Microgreens are a fantastic addition to your diet, offering vibrant color, intense flavor, and concentrated essential nutrients in their tiny leaves and stems. Unlike sprouts, which are germinated in water and consumed whole (including roots), microgreens are cultivated in a proper growing medium and harvested by cutting at the base when they develop their first true leaves. These miniature greens boast impressively high levels of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals—often containing up to 40 times more nutrients than their mature counterparts. Popular varieties include sunflower, pea shoots, radish, broccoli, and mustard greens, each bringing unique flavors ranging from mild and sweet to peppery and pungent, making them perfect for enhancing salads, sandwiches, smoothies, and as elegant garnishes for sophisticated dishes.
What makes microgreens particularly appealing for home cultivation is their accessibility—they require minimal space, equipment, and gardening experience to produce successful harvests. These fast-growing crops can thrive in small containers on a sunny windowsill, under grow lights, or even on a kitchen counter with adequate light, making them ideal for urban dwellers with limited outdoor space. Most varieties reach harvesting stage within just 7-14 days, providing nearly immediate gratification and a continuous supply of fresh greens when planted in succession. This combination of nutritional density, culinary versatility, and ease of cultivation makes microgreens an excellent entry point for anyone interested in indoor food production, regardless of their gardening background or available space.
The Patella Crescenda features a base tray, two reusable steel seed plates, and a water bulb. You can fill the bulb with water, place it upside down on the base tray, and it will slowly release water through an air vacuum. The steel plates, positioned above the water level, allow seeds to grow through cuts into the water.
Microgreens are ready to harvest in about a week and can be cut or pinched off without any soil, simplifying the process. This compact, aesthetic design provides a fresh harvest of nutrient-dense microgreens quickly, with minimal maintenance. Here’s how to create your own indoor microgreens garden:
1. Gather Your Supplies
- Choose a growing tray about 1 inch deep with drain holes and consider one with a lid to help retain moisture
- Select potting soil or coconut coir for your growing medium, as both are suitable for microgreens and impact the water needed.
- It is recommended to use certified organic seeds for best results.
- While a 30-watt LED light provides adequate illumination, moderate natural light is ideally suited for growing microgreens.
- A spray bottle or watering can is essential for effectively managing moisture levels.
Designer Igor Abakumov’s Home Garden revolutionizes indoor growing with its sleek, built-in herb drawer that integrates seamlessly into modern kitchens. This innovative system features smart technology that continuously monitors plant moisture, temperature, and freshness levels, sending real-time updates to your smartphone. The minimalist design eliminates the typical clutter of traditional indoor gardens, while its self-contained growing environment creates optimal conditions for herbs and microgreens to thrive regardless of external weather conditions.
Perfect for both compact urban apartments and spacious suburban homes, the Home Garden makes year-round fresh herb cultivation accessible to everyone. Its space-efficient design repurposes an existing kitchen drawer, transforming unused space into a productive growing area without sacrificing counter space. The system’s clean aesthetics and contained growing environment prevent soil spillage and water damage, while automated monitoring reduces maintenance demands. This thoughtful solution bridges the gap between modern living and sustainable food production, bringing the garden directly into your daily cooking routine.
Elevate your indoor and outdoor spaces with Moltke, a versatile and stylish vertical garden that transforms any wall into a lush green oasis. Designed for effortless use even by novice gardeners, it features innovative pre-planted seed pods and an ingenious self-watering system that operates without electricity, maintaining optimal moisture levels for weeks. Its transparent components allow you to witness the fascinating root development process, while the specialized ‘growth light’ ensures plants receive perfect illumination regardless of placement.
The eco-friendly design cleverly repurposes condensation from air conditioning units, turning waste into a sustainable water source. With modular expansion capabilities and options for larger water tanks to accommodate growing collections, Moltke delivers premium gardening benefits without the prohibitive costs or complex setups typically associated with vertical gardens. Whether you’re seeking to add vibrant greenery to your living room, create a functional herb garden in your kitchen, or establish a natural privacy screen on your balcony, this thoughtfully engineered system offers an elegant solution that combines aesthetics with practicality.
2. Set Up Your Growing Area
Choose a clean, suitable area in your home for your garden, and prepare your trays by ensuring they are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Add about 1 inch of growing medium to each tray, keeping it moist but not soggy, and opt for flat trays over pots for better results. Make sure the trays have drainage holes at the bottom to allow excess water to escape.
The Minigro is a compact, fully automated microgreen growing system by Grovero. About the size of an aquarium, it manages water levels, nutrients, light, and climate automatically, delivering fresh microgreens in just seven days. Equipped with advanced sensors and smart LED lighting that adjusts based on natural light, the Minigro ensures optimal growing conditions. It even alerts you via an app if environmental conditions change, such as an open window. Ideal for small spaces, this device fits on a countertop and offers a hassle-free way to enjoy home-grown, nutrient-packed greens year-round.
The 4RESTPLANT is a unique tree trunk-shaped planter made from porous clay. It mimics natural growth by using a hollow, water-holding interior and a nano-silver coating to prevent algae. Four seed pads are arranged around its base, with the porous design wicking water to the pads, allowing seeds to grow by clinging to the trunk. This innovative planter brings a touch of nature into your home by recreating natural growth conditions on a smaller scale.
3. Sow the Seeds
Pre-soak your seeds overnight or for a few hours before planting, then spread them evenly over the growing medium. Gently press the seeds into the soil or coconut coir to ensure good contact, which aids in water absorption and encourages germination. Try to keep the seeds in a dark environment for a few days to support the germination process and maintain adequate moisture levels.
The tablefarm is a compact, tabletop garden designed to grow microgreens effortlessly. These nutrient-packed greens, which are 10 to 40 times richer in nutrients than mature vegetables, are ready in just 7 to 10 days. The tablefarm features an automatic watering system and an LED panel for photosynthesis, eliminating the need for soil or sunlight. Simply place biodegradable seed pads on the water reservoir, plug in the device, and keep the reservoir filled. It delivers fresh microgreens in under a week with minimal effort, offering a convenient way to enjoy healthy, home-grown greens.
Transform any space with the BalconyFarm POT, a sleek, compact smart planter perfect for small households. Despite its petite size, it delivers precise LED light and water distribution for optimal plant growth. Ideal for herbs and vegetables, this versatile planter can be placed anywhere, even as a stylish desk or table centerpiece. While it has some limitations, such as uneven light and reduced ventilation, its convenience and smart features make it a standout choice for indoor gardening.
4. Cover and Water
Cover the seeds with moisture domes or clear plastic covers to maintain humidity, and consider using vermiculite as it absorbs water slowly, gradually releasing it to keep the seeds moist. Water the seeds as necessary, ensuring the growing medium remains moist until germination occurs. After the seeds have sprouted, you can reduce the watering frequency to once or twice a day.
This sleek, 30-inch hydroponic system supports up to 39 different herbs, using advanced technology to handle lighting, watering, and plant health. Its compact size, hardwood base, and modern acrylic and aluminum design fit seamlessly into any space, while its LED lighting mimics natural sunlight and can be customized through an app. Features include a WiFi-connected water sensor, harvest alerts, and a ‘Vacation Mode’ for worry-free care.
5. Harvest
Microgreens typically reach harvest readiness in 7-14 days. Once germination begins, place them in natural sunlight or under a grow light. Harvest them by cutting just above the soil level with scissors when they reach the desired size.
Solace is a wall-mounted, scalable solution for growing microgreens in small spaces, designed for urban living. Using wick moisture and a biostrate grow mat with automatic lighting, it simplifies home gardening for beginners. An intuitive app guides users through the entire process. Its circular, space-saving design also functions as an ambient or night light and features a detachable rechargeable battery. Solace offers a sustainable way to enjoy fresh, nutritious microgreens, helping you live healthier while conserving resources.
Elevate your clean eating with the Mizzle, a sleek aeroponic appliance designed for effortless microgreen cultivation. This smart cultivator features three compartments for germination, growth, and harvesting, making it easy to grow fresh greens at home. Track progress, manage water levels, and get recipe ideas through the intuitive mobile app.
With these steps and innovative products, you can enjoy a continuous supply of fresh, nutrient-rich microgreens right from your home. Happy growing!