Grow Times at a Glance
Days are counted from the day you start, with soaking and blackout included. Ready In is when the harvest window opens.
| Microgreen | Ready In | Soak | Blackout | Under Light | Harvest Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radish (Daikon) | 8 days | None | 2 days | 6 days | 2 days |
| Sunflower (Black Oil) | 10 days | 10 hours | 3 days | 6 days | 2 days |
| Broccoli | 10 days | None | 3 days | 7 days | 2 days |
| Arugula | 10 days | None | 3 days | 7 days | 2 days |
| Kale (Red Russian) | 10 days | None | 3 days | 7 days | 2 days |
| Kohlrabi (Purple Vienna) | 10 days | None | 3 days | 7 days | 2 days |
| Mustard (Red Giant) | 10 days | None | 3 days | 7 days | 2 days |
| Pea (Speckled) | 11 days | 10 hours | 3 days | 7 days | 2 days |
| Red Cabbage | 11 days | None | 3 days | 8 days | 2 days |
| Amaranth (Red Garnet) | 14 days | None | 4 days | 10 days | 2 days |
| Basil (Genovese) | 16 days | None | 4 days | 12 days | 2 days |
| Cilantro (Split Seed) | 17 days | None | 7 days | 10 days | 2 days |
| Sprouts | Ready In | Soak | Rinse and Drain | Harvest Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mung Bean Sprouts | 4 days | 10 hours | 3 days | 1 day |
| Alfalfa Sprouts | 5 days | 8 hours | 4 days | 1 day |
| Broccoli Sprouts | 5 days | 8 hours | 4 days | 1 day |
Microgreens, Variety by Variety
Each one lists its days, how much seed to sow, what a tray usually weighs at harvest, and what it should look like along the way.
Radish (Daikon): 8 days
Ready about 8 days after you start it. Fast and spicy. Its fuzzy root hairs are often mistaken for mold.
- Blackout
- 2 days
- Under Light
- 6 days
- Harvest Window
- 2 days
- Seed per 10 by 20 Tray
- 28 g (1 oz)
- Harvest per Tray
- About 280 g (9.9 oz)
- Daily Care
- About 5 minutes
- Taste
- Spicy, like a radish
- How Hard
- Easiest tray
What to Expect
- Sow: Small round seeds spread evenly over damp, flat growing medium.
- Blackout: Seeds crack open and send down roots. Fuzzy white root hairs on the roots are normal.
- Uncover: Pale yellow sprouts about an inch tall. They turn green within a day in the light.
- Under Light: Green leaves open and the stems grow fast. Stems may show pink or purple.
- Harvest: About 2 to 3 inches tall with 2 open leaves. Cut before the stems start to lean.
Common Problems
- Root hairs mistaken for mold
- Tall, floppy stems from too long in blackout
- Stems falling over when harvested late
Sunflower (Black Oil): 10 days
Ready about 10 days after you start it. Crunchy and popular. Harvest when the first 2 leaves open. Once the next leaves (true leaves) come in, it turns bitter.
- Soak
- 10 hours
- Blackout Under Weight
- 3 days
- Under Light
- 6 days
- Harvest Window
- 2 days
- Seed per 10 by 20 Tray
- 225 g (7.9 oz)
- Harvest per Tray
- About 400 g (14.1 oz)
- Daily Care
- About 5 minutes
- Taste
- Nutty and crunchy
- How Hard
- Takes some practice
What to Expect
- Soak: The seeds swell a little and darken. Some show a white tip.
- Sow: Soaked seeds in one even layer, close together but not piled up.
- Blackout: Thick white stems push the weight up. Many still wear their black hulls.
- Uncover: Pale stems about 2 inches tall with yellow leaves, many still in their hulls.
- Under Light: Stems thicken and the first 2 leaves open and turn green. Brush off any hulls that stay on.
- Harvest: About 3 to 4 inches tall with 2 wide, open leaves. Cut before the next leaves (true leaves) come in.
Common Problems
- Hulls stuck on the leaves from too little weight or water
- Mold from dense seeding or wet leaves
- Damping off when air is still and warm
Broccoli: 10 days
Ready about 10 days after you start it. Mild and full of nutrients. It's easy to grow and sells steadily.
- Blackout
- 3 days
- Under Light
- 7 days
- Harvest Window
- 2 days
- Seed per 10 by 20 Tray
- 25 g (0.9 oz)
- Harvest per Tray
- About 250 g (8.8 oz)
- Daily Care
- About 5 minutes
- Taste
- Mild, a little like broccoli
- How Hard
- Easy
What to Expect
- Sow: Tiny round seeds spread evenly over damp, flat growing medium.
- Blackout: Seeds sprout and roots reach down. Short white root hairs are normal.
- Uncover: Pale yellow sprouts about an inch tall. They turn green within a day in the light.
- Under Light: Small green leaves open on thin stems. It grows steadily, slower than radish.
- Harvest: About 2 inches tall with 2 open green leaves.
Common Problems
- Mold from top watering
- Patchy germination from uneven seed spread
- Yellow leaves from late uncovering
Arugula: 10 days
Ready about 10 days after you start it. Peppery. The seed gels when wet, so mist lightly and never soak.
- Blackout
- 3 days
- Under Light
- 7 days
- Harvest Window
- 2 days
- Seed per 10 by 20 Tray
- 18 g (0.6 oz)
- Harvest per Tray
- About 160 g (5.6 oz)
- Daily Care
- About 5 minutes
- Taste
- Peppery
- How Hard
- Takes some practice
What to Expect
- Sow: Tiny seeds that turn sticky and clear when wet. That gel is normal.
- Blackout: Seeds sprout under the gel and thin white roots reach down.
- Uncover: Short, pale sprouts with tiny yellow leaves. They turn green within a day.
- Under Light: Small leaves turn deep green. The stems stay thin and short.
- Harvest: About 1 to 2 inches tall with open leaves. It tastes peppery.
Common Problems
- Seed clumping from overwatering at sowing
- Damping off in humid, still air
- Short, weak growth from too little light
Kale (Red Russian): 10 days
Ready about 10 days after you start it. Mild with purple stems. It holds well in the harvest window if you need an extra day.
- Blackout
- 3 days
- Under Light
- 7 days
- Harvest Window
- 2 days
- Seed per 10 by 20 Tray
- 22 g (0.8 oz)
- Harvest per Tray
- About 200 g (7.1 oz)
- Daily Care
- About 5 minutes
- Taste
- Mild and a little sweet
- How Hard
- Easy
What to Expect
- Sow: Small round seeds spread evenly over damp, flat growing medium.
- Blackout: Seeds sprout and roots reach down. Short white root hairs are normal.
- Uncover: Pale sprouts about an inch tall. They turn green within a day in the light.
- Under Light: Green leaves open on stems that turn purple in good light.
- Harvest: About 2 to 3 inches tall with 2 open leaves and purple stems.
Common Problems
- Mold from dense seeding
- Pale color from weak light
- Uneven growth from uneven growing medium
Kohlrabi (Purple Vienna): 10 days
Ready about 10 days after you start it. Mild and sweet, with bright purple stems.
- Blackout
- 3 days
- Under Light
- 7 days
- Harvest Window
- 2 days
- Seed per 10 by 20 Tray
- 25 g (0.9 oz)
- Harvest per Tray
- About 230 g (8.1 oz)
- Daily Care
- About 5 minutes
- Taste
- Mild and a little sweet
- How Hard
- Easy
What to Expect
- Sow: Small round seeds spread evenly over damp, flat growing medium.
- Blackout: Seeds sprout and roots reach down. Short white root hairs are normal.
- Uncover: Pale sprouts with light purple stems, about an inch tall.
- Under Light: Green leaves open and the stems turn bright purple.
- Harvest: About 2 inches tall with open leaves and purple stems.
Common Problems
- Mold from top watering
- Pale stems from weak light
- Patchy germination from dry seed
Mustard (Red Giant): 10 days
Ready about 10 days after you start it. Hot and colorful. It gets spicier the longer it grows.
- Blackout
- 3 days
- Under Light
- 7 days
- Harvest Window
- 2 days
- Seed per 10 by 20 Tray
- 18 g (0.6 oz)
- Harvest per Tray
- About 170 g (6 oz)
- Daily Care
- About 5 minutes
- Taste
- Hot, like mustard
- How Hard
- Easy
What to Expect
- Sow: Small seeds spread evenly over damp, flat growing medium.
- Blackout: Seeds sprout and roots reach down. Short white root hairs are normal.
- Uncover: Pale sprouts about an inch tall. They turn green within a day in the light.
- Under Light: Leaves turn green, then red or purple on top as they grow.
- Harvest: About 2 inches tall with open leaves. The longer it grows, the hotter it tastes.
Common Problems
- Damping off in still air
- Too spicy when harvested late
- Mold from dense seeding
Pea (Speckled): 11 days
Ready about 11 days after you start it. Easy to grow and gives a big harvest. Cut when shoots are 4 to 6 inches tall, before the tendrils get tough.
- Soak
- 10 hours
- Blackout Under Weight
- 3 days
- Under Light
- 7 days
- Harvest Window
- 2 days
- Seed per 10 by 20 Tray
- 250 g (8.8 oz)
- Harvest per Tray
- About 400 g (14.1 oz)
- Daily Care
- About 5 minutes
- Taste
- Sweet and crunchy, like fresh peas
- How Hard
- Takes some practice
What to Expect
- Soak: The peas swell to about twice their size and their skins wrinkle. Some may split.
- Sow: Swollen peas in one even layer, touching but not stacked.
- Blackout: Thick pale shoots push up against the weight, and roots grip the growing medium.
- Uncover: Pale yellow shoots about 2 inches tall. They turn green within a day in the light.
- Under Light: Green shoots grow about an inch a day, with small leaves and curly tendrils at the tips.
- Harvest: Shoots 4 to 6 inches tall with open leaves and tendrils. Cut before the stems get tough.
Common Problems
- Mold at the base from overwatering during blackout
- Uneven height from skipping the weight
- Sour soak from soaking too long or too warm
Red Cabbage: 11 days
Ready about 11 days after you start it. Purple stems and blue green leaves. The color deepens with good light.
- Blackout
- 3 days
- Under Light
- 8 days
- Harvest Window
- 2 days
- Seed per 10 by 20 Tray
- 25 g (0.9 oz)
- Harvest per Tray
- About 250 g (8.8 oz)
- Daily Care
- About 5 minutes
- Taste
- Mild, like cabbage
- How Hard
- Easy
What to Expect
- Sow: Tiny dark seeds spread evenly over damp, flat growing medium.
- Blackout: Seeds sprout and roots reach down. Short white root hairs are normal.
- Uncover: Pale sprouts with pink stems, about an inch tall.
- Under Light: Leaves turn blue green and the stems deepen to purple.
- Harvest: About 2 inches tall with open blue green leaves and purple stems.
Common Problems
- Washed-out color from weak light
- Mold from top watering
- Tall, floppy stems from a long blackout
Amaranth (Red Garnet): 14 days
Ready about 14 days after you start it. Bright red and delicate. It likes a warm room (70 to 75 °F) and gentle watering.
- Blackout
- 4 days
- Under Light
- 10 days
- Harvest Window
- 2 days
- Seed per 10 by 20 Tray
- 10 g (0.4 oz)
- Harvest per Tray
- About 140 g (4.9 oz)
- Daily Care
- About 5 minutes
- Taste
- Mild and earthy
- How Hard
- Tricky
What to Expect
- Sow: Very tiny seeds spread thinly over damp, flat growing medium.
- Blackout: Tiny sprouts with thin red stems. They're fragile, so move the tray gently.
- Uncover: Short, thin red sprouts. They look delicate, and that's normal for amaranth.
- Under Light: Small leaves open and the whole plant turns bright red. Growth is slow.
- Harvest: About 1 to 2 inches tall, bright red, with open leaves.
Common Problems
- Slow, patchy germination when the room is cool
- Stems collapsing from heavy watering
- Seedlings washing out from top watering
Basil (Genovese): 16 days
Ready about 16 days after you start it. Fragrant and slow growing. The seed gels when wet. It likes a warm room and steady light.
- Blackout
- 4 days
- Under Light
- 12 days
- Harvest Window
- 2 days
- Seed per 10 by 20 Tray
- 12 g (0.4 oz)
- Harvest per Tray
- About 115 g (4.1 oz)
- Daily Care
- About 5 minutes
- Taste
- Like fresh basil
- How Hard
- Tricky
What to Expect
- Sow: Small black seeds that turn gray and jelly-like when wet. That gel is normal.
- Blackout: Tiny sprouts push out of the gel, with thin white roots.
- Uncover: Short, pale sprouts with small round leaves.
- Under Light: Round green leaves open slowly. Basil grows slowly, so give it time.
- Harvest: About 1 to 2 inches tall with open leaves that smell like basil.
Common Problems
- Seed clumping from overwatering at sowing
- Slow growth in a cool room
- Damping off from wet, still air
Cilantro (Split Seed): 17 days
Ready about 17 days after you start it. Slow to sprout. Split seed sprouts faster and more evenly than whole seed.
- Blackout
- 7 days
- Under Light
- 10 days
- Harvest Window
- 2 days
- Seed per 10 by 20 Tray
- 45 g (1.6 oz)
- Harvest per Tray
- About 200 g (7.1 oz)
- Daily Care
- About 5 minutes
- Taste
- Like fresh cilantro
- How Hard
- Tricky
What to Expect
- Sow: Split seed halves spread evenly over damp, flat growing medium.
- Blackout: Slow to start. Little may show for several days, and that's normal. Keep it damp, not wet.
- Uncover: Thin pale sprouts with long narrow leaves. Some seeds may still be sprouting.
- Under Light: Long thin leaves turn green. Growth is slow and steady.
- Harvest: About 2 to 3 inches tall with long green leaves. It smells like cilantro.
Common Problems
- Giving up while it's slow to sprout
- Mold during the long blackout
- Uneven growth from whole, unsplit seed
Sprouts, Variety by Variety
Sprouts grow in a jar, with no growing medium and no light. See How to Grow Sprouts in a Jar for every step.
Mung Bean Sprouts: 4 days
Ready about 4 days after you start soaking it. About a third of a cup of seed per quart jar. Keep them in the dark for pale, crisp sprouts.
- Soak
- 10 hours
- Rinse and Drain
- 3 days
- Harvest Window
- 1 day
- Seed per Quart Jar
- 60 g (2.1 oz)
- Harvest per Jar
- About 270 g (9.5 oz)
- Daily Care
- Rinse 3 times, about 2 minutes each
- Taste
- Crisp and mild
- How Hard
- Easy
What to Expect
- Soak: The beans swell to about twice their size and some skins split.
- Rinse and Drain: Thick white tails grow longer each day. Keep them dark so they stay pale and crisp.
- Harvest: Crisp white sprouts about 1 to 2 inches long.
Common Problems
- Bitter, green sprouts from light exposure
- Overheating in the jar from skipping rinses
- Long, stringy roots when harvested late
Alfalfa Sprouts: 5 days
Ready about 5 days after you start soaking it. About 2 tablespoons of seed per quart jar. Mild and classic.
- Soak
- 8 hours
- Rinse and Drain
- 4 days
- Harvest Window
- 1 day
- Seed per Quart Jar
- 14 g (0.5 oz)
- Harvest per Jar
- About 140 g (4.9 oz)
- Daily Care
- Rinse twice, about 2 minutes each
- Taste
- Mild and fresh
- How Hard
- Easy
What to Expect
- Soak: The seeds swell to about twice their size in the water.
- Rinse and Drain: Tiny white tails appear by the second day and grow longer each day. By the last day they fill about half the jar, with small pale leaves.
- Harvest: Sprouts 1 to 2 inches long, with small leaves that turn green after a few hours of light.
Common Problems
- Sour smell from poor draining
- Spoilage from skipping rinses
- Short shelf life from packing wet
Broccoli Sprouts: 5 days
Ready about 5 days after you start soaking it. About 3 tablespoons of seed per half gallon mason jar with a screen sprouting lid. Mild and peppery. In a warm room, add a midday rinse.
- Soak
- 8 hours
- Rinse and Drain
- 4 days
- Harvest Window
- 1 day
- Seed per Quart Jar
- 30 g (1.1 oz)
- Harvest per Jar
- About 200 g (7.1 oz)
- Daily Care
- Rinse twice, about 2 minutes each
- Taste
- Mild and a little peppery
- How Hard
- Easiest jar
What to Expect
- Soak: The seeds swell a little and look plump.
- Rinse and Drain: Small white tails appear by the second day and grow longer each day. By the last day they fill about half the jar, with small pale leaves. Fuzzy white root hairs are normal.
- Harvest: Sprouts about an inch long with small leaves, green after a few hours of indirect light.
Common Problems
- Sour smell from water pooling in the jar
- Fuzzy root hairs mistaken for mold
- Short shelf life from packing before they're dry
What Changes Grow Times
These days are starting points, taken from the growing steps in Microgrower. Weigh your harvests and keep notes, and you'll learn what works in your own space.
- Blackout: too long gives tall, weak stems. Too short gives short, uneven trays.
- Light: run it 12 to 16 hours a day. Too little light gives pale, tall, floppy greens.
- Temperature: keep the room between 65 and 75 °F.
- Harvest: cut most microgreens when the first 2 leaves are open, before the true leaves grow in. Cut pea when it's 4 to 6 inches tall.
Plan Your Start Day
Know the day you want to eat them? Use When Should You Start? on our home page. Pick a variety and a day, and it counts back through the growing steps to the day to start.
In the Microgrower app, every tray's steps show up on Today when they're due, with a reminder each morning.
