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  • The Ultimate Microgreen Cheat Sheet

    February 09, 2024 21 min read 0 Comments

    Microgreens grown in microgreen tray

    The Ultimate Microgreen Cheat Sheet

    Microgreens are an ever-growing trend in home gardening, urban farming, and for chefs around the country. People worldwide have been drawn to microgreens for their beauty, flavor, and health benefits. Microgreen seeds can be ordered online or found locally and planted using various growing media. Different types of microgreens need different care, and finding accurate information in one place can be confusing.

    We are frequently asked for a comprehensive resource for growing microgreens, but the information was scattered and lacked critical pieces of information. This guide was compiled to help all microgreen growers find the necessary information needed to grow over thirty popular varieties of microgreens at home. Here we have listed alphabetically many of the most popular varieties.

    Many of the varieties listed below take less than two weeks to mature. They can all be harvested at the cotyledon stage. Allowing them to grow beyond two weeks will often result in the first tiny true leaves beginning to appear. For some we have listed approximate times required to reach this stage while for others are not suitable because the appearance of true leaves will change the flavor or texture dramatically. Sunflower shoots, for example, become quite bitter.  Feel free to experiment here, you may find that your growing conditions change the estimated times significantly. 

    We have other in-depth guides available in our resources. If you are just starting with growing, reading our Learn How to Grow Microgreens at Home: A step-by-step guide will help you get your first crop to harvest. Our Microgreen Blog has numerous articles covering everything from What Trays Do I Need for Microgreens to When to Use a Blackout Dome.   

     Also check out this printable Grow Room Guide.

    THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO GROWING OVER 30 VARIETIES OF MICROGREENS

    Amaranth

    Standard: (translucent green, slightly bluish stems)

    Red Garnet Amaranth(translucent violet)

    Moderately Difficult: grow in warmth

    Seeding Rate: 15 grams or 0.5 oz. per 1020 Tray

    Seed Presoak: No

    Growing Medium: hydroponic, soil

    Preferred Medium: any

    Blackout Time: 5-6 days

    Germination Rate:  high

    Germination Time: 2 to 3 days

    Microgreens Harvest time: 12 to 14 days

    Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 12 days

    Baby Salad / Adult Stage Harvest: baby greens can be harvested once true leaves appear around 20-24 days

    Microgreens Flavor: mild, earthy

    Amaranth is a very small, delicate microgreen that prefers warmer growing conditions, so find a nice warm spot for germination and growing. It can also be sensitive to too much direct light.  It does not grow tall, so expect very small greens that will need to be harvested close to the root line and rinsed well.  It does equally well grown hydroponically or in soil. It can sometimes be a little more challenging to grow well. Its striking colors make it a great garnish or an addition to any microgreens salad.

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    Arugula Microgreens

    Seeding Rate: 12 grams or 0.4 oz  per 1020 tray

    Seed Presoak: No

    Growing Medium: hydroponic, soil

    Preferred Medium: hydroponic for growing microgreens, soil for baby greens

    Blackout Time: 4-6 days

    Germination Rate:  high

    Germination Time: 3 days

    Microgreens Harvest time: 6 to 12 days

    Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 10 days

    Baby Salad / Adult Stage Harvest: 16+ days (grow in soil)

    Microgreens Color: green

    Microgreens Flavor: peppery

    Arugula is a little tougher to grow, and grows a bit more slowly than other micros. You can harvest past 10 days for a larger leaf, or at about 10 days for a smaller leaf. It’s a favorite and generally considered a staple of the spicier side of micro greens and baby salad greens. The peppery taste gets less intense as it gets bigger. Arugula does not like direct light. Allow to green up and grow in indirect light. Too much light makes the crop look burnt and unhealthy.   When it grows in a mix with other seeds it is a perfect fit, as it grows slower so will naturally end up shaded by other faster growers around it.

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    Basil Microgreens:  (Dark Opal/Purple) (Genovese) (Thai)

    Seeding Rate: 10 grams or 0.35 oz per 1020 tray

    Seed Presoak: No (mucilaginous)

    Growing Medium: hydroponic, soil

    Preferred Medium: soil

    Blackout Time: 4-7 days

    Germination Rate:  high

    Germination Time: 3 to 4 days

    Microgreens Harvest time: 20 to 25 days (in good growing conditions earlier harvest may be possible.) 

    Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 22 days

    Baby Salad / Adult Stage Harvest: 25 + days (grow in soil)

    Microgreens Color:Thai and Genovese:green;  Dark Opal: purple with some green

    Microgreens Flavor: Purple and Genovese:  intense basil; Thai: basil with a distinct hint of anise/licorice

    Keep damp with regular misting until sprouted and the roots are established.

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    Beet Microgreens

    Seeding Rate: 20-30 grams or 1 oz per 1020 tray

    Seed Presoak: 4 to 8 hours in cold water

    Growing Medium: soil

    Preferred Medium: soil

    Stacking Time: 4-5 days

    Germination Rate:  good

    Germination Time: 3 to 4 days

    Microgreens Harvest time: 10 to 14 days

    Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 10 days

    Baby Salad / Adult Stage Harvest: not recommended

    Microgreens Color: green leaves with dark red stems

    Microgreens Flavor: earthy

    Harvest close to the soil to feature the colorful red stem. A fantastic garnish or accent to any dish for its beauty. When sowing in soil, spread the soaked seeds thickly across a slightly compacted bed of soil, then cover with a thin layer of soil. Tamp lightly.  Keep covered with the blackout dome or stacked until germination is complete.

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    Broccoli Microgreens

    Seeding Rate: 15-20 grams or 0.5 oz per 1020 tray

    Seed Presoak: No

    Growing Medium: hydroponic, soil

    Preferred Medium: soil

    Stacking Time: 2-3 days

    Germination Rate:  high

    Germination Time: 2 to 3 days

    Microgreens Harvest time: 8 to 12 days

    Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 10 days

    Baby Salad / Adult Stage Harvest: 15+ days

    Microgreens Color: green

    Microgreens Flavor: mild cabbage

    Broccoli grows very fast and is one of the easiest microgreens to grow.   It can be sown a little more thickly than other seeds. Broccoli colors up quickly and is greener than most other crops. It is a hardy and substantial microgreen that has a fresh, mild cabbage flavor. They are also favored for their health benefits.  It is an excellent choice as a base for any micro greens salad.

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    Brussels Sprout Microgreens

    Seeding Rate:15-20 grams or 0.5 oz per 1020 tray

    Seed Presoak: No

    Growing Medium: hydroponic, soil

    Preferred Medium: soil

    Stacking Time: 2-3 days

    Germination Rate:  high

    Germination Time: 1 to 2 days

    Microgreens Harvest time: 8 to 10 days

    Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 10 days

    Baby Salad / Adult Stage Harvest: not recommended

    Microgreens Color: dark green

    Microgreens Flavor: mild brussels sprout

    Long Island Brussels sprout grows very fast.  Brussels sprouts color up quite quickly and are a dark green in color.  With a mild brussels sprout flavor, this is a unique microgreen choice for any dish.

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    Buckwheat Microgreens

    Seed Quantity: 100 grams or 3.5 oz.

    Seed Presoak: 4 to 8 hours (cold water)

    Growing Medium: soil

    Preferred Medium: soil 

    Stacking Time: 3-5 days

    Germination Rate:  high

    Germination Time: 1 to 2 days

    Microgreens Harvest time: 8 to 12 days

    Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 10 days

    Baby Salad / Adult Stage Harvest: not recommended

    Microgreens Color: pale green with stems that can be white or pink. Exposure to sunlight will increase the pick color. 

    Microgreens Flavor: mild, tart / tangy

    Soak seeds in cold water for half a day, rinse well, then spread over the soil.  To prepare the soil, tamp it gently to flatten.  Spread the buckwheat seeds evenly (they should be quite thick) and tamp very gently to insure contact with the soil.  Mist thoroughly.  Keep stacked for 3-5 days before exposing light.  Water once a day so the soil is damp but not soggy.  Rinse thoroughly and take care to remove all the shells before drying and serving.

    Buckwheat greens are delicate and pale green with a tangy flavor.  They make an excellent snack on their own and are great added to smoothies!

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    Cabbage Microgreens

    • Golden Acre(green with slight yellow tint)
    • Red Acre and Red Rock Mammoth (green leaves with violet highlights and stems)
    • Pak Choi (pale green or dark green with white stems)
      • Purple Bok Choi (purple topped leaves with green underside)
      • Kogane (yellowish green)

        Seeding: 15-20 grams or 0.5 - 0.7 oz. Smaller seeds need less weight. 

        Seed Presoak: No

        Growing Medium: soil or hydroponic

        Preferred Medium: soil

        Stacking Time: 2-3 days

        Germination Rate:  high

        Germination Time: 1 to 2 days

        Microgreens Harvest time: 8 to 12 days

        Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 10 days

        Baby Salad Harvest: 16+ Days

        Microgreens Color: see above

        Microgreens Flavor: mild cabbage

        Cabbage is easy to grow, flavorful, and makes a great base for any microgreens salad with interesting color combinations.  

        Red Rock Mammoth typically has leaves a little larger than other red cabbages.

        Bok Choi (also spelled and Pak Choi or Pok Choy) microgreens are a little more sensitive to light, so keep in lower light conditions once you expose to light on the 3rd or 4th day. Pak Choi has a slightly sweet, robust choy flavor. Colors vary greatly between types with purple being the most striking. Purple bok choi seeds are often very expensive but can be grown for premium customers who are willing to pay extra for this gorgeous microgreen.

        Kogane or Beka Santoh are varieties of Chinese cabbage that have a mild choy flavor.  Their pale yellowish green color makes a wonderful color contrast to the darker green micros and really adds color variety to a microgreens salad.. It’s fast, flavorful and easy to grow, but the seeds are more expensive. Try adding some to your mixes for better color variations. Great to the baby salad stage.

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        Cauliflower Microgreens

        Seeding Rate:15-20 grams or 0.5 oz per 1020 tray

        Seed Presoak: No

        Growing Medium: hydroponic, soil

        Preferred Medium: soil

        Stacking Time: 2-3 days

        Germination Rate:  high

        Germination Time: 1 to 2 days

        Microgreens Harvest time: 8 to 10 days

        Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 10 days

        Baby Salad / Adult Stage Harvest: not recommended

        Microgreens Color: green leaves and violet stems

        Microgreens Flavor: mild cauliflower

        Easy to grow, and can be sown a bit more thickly than most other seeds if you like. Cauliflower microgreens are favored for their health benefits. These tasty,  but mild microgreens make a great base for any salad.

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        Celery Microgreens

        Seeding: 15-20 grams or 0.5 oz per 1020 tray

        Seed Presoak: No

        Growing Medium: hydroponic or soil

        Preferred Medium: hydroponic for microgreens, soil for baby salad

        Blackout Time: 4-5 days

        Germination Rate:  high but can take time

        Germination Time: up to 2 weeks

        Microgreens Harvest time: 2 to 5 weeks post germination

        Microgreens Ideal Harvest: varies

        Baby Salad Harvest: 5 weeks +

        Microgreens Color: light green

        Microgreens Flavor: sharp celery

         

        A very light green micro that tastes just like celery, but with a more intense flavor. Great addition to any salad or sandwich to add crunch and celery flavor. Can also be added to egg dishes for a special treat.

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        Chard Microgreens (Swiss Chard or Rainbow Chard)

        Seeding Rate: 20-30 grams or 1 oz per 1020 tray

        Seed Presoak: 4 to 8 hours in cold water

        Growing Medium: soil

        Preferred Medium: soil

        Stacking Time: 4-5 days

        Germination Rate:  good

        Germination Time: 3 to 4 days

        Microgreens Harvest time: 10 to 14 days

        Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 10 days

        Baby Salad / Adult Stage Harvest: not recommended

        Microgreens Color: Rainbow:  green leaves multi colored stems

        Ruby Red:  green leaves and red stems

        Microgreens Flavor: chard / spinach

        A mild delicate spinach flavor and amazing assortment of colors. Makes an excellent choice to add to any micro mix for the flavor and color. Difficult to grow hydroponically.

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        Chia Microgreens

        Seeding Rate: 10-15 grams or 0.35-0.5 oz per 1020 tray

        Seed Presoak: No (mucilaginous)

        Growing Medium: hydroponic or soil

        Preferred Medium: soil

        Blackout Time: 3-5 days

        Germination Rate:  high

        Germination Time: 2 to 3 days

        Microgreens Harvest time: 8 to 12 days

        Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 10 days

        Baby Salad Harvest: not recommended

        Microgreens Color: green leaves

        Microgreens Flavor: earthy

        Chia is easy to grow and is favored for its health benefits. Harvest close to the root for maximum yield, to lengthen stems you can add another day to the blackout time. 

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        Chive/Green Onion/Leeks as Microgreens

        Seeding Rate: 40-50 grams or 1.5 oz. per 1020 tray

        Seed Presoak: no

        Growing Medium: soil or hydroponic

        Preferred Medium: soil

        Stacking and Blackout Time: Stack for 4 days and keep in blackout for an additional 2-3 days.

        Germination Rate:  high

        Germination Time: 1 to 2 weeks

        Microgreens Harvest time: 3 weeks

        Microgreens Ideal Harvest: varies

        Baby Salad Harvest: 4 weeks +

        Microgreens Color: green

        Microgreens Flavor: onion

        Micro chives have an onion taste that can add color and flavor to any micro salad. They look like tiny scallions. Use in place of onions on a sandwich. This microgreen is a slow grower and tends to be more challenging than many varieties. It prefers to be grown in soil. Can be kept growing for a second and sometimes third harvest. These subsequent harvests are often thicker and more prolific. 

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        Cilantro Microgreens also known as Chinese Parsley

        We recommend using split seeds as they germinate faster and shed their seed huls more readily

         

        Seeding Rate:  30-40 grams a little over 1 oz. 

        Seed Presoak: 2-4 hours

        Growing Medium: soil only

        Preferred Medium: soil

        Stacking Time: 7 days

        Germination Rate:  high

        Germination Time: 1 to 2 weeks

        Microgreens Harvest time: 3 to 4 weeks

        Microgreens Ideal Harvest: varies

        Baby Salad Harvest: 4 weeks +

        Microgreens Color: green

        Microgreens Flavor: intense cilantro / coriander

        Germination can be erratic with some emerging at about a week, and some seeds taking longer.  Sow quite thickly, some growers choose to cover with a thin layer of soil (1/4 inch) and tamp very lightly. Stack or cover with a humidity / black out dome and mist twice a day to keep the top layer of soil nice and damp. Cilantro seeds prefer cooler temperatures (under 70 degrees), especially during germination. Cilantro microgreens have a more intense flavor than adult cilantro. Much fresher and stronger than grocery store cilantro.  Use in salsa, indian recipes or any recipe that calls for cilantro.

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        Clover Microgreens

        Seeding Rate: 15-20 grams or 0.5 oz per 1020 tray

        Seed Presoak: No

        Growing Medium: hydroponic, soil

        Preferred Medium: hydroponic

        Germination Rate: high

        Stacking Time: 2-3 days

        Germination Time: 1 to 2 days

        Microgreens Harvest time: 8 to 12 days

        Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 10 days

        Baby Salad / Adult Stage Harvest: not recommended

        Microgreens Color: green 

        Microgreens Flavor: mild, fresh, slightly sweet

        Red Clover is a fast, easy growing microgreen. It has a mild, fresh flavor. It is better if it is not grown past the microgreen stage. Experiment with harvesting earlier than 10 days, as the flavor is sweeter the younger the clover.

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        Collard Greens (Vates)

        Seeding Rate: 15-20 grams or 0.5 oz per 1020 tray

        Seed Presoak: No

        Growing Medium: hydroponic, soil

        Preferred Medium: soil

        Stacking Time: 2-3 days

        Germination Rate:  high

        Germination Time: 2 to 3 days

        Microgreens Harvest time: 6 to 10 days

        Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 10 days

        Baby Salad / Adult Stage Harvest: 12-20 days

        Microgreens Color: dark green

        Microgreens Flavor: fresh, intense collard green flavor

        Vates Collard Greens are a very easy to grow microgreens from the Brassica family. Micro Collard Greens have the same flavor as adult collard greens, but with more flavor intensity.

        Collards make a great base for a microgreen salad or a garnish. They also work well with traditionally southern dishes. 

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        Corn Shoots 

        Variety: Popcorn 

        Seed Quantity: 225-275 grams or 8-10 oz. per 1020 tray

        Seed Presoak: 2-6 hours (cold water)

        Growing Medium: soil or hydroponic

        Stacking Time: 3-4 days

        Blackout Time: Entire grow must be in blackout

        Preferred Medium: soil

        Germination Rate:  high

        Germination Time: 1 to 2 days

        Harvest time: 6-10 days

        Ideal Harvest: 6 days after germination

        Baby Salad / Adult Stage Harvest: not recommended

        Color: yellow

        Flavor: crunchy, fresh and very sweet

        There are a few key differences in growing technique on popcorn shoots from most other microgreens. With corn shoots you must harvest at around 6 days. If grown longer than that they begin to develop their leaves which are very fibrous and not good to eat. Also, keep your shoots in the dark for the entire six days right up to harvest time. Exposure to light will cause them to develop leaves or fibers which you don't want. Corn shoots are incredibly sweet and make a great garnish for desserts or other dishes where you want a sweet flavor. The flavor is so intensely sweet it has to be experienced to be understood.

        Tip: Use a blackout humidity dome to keep out light during the grow.

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        Cress Microgreens (Curled) 

        Seeding Rate: 20 grams or 0.7 oz per 1020 tray

        Seed Presoak: No (mucilaginous)

        Growing Medium: hydroponic or soil

        Preferred Medium: hydroponic for microgreens, soil for baby salad greens

        Blackout Time: 4-5 days

        Germination Rate:  high

        Germination Time: 3 to 5 days

        Microgreens Harvest time: 8 to 12 days

        Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 10 days

        Baby Salad Harvest: 16+ days

        Microgreens Color: green

        Microgreens Flavor: intense peppery, but a hint of sweet with the Curled Type

        Curled Cress is a mucilaginous seed. It prefers considerably less water in the sprouting stage than most other microgreens seeds. If the seeds get too wet, you will end up with a very low germination rate. Germinate in the blackout dome as normal, but mist more frequently (3 times a day), but with less mist in each application. The goal is to keep the seeds damp but not wet/soggy. You may need to experiment with a few crops to get it right.

        Cress has an interesting shaped leaf that is green in color. The peppery flavor is intense. The peppery taste of cress is stronger than any other micro. Just a little cress goes a long way.

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        Endive Microgreens

        Seeding Rate: 15-20 grams or 0.5 oz per 1020 tray

        Seed Presoak: No

        Growing Medium: hydroponic, soil

        Preferred Medium: hydroponic for microgreens, soil for baby salad greens

        Blackout Time: 3-5 days

        Germination Rate:  high

        Germination Time: 2 to 3 days

        Microgreens Harvest time: 8 to 15 days

        Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 10 days

        Baby Salad / Adult Stage Harvest: 16+ days

        Microgreens Color: light green leaves or red depending on type

        Microgreens Flavor: mild, contrasting bitter

        Expose to light on day four. Harvest close to the root line and rinse well. Makes a nice contrast to strong flavors like sweet, salt and spice. It works well in place of lettuce on sandwiches and as a flavor contrast in microgreens salads. Green Curled Ruffec Micro Endive has a pleasant, mildly bitter flavor. Great for baby salads. Grows well, even in cold conditions.

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        Fennel Microgreens

        Seeding Rate: 20-30 grams or 1 oz. per 1020 tray

        Seed Presoak: No

        Growing Medium: hydroponic, soil

        Preferred Medium: soil

        Stacking Time: 3-4 days

        Blackout Time: 2-3 days

        Germination Rate:  high

        Germination Time: 3 to 4 days

        Microgreens Harvest time: 16-20 days

        Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 16+ days

        Baby Salad / Adult Stage Harvest: 25+ days

        Microgreens Color: green

        Microgreens Flavor:  Mild, anise flavor

        Fennel is an herb in the celery family that is popular as a garnish. Because its anise flavor is so mild, it makes a great choice as a garnish for a wide variety of dishes from sweet to savory. Sow seeds a little more thinly and give your plants room to grow. Fennel seed husks can be stubborn in clinging to leaves, so plan on growing long enough for most to drop.

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        Kale Microgreens (Vates Blue Curled) (Red Russian)

        Seeding Rate: 15-20 grams or 0.5 oz per 1020 tray

        Seed Presoak: No

        Growing Medium: hydroponic, soil

        Preferred Medium: soil

        Stacking Time: 2-3 days

        Germination Rate:  high

        Germination Time: 2 to 3 days

        Microgreens Harvest time: 6 to 10 days

        Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 10 days

        Baby Salad / Adult Stage Harvest: 12-20 days

        Microgreens Color: dark green or red fringed depending on type

        Microgreens Flavor: fresh kale

        Blue Curled are green with a blue hint and have a slight curl to the leaves, Red Russian has a tint of color on the underside of the leaves and a beautiful fringe to the leaves when grown to the true leaf stage.

        Kale has a nice mild flavor. It makes a great choice as a base to any microgreens salad.

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        Kohlrabi Microgreens (Purple Vienna)

        Seeding Rate: 15-20 grams or 0.5 oz per 1020 tray

        Seed Presoak: No

        Growing Medium: hydroponic, soil

        Preferred Medium: soil

        Stacking Time: 2-3 days

        Germination Rate:  high

        Germination Time: 2 to 3 days

        Microgreens Harvest time: 6 to 10 days

        Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 10 days

        Baby Salad / Adult Stage Harvest: 12-20 days

        Microgreens Color: green leaves with purple highlights and stems

        Microgreens Flavor: mild cabbage

        Easy to grow and flavorful. Interesting color combinations at a reasonable seed cost makes Kohlrabi an excellent addition to mixes. The beauty on the plate is great for garnishes.

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        Lettuce Microgreens

        (Parris Island, Selway, Waldman's Green)

        Seeding Rate: 15-20 grams or 0.5 oz per 1020 tray

        Seed Presoak: No

        Growing Medium: hydroponic, soil

        Preferred Medium: soil

        Stacking Time: 2-3 days

        Germination Rate:  high

        Germination Time: 2 to 3 days

        Microgreens Harvest time: 10 to 12 days

        Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 10 days

        Baby Salad Harvest: 16+ Days

        Microgreens Color: green 

        Microgreens Flavor: concentrated lettuce

        Parris Island brings an interesting color combination from light to dark leaves and are relatively petite. Selway has more of a fresh green color, also considered petite. Waldmann's Green Lettuce is easy and quick to grow. The fresh taste and green color makes lettuce microgreens a great base for any salad, especially when grown to true leaf stage. You can experiment with some of the more colorful lettuce varieties as well like Flashy Trout or Red Romaines. Keep in mind that the color spectrum of light can dramatically affect the color of the leaves. 

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        Microgreens Salad Mixes

        Basic Mixes Often Contain: broccoli, blue curly kale, purple vienna kohlrabi, arugula, red acre cabbage, snowball cauliflower and other brassicas. 

        Spicy Mixes Often Contain: broccoli, kale, purple kohlrabi, arugula, red acre cabbage, southern giant mustard, crimson tide mustard. 

        Seeding Rate:Will depend on which varieties you are using

        Seed Presoak: No

        Growing Medium: hydroponic, soil

        Preferred Medium: hydroponic

        Stacking Time: 2-4 days

        Germination Rate:  high

        Germination Time: 2 to 3 days

        Microgreens Harvest time: 8 to 12 days

        Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 10 days

        Baby Salad / Adult Stage Harvest: 12+ days, should be seeded less densely for baby green stage. 

        Microgreens Color: mostly green with purple and red highlights

        Microgreens Flavor: nice flavor combination

        You can experiment with creating your own mixes. Be sure to choose varieties that have similar germination and grow times if you will be growing them all together. Depending on the regulations where you are you can also create mixes that are grown in separate trays and mixed after harvest.  

        Mustard Microgreens

        (Mizuna) (Red Streaks Mizuna) (Osaka) (Southern Giant) (Crimson Tide) (Mibung) (Yellow) 

        Seeding Rate: 10-15 grams or 0.35-0.5 oz per 1020 tray

        Seed Presoak: No 

        Growing Medium: hydroponic or soil

        Preferred Medium: soil

        Blackout Time: 3-5 days

        Germination Rate:  high

        Germination Time: 2 to 3 days

        Microgreens Harvest time: 8 to 12 days

        Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 10 days

        Baby Salad Harvest: 16+ days

        Microgreens Color: green to red depending on type

        Microgreens Flavor: Spicy mustard

        Mizuna is a great choice as a secondary green in any salad. It has a very mild mustard / spice flavor that isn't overpowering. It grows better in cooler conditions. Mizuna is a very mild Japanese mustard.  It grows well to the baby salad stage and is delicious as microgreen or baby salad green. Red Streaks Mizuna tastes just like regular Mizuna, but has beautiful red-purple highlights on the green true leaves. It grows better in cooler conditions

        Osaka mustard is a strong Japanese mustard, with beautiful purple highlights. It is one of the primary ingredients in making wasabi. It grows well to the baby salad stage and is delicious as microgreen or baby salad green.Try as a fresh garnish with sushi instead of wasabi.

        Southern giant mustard is a fairly fast grower, but not as fast as red giant mustard. Due to its lower cost, it is our favorite choice for mustard greens. Southern giant mustard is a beautiful, large leafed microgreen. It has a strong spicy mustard flavor.

        Crimson Tide mustard is a fast and easy growing microgreen. Petite, great flavor for garnishes or for a little kick to any salad. It's green with reddish purple speckles. 

        Mibuna is a fast, tall, and easy grower that makes a great choice as a secondary green in any salad. It is very similar to Mizuna mustard, but has a slightly stronger mustard / spice flavor.  It grows better in cooler conditions. Mibuna is a mild Japanese mustard. It grows well to the baby salad stage and is delicious as microgreen or baby salad green.

        Yellow mustard is a fast and easy growing microgreen. Due to its lower cost and mild flavor, it's a great choice among the mustards. Yellow mustard is lighter green in color and has a mild mustard flavor that has a hint of sweetness.

         

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        Parsley Microgreens

        Seeding Rate: 15-20 grams or 0.5 oz per 1020 tray

        Seed Presoak: No

        Growing Medium: soil

        Preferred Medium: soil

        Blackout Time: 4-5 days

        Germination Rate:  high

        Germination Time: 6-7 days

        Microgreens Harvest time: 16+ days

        Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 16+ days

        Baby Salad / Adult Stage Harvest: 20-25 days

        Microgreens Color: green

        Microgreens Flavor: mild parsley

        Parsley is a common herb used to garnish and season many dishes. This seed takes longer to germinate, and does much better in soil than hydroponics. Micro Parsley is among the easiest of the micro herbs to grow. Strongly recommend soil as a growing media.

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        Pea Shoots (Dun or Afila tendril)

        Seed Quantity: 200-275 grams or 7-9 oz.

        Presoak: 6-12 hours (cold water) 

        Presprout: 12-24 hours

        Preferred Medium: soil 

        Stacking Time: 3-5 days

        Germination Rate:  high

        Germination Time: 2 to 3 days

        Harvest time: 8 to 12 days

        Ideal Harvest: 10 days

        Baby Salad / Adult Stage Harvest: not recommended, pea shoots can become fibrous grown past 12 days

        Color: green

        Flavor: crunchy, mildly sweet, fresh

        Use plenty of water when soaking as they're very absorbent. Transfer to a colander to presprout before stacking. Rinse 2 to 4 times a day in the colander for another day or two until the roots begin to peek out. Tamp the soil gently to flatten. Spread evenly (they should be quite thick) and tamp very gently to insure contact with the soil. Mist thoroughly twice a day.  Keep stacked for 3 to 4 more days before exposing light. Water once a day so the soil is damp but not soggy. Can be used in all the normal ways the other microgreens are but can also be made into delicious dishes all on their own. 

        Dun peas and other field pea types are great for pea shoots.Tendril types like afila are very popular with chefs for their delicately curled tendrils. 

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        Radish Microgreens (Daikon) (Sango)

        Seeding Rate: 30-35 grams or 1 oz.

        Seed Presoak: No

        Growing Medium: hydroponic or soil

        Preferred Medium: soil

        Stacking Time: 2-3 days

        Germination Rate:  high

        Germination Time: 1 to 2 days

        Microgreens Harvest time: 5 to 12 days

        Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 10 days

        Baby Salad Harvest: not recommended

        Microgreens Color: green

        Microgreens Flavor: strong radish

        Due to its fast growth it can be harvested as early as 5 days, assuming you have exposed them to light on day 3.  These radish microgreens are at their peak of crunchiness at about day 5 or 6. Once they grow larger they get more leafy and lose their crunch. The first true leaf is often spiky so growing past the cotyledon stage is not recommended. There are 

        Daikon Radish is a green crop with an intense radish flavor great in any microgreen salad or full sized salad. Use instead of sliced radish vegetables anywhere you would normally use radish.

        Sango radish is a spectacular shade of purple (with an occasional green) that adds crunch, radish vegetable flavor and amazingly colorful highlights to any microgreen salad or full sized salad.

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        Red Komatsuna Microgreens

        Seeding Rate: 10-15 grams or 0.35-0.5 oz per 1020 tray

        Seed Presoak: No 

        Growing Medium: hydroponic or soil

        Preferred Medium: soil

        Blackout Time: 3-5 days

        Germination Rate:  high

        Germination Time: 2 to 3 days

        Microgreens Harvest time: 8 to 12 days

        Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 10 days

        Baby Salad Harvest: 16+ days

        Microgreens Color: green leaves with red & purple highlights. Interesting combination

        Microgreens Flavor: Fresh with very mild spice.

        This spinach mustard hybrid has great color and flavor. It can be prone to mold so use best sterilization practices to keep it growing. If you aren’t familiar with these procedures check out Microgreens- How to Combat and Prevent Mold. Giving the seeds a misting with 3% hydrogen peroxide solution before misting with water and stacking will help prevent mold growth. 

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        Large Leaf Sorrel/Red veined Sorrel Microgreens

        Seeding Rate: 3 grams for a 1020 tray, these are planted more sparsely the longer you intend to let them grow. 

        Seed Presoak: no

        Growing Medium: soil

        Blackout Time: 3-5 days

        Preferred Medium: soil

        Germination Rate:  high

        Germination Time: 1 to 2 days

        Microgreens Harvest time: 10 to 12 days

        Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 12 days

        Baby Salad / Adult Stage Harvest: 20-25 days and up to 6 weeks

        Microgreens Color: bright green, green with red veins

        Microgreens Flavor: bright, lemony flavor

        Because sorrel can be quite expensive as a seed it makes more sense to grow as a tiny baby green. If you are growing in soil and cutting individual leaves, you can continue to harvest for a number of weeks from the same tray. Red veined sorrel in particular is a very valuable crop if grown this way because the dramatic red veins against the bright green leaf is highly desirable for plating in high end cuisine.
        Large leaf sorrel has a wonderful lemony tang that makes a fantastic garnish or flavor enhancer wherever you would use a dash of lemon. It is tough to grow hydroponically but is fairly easy to grow in soil.

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        Sunflower (Black Oil)

        Seeding: 250 grams or about 9 oz.

        Seed Presoak: 6-12 hours.  Pre-sprout 12-24 hours in mesh

        Growing Medium: soil only

        Blackout Time: Stack 2-3 d Blackout 2-3 d

        Germination Rate:  high

        Germination Time: 2 to 3 days

        Microgreens Harvest time: 8 to 12 days

        Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 10 days

        Baby Salad / Adult Stage Harvest: not recommended

        Microgreens Color: green

        Microgreens Flavor: crunchy, nutty, fresh

        You can also grow sunflower greens from hulled raw seeds, but the germination rate is very low when growing this green. Soak seeds in cold water for 6 to 12 hours. You can plant directly, but we prefer to transfer to a colander for pre sprouting. Rinse 2 to 4 times a day in the colander for another day or two until the seedlings begin to peek through the shell. Tamp the soil gently to flatten. Spread seeds evenly (they should be quite thick) and tamp very gently to insure contact with the soil. Mist planted tray thoroughly twice a day while stacked for 2-3 days. Keep covered with the blackout / humidity dome for 2 to 3 more days after unstacking before exposing light. Water once a day so the soil is damp but not soggy. Sunflower microgreens are our all time favorite microgreen! They are large, substantial greens that are crunchy and have a pleasant nutty flavor. We love to use them as a base for any microgreens salad. They make an excellent snack! We recommend this as a staple of any crop or microgreens salad.

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        Wheatgrass

        Seeding: 450 g. or about 16 oz of seed for a 10"x20" tray.

        Seed Presoak: Yes (4-8 hrs), Pre-sprout 12-24 h in mesh.

        Growing Medium: hydroponic or soil

        Preferred Medium: hydroponic or soil

        Blackout Time: 2 days

        Germination Rate:  high

        Germination Time: 2-3 days

        Microgreens Harvest time: 8-10 days

        Microgreens Ideal Harvest: 10 days

        Microgreens Color: green

        Microgreens Flavor: fresh green 

        Wheatgrass is almost exclusively used for juicing. The leaves are so fibrous that they cannot be digested by humans in their whole form.

        Prone to mold, using mesh trays and bottom watering with a 1020 shallow can help keep the soil on the dry side of moist. Moderate to slightly cool temps, under 75 degrees F.  Do not soak the seed for more than 8 hrs.




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