Microgreens at Home: 10-Day Harvests on Your Countertop

Microgreens are the fastest path from seed to plate in any kind of indoor growing. Most varieties go from dry seed to harvest in 7–14 days, you don't need a grow light for the easy ones, and a single tray costs less than $2 to produce.

What you actually need

• Two 10x20 trays (one with drainage holes, one without).
• An inch of coco coir, peat, or a hemp grow mat.
• Seeds rated for microgreens (much cheaper per ounce than packet seeds).

The 10-day routine

Day 1: Soak seeds 6–8 hours (skip for tiny seeds like broccoli).

Days 1–3: Spread seeds densely on damp medium, cover with the second tray for darkness, and mist twice daily.

Day 4: Uncover. Move to a bright window or under a basic LED.

Days 5–9: Water from below by pouring into the bottom tray. Never mist the leaves once they're up.

Day 10: Cut just above the soil line with scissors.

Best beginner varieties

• Radish — explosive growth, peppery kick.
• Pea shoots — sweet and tendril-y; great in stir fries.
• Broccoli — mild flavor, packed with sulforaphane.
• Sunflower — nutty, crunchy, the "gateway green."

The most common failure

Mold. It's almost always caused by too much misting after germination, poor airflow, or seeds spread too thickly. Use a small clip-on fan and water from below — problem solved.

Frequently asked questions

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