If you’re looking for a quick, cheerful growing project that’s bursting with goodness, microgreens might just be your new favourite thing. These vibrant little seedlings are full of flavour, packed with nutrients, and ready to harvest in less than two weeks. Plus, you don’t need any outdoor space as they grow perfectly on a windowsill!
They’re always a hit at The Gardeners Co. and really inspire even the most inexperienced of gardeners to give it a go.
Fancy getting involved too? Let’s dig into what microgreens are, why they’re worth growing, and how to get started.
What Are Microgreens?
Microgreens are the young seedlings of edible vegetables and herbs - think broccoli, radish, beetroot, basil, pea shoots, and more. They’re harvested when the first true leaves emerge, just after the seedling stage, but before the plant matures. They are cut at the base, above the soil line, and eaten fresh.
These tiny greens might be small, but they punch well above their weight in both nutrition and flavour. In fact, studies have shown that microgreens can contain up to 70% more vitamins and antioxidants than their fully grown counterparts!
Why Grow Microgreens?
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Nutritional Boost: A handful of microgreens on your toast, salad or soup can really up the nutritional value of your meal.
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No Garden Needed: A sunny windowsill is all you need.
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Fast Results: Some varieties are ready to harvest in just 7 - 10 days.
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Endless Variety: From spicy radish to sweet pea shoots, there’s a flavour (and colour!) for everyone.
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Fun for All Ages: Perfect for getting little ones excited about growing and eating greens.
What You’ll Need to Get Started
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A shallow tray or container (with drainage holes). Fruit punnets work well too.
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Seed compost, coconut coir or a mixture. Coir can be reused over and over, so tends to be our preference
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Microgreen seeds (At The Gardeners Co. we use Grow Sow Greener - https://www.growsowgreener.co.uk/)
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Spray bottle for watering
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A warm, bright windowsill
How to Grow Microgreens at Home
1. Fill Your Tray
Add a thin layer of compost or coir to your tray and flatten it down a little.
2. Sow Your Seeds
Sprinkle your seeds evenly across the surface. You don’t need to space them out - they can grow quite close together. Press them lightly into the soil.
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Seed Tip: Some seeds, like dried peas or chickpeas, benefit from a soak in water for a few hours before sowing. This softens the seed coat and helps with even germination. These larger seeds may also appreciate a thin covering of compost or coir to keep them moist and anchored as they sprout.
3. Water Wisely
Mist the surface gently with water until it’s damp but not soggy.
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Optional Extra Step: Cover the tray with a lid or a second tray for about 7 days to keep in moisture while the seeds germinate. This also makes the seeds search for light, encouraging them to grow tall. When you take the lid off, pop them on a sunny windowsill.
4. Time to Harvest!
After 7 - 14 days, when the microgreens have developed their first true leaves, grab a pair of scissors and snip them just above the soil line. Give them a rinse and enjoy!
Tips for Microgreen Magic
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Try growing a mix of seeds for flavour, colour and nutrient variety
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Grow them all year round - microgreens are a perfect pop of colour and fresh flavours whilst the garden is resting. In colder months, you could place your tray on a heat mat or in a propagator to speed up germination.
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Reuse your trays by composting the leftover roots and starting again.
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Label your trays, unless you want a lucky dip! Some seeds look very similar to each other as microgreens!
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Sewing seeds for your veg patch but only got space for a few plants in each variety? Use the rest of the packet as microgreens to enjoy until your mature plants are ready.
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Keep sewing every few days for a continuous supply of microgreens
Top Tip:
Sunflowers and peas are two of the crunchiest microgreens out there. And they taste just like summer!
Microgreens are a small but mighty way to bring homegrown flavour and freshness into your life. Whether you’re short on space, time, or experience, these little leaves prove that anyone can grow their own food - and enjoy every bite of it.
Give it a grow and let us know how you get on at @thegardenersco!
Got the knack of microgreens and fancy trying another quick and easy year-round grow project? Take a look at our blog on How to Grow Sprouting Seeds