How to Grow Microgreens at Home

How to Grow Microgreens at Home
Microgreens are one of the easiest and most rewarding things you can grow at home — no garden required. Packed with flavour and nutrients, they're ready to harvest in as little as 7–14 days, making them perfect for beginners and experienced growers alike. Here's everything you need to get started, straight from the team who grows them fresh here in Cheltenham.

Why Grow Microgreens?
Microgreens are simply the young seedlings of vegetables and herbs, harvested just after their first leaves appear. Despite their small size, they pack a serious nutritional punch — often containing significantly higher concentrations of vitamins and antioxidants than their mature counterparts. They're also incredibly versatile, adding a fresh, punchy flavour to salads, sandwiches, eggs, and just about anything else.

What You'll Need
A shallow tray or punnet with drainage holes
A quality seed-raising mix or coco coir
Microgreens seeds (broccoli, radish, kale, mustard, sunflower and pea are all great starting points)
A spray bottle for watering
A spot with good natural light or a grow light

Step-by-Step Guide
1. Prepare Your Tray
Fill your tray with about 2–3cm of moistened seed-raising mix. Level it off gently — you want an even surface for your seeds to sit on.
2. Sow Your Seeds
Scatter your seeds evenly and densely across the surface — much more densely than you would for a regular vegetable garden. Microgreens are grown close together on purpose. Press seeds down gently so they make good contact with the soil, but don't bury them.
3. Cover and Wait
Cover the tray with a lid, a plate, or another tray to keep humidity in and block out light for the first 2–4 days. This encourages strong germination. Mist the soil daily to keep it moist but not waterlogged.
4. Bring Into the Light
Once you see seedlings pushing up (usually after 2–4 days), remove the cover and move your tray into bright, indirect light. Continue misting once or twice a day to keep the soil moist.
5. Harvest
Most microgreens are ready to harvest in 7–14 days, once the first set of "true leaves" appears above the initial seed leaves. Simply snip them at soil level with clean scissors. Give them a quick rinse and pat dry before using.

Tips for Success
Don't overwater — soggy soil is the most common cause of mould or rot in microgreens.
Good airflow helps — a small fan on low, or simply removing the cover once seedlings emerge, reduces the risk of mould.
Different seeds, different timelines — sunflower and pea shoots take a little longer than radish or broccoli, so it's worth starting a few trays on a staggered schedule for a continuous harvest.
Reuse trays, not soil — start fresh soil with each new batch for the healthiest growth.

Prefer It Done for You?
If growing your own isn't for you, we've got you covered — we grow and harvest fresh microgreens right here in Cheltenham, organically and locally, with punnets, bulk orders, and custom mixes available. Check out our Microgreens range or get in touch about wholesale and café supply.

Got questions about growing your own? Drop into the Cheltenham store or send us a message — we're always happy to talk microgreens.