Best Seeds for Microgreens

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Microgreens sprouting with cotyledon's

Here is a list of microgreen seeds that you can grow indoors. The most common, widely available and easy to grow microgreen seeds are fenugreek, radish, broccoli, sunflower, mustard, kale and pea. All of these microgreens are ready for harvest in 7 to 15 days.

 

Kale microgreens are considered one of the most nutritious, and fenugreek microgreens are recommended for diabetics(1).


 

Microgreen

Family

Taste/Aroma/

Flavor/Intensity

Crop time

Radish 

Brassicaceae

Sweet, Strong

10-15 Days

Cauliflower

Brassicaceae

Peppery

8-12 Days

Broccoli

Brassicaceae

Bitter, Crunchy, Mild

10-14 Days

Cabbage

Brassicaceae

Sweet, Crunchy, Mild

20-30 Days

Watercress

Brassicaceae

Bitter, Peppery, Strong

8-14 Days

Arugula or Rocket

Brassicaceae

Savory, Pungent, Nutty, Strong

10-12 Days

Garden Pea

Fabaceae

Crunchy, Sweet, Juicy

10 Days

Kale

Brassicaceae

Bitter, Crunchy, Mild

8-12 Days

Mustard

Brassicaceae

Spicy, SweetMustardy

14 Days

Lettuce

Asteraceae

Sweet, Strong

8-20 Days

Endive

Asteraceae

Bitter, Mild

8-15 Days

Sunflower

Asteraceae

Sweet, Spicy, Nutty

10-14 Days

Chicory

Daisy

Bitter, Mild

7-20 Days

Radicchio

Daisy

Spicy

7-10 Days

Dill

Apiaceae

Aromatic, Hint of lemon and anise

16-30 Days

Carrot

Apiaceae

Carrot taste, mild

15-25 Days

Fennel 

Apiaceae

Fennel flavor, Mild

20-30 Days

Celery

Apiaceae

Like celery

21-30 Days

Garlic chive

Amaryllidaceae

Like garlic

5-14 Days

Onion

Amaryllidaceae

Savory, Strong

12-21 Days

Leek

Amaryllidaceae

onion-like flavor

with a tiny hint of cucumber,

Mild

10-12 Days

Amaranth

Amaranthaceae

Sweet, Earthy, Mild

10 Days

Spinach

Amaranthaceae

Sweet, Mild

7–10 Days

Quinoa 

Amaranthaceae

Bitter, Woody, Mild

10-14 Days

Swiss Chard

Amaranthaceae

Sweet, Earthy, Mild

8-12 Days

Beet 

Amaranthaceae

Sweet, Earthy, Mild

15-30 Days

Chives

Amaryllidaceae

Spicy Sweet, Crunchy

14-21 Days

Melon

Cucurbitaceae

Sweet, Crunchy

14 Days

Squash

Cucurbitaceae

Nutty, Mild

14 Days

Cucumber 

Cucurbitaceae

Sweet, Mild

7-12 Days

Dill

Umbellifers

Sweet, Grassy

15-30 Days

Coriander

Umbellifers

Sour, Citrusy

10-20 Days

Corn

Grasses

Sweet or Bitter

6-7 Days

Wheatgrass

Grasses

Sweet and Bitter, Grassy, Mild

7-10 Days

Fenugreek

Legumes

Spicy, Grassy, Mustardy

9-10 Days

 

  • Broccoli sprouts are one of the most nutrient-dense microgreens that you can grow. They contain glucoraphanin and sulforaphane which is known to prevent cancer.
  • You can grow Paris Cos which is a romaine lettuce. Another variety of Lettuce that you can grow indoors is the Bronze Mignonette which has beautiful purple tinge leaves. You can grow them near a sunny windowsill but they do even better under a grow light. 
  • Carrot microgreens taste just like carrots. 
  • Don’t mistake the tiny roots of microgreens for mold. Basil seeds develop a jelly-like coating that looks moldy. This is normal.
  • Corn microgreens are sweet if you grow them in the dark, and bitter if you grow them in light because of the photosynthesis that takes place in sprouting plants.
  • Kale is considered to be the most nutritious microgreens that you can grow and eat. Kale is high in vitamins A, C, K1 and B6, works wonders for your skin, and is high in antioxidants
  • When growing coriander microgreens, break the outer covering of the coriander with some pressure. Spread the seeds in any kind of soil.

Most Tasty Microgreens

Microgreens taste almost like the mature plant, often more potent. While most microgreens will have some level of bitterness, the least bitter and most flavorful microgreens are basil (sweet n sour aftertaste), beets, broccoli, arugula, dill, garlic chives, mustard (spicy), pea, and sunflower. On the contrary, the most bitter microgreens are bitter, cress, wheatgrass and kale (but very nutritious).

Non-edible Microgreens

The following list of microgreens should not be consumed as most of them contain toxic alkaloids such as solanine and tropanes which can cause digestive and nervous system related symptoms and make you sick.

  • Potatoes
  • Tomatoes
  • Eggplants
  • Peppers

Health Benefits of Microgreens

Eating vegetables is linked to lower risk of several diseases, thanks to its high amounts of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Most microgreens actually contain more nutrition than mature vegetable greens(1). Most varieties of microgreens are rich in potassium, iron, zinc, magnesium, copper (2, 3) and antioxidants (1).

 

According to a 2014 study by USDA,

 

“Among the 25 microgreens tested, red cabbage, cilantro, garnet amaranth, and green daikon radish had the highest concentrations of vitamin C, carotenoids, vitamin K, and vitamin E, respectively. In general, microgreens contained considerably higher levels of vitamins and carotenoids—about five times greater—than their mature plant counterparts.”

 

As microgreens contain polyphenols and antioxidants, microgreens can reduce the risk of following diseases:

  • Heart diseases
  • Diabetes. Fenugreek microgreens are recommended(1).
  • Certain Cancers
  • Alzeimer’s disease
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