to 40% more nutrients than their full-grown counterparts and can be ready to harvest in just a couple of weeks. You're getting maximum nutrition in minimum time, using minimal space. It's pretty hard to beat that combination!
Which Seeds Work Best?
Salad greens, leafy vegetables, herbs, and even edible flowers can all be grown as microgreens, though some varieties are definitely easier than others. If you're just starting out, I'd suggest growing one type of seed at a time—maybe broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, mustard, chia, sunflower, or buckwheat in a single container.
You can also find seeds specifically sold as salad mixes or microgreen mixes. These combine greens with similar growth rates, compatible flavors, and beautiful colors—reds, purples, and greens. Since they're designed with grower success in mind, they're also a solid choice for beginners.
Getting Started
Start with a warm, sunny windowsill—direct sunlight from a south-facing window is ideal. But here's the thing: if you don't have a sunny windowsill or want to grow on a larger scale, microgreens are one of those perfect plants that thrive under grow lights. I usually keep microgreens going in my kitchen under a grow light, and they're always happy with that setup.
Container Options
You don't need anything fancy. Plastic takeout containers, disposable pie plates, plastic salad boxes, or even those terracotta drainage trays that go under plant pots all work great. If your chosen container doesn't have built-in drainage, just poke a few holes in the bottom.
How to Grow Microgreens: Step by Step
1Read the seed packet. Check if there are any special instructions for your specific variety.
2Prepare your container. Cover the bottom with an inch or two of moistened potting soil. Flatten and level it with your hand, but don't compress it too much—you want it to stay fluffy.
3Scatter the seeds. Spread them evenly on top of the soil. You want good coverage but not seeds piled on top of each other. Press gently into the soil with your hand.
4Cover lightly. Add a thin layer of soil over the seeds and dampen the surface with a mister. Not soaking wet—just moist.
5Keep them moist while germinating. Seeds usually sprout within three to seven days. Mist once or twice daily to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. You can even use a humidity dome to help maintain moisture.
6Remove the cover once sprouted. Keep misting once or twice a day to maintain moisture.
7Give them light. Microgreens need about four hours of direct sunlight daily to thrive. Watch for leggy, pale greens—that's your clue they need more light. This is where a grow light comes in super handy.
8Harvest when ready. Your microgreens are ready when they're about 2 inches tall. Use clean scissors and cut just above the soil line.
9Rinse and enjoy! Give them a quick rinse just like you would any other greens, then mix them into salads, use them as garnishes, or pile them on sandwiches for a nutrient boost.
Perfect Growing Medium
While any quality potting soil works for microgreens, mixing it with a bit of Ancient Soil gives your microgreens access to beneficial microbes and nutrients from day one. You don't need much—just an inch or two of growing medium in your container.
For ongoing nutrition, you can even give them a light feeding with diluted Plant Juice if you're growing larger batches. Though honestly, most microgreens are harvested so quickly they don't even need fertilizer.
Shop Ancient SoilCommon Questions and Troubleshooting
Why are my microgreens pale and leggy?
Not enough light. Move them closer to your window or add a grow light. Microgreens really do need that direct light to develop proper color and compact growth.
Can I reuse the soil after harvesting?
You can technically compost it or add it to outdoor garden beds, but most people find it easier to just start fresh each time. The root mass is pretty dense after a harvest.
Do different varieties taste different?
Absolutely! Radish and mustard microgreens have a spicy kick, while sunflower is nutty and mild. Experiment to find your favorites.
How long do harvested microgreens last?
Store them in the fridge in a container with a damp paper towel, and they'll stay fresh for about a week. Though honestly, they taste best eaten right away.
Turn Your Green Thumb Into Green Bills
Here's something cool: restaurants, juice bars, and health-conscious consumers will pay serious money for fresh, locally-grown microgreens. We're talking $25-50 per pound in some markets. If you've got the space and the interest, scaling up your microgreen operation could actually become a legitimate side business.
Start small, perfect your technique, and then approach local restaurants with samples. Fresh microgreens that were growing an hour ago? That's something they can't get from a distributor.
Keep Growing Your Indoor Garden
Once you've mastered microgreens, you might want to explore more indoor plant care options. Check out our complete houseplant care guide and tips for saving dying houseplants. And if you're ready to expand your growing operation, our guide on container gardening has tons of ideas for growing food indoors and out.