Microgreens are tiny edible greens that provide excellent nutritional value along with great flavor. They can be expensive at the store, but luckily, they’re very easy to grow at home! Growing microgreens requires little by way of space and supplies and they can be harvested in as little as one week, making this a fun and accessible way to start or add to your home gardening practice.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Choose Your Seeds: Microgreens can be grown from a wide variety of seeds, including broccoli, arugula, sunflower, and kale. Each variety will have a different grow time and taste profile, so check out the “Definition” link below to learn more about selecting a variety. Be sure to choose organic seeds that have not been treated with chemicals or coatings.
2. Prepare Your Trays: Use a shallow, BPA-free tray with drainage holes as the base. Then, fill the tray with a pre-moistened growing medium such as organic potting soil, coconut coir, or a hydroponic grow mat.
3. Sow the Seeds: Scatter your selected seeds evenly across the surface and then press them lightly, ensuring that they’re in contact with the growing medium without burying them. Then, gently mist the seeds with water.
4. Germinate the Seeds: For the first few days, cover the tray with a lid or matching tray to encourage germination and moisture retention. Mist the seeds approximately every 12 hours.
5. Grow the Seeds: Once the seeds have germinated, uncover the tray and move it to a location with bright sunlight or grow lights. Keep the temperature between 60–75°F (15–24°C) and the growing medium most but not soggy. You may want to consider bottom watering, which prevents mold growth. 
6. Harvest Your Microgreens: Depending on variety, most microgreens are ready for harvest within 1-3 weeks. Use clean scissors to snip the sprouts just above the soil line, and then rinse gently and enjoy immediately for peak freshness.

Growing microgreens is a fun and easy way to produce fresh food at home. Plus, they taste great, adding a burst of flavor to salads, sandwiches, soups, and more. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener, we encourage you to consider growing microgreens this year. Check out the “Definition” and “Action” links below for more information on seed selection and supplies.