10 of the Tastiest Types of Microgreens to Grow Indoors
From spicy mustard to sweet kohlrabi, these types microgreens are the best for boosting the flavor of any dish.
No, all types of microgreens don't taste alike. But they all are incredibly easy to grow and they take up so little space that indoor gardeners can cultivate them all year round on a sunny windowsill. Many of your favorite herbs and vegetables can be grown as microgreens that you harvest in just a few weeks. In this guide, you’ll find some of the easiest and tastiest types of microgreens to grow indoors.
Lynn Karlin
What Are Microgreens?
Unlike sprouts, which are grown without soil and harvested roots and all, microgreens are typically cultivated in soil and the stems and leaves are harvested at the seedling stage.
Related: The 9 Best Indoor Gardens of 2023 for Growing Delicious Herbs and Vegetables
1. Red-Veined Sorrel
Red-veined sorrel leaves are sure to stand out in any dish you add them to. These zingy greens have a bright, lemony flavor that adds freshness to soups and sandwiches, but they work in green salads as well. Compared to some other microgreens, red-veined sorrel takes a bit longer to grow, but these greens will be ready to harvest about 17 to 30 days after planting.
2. Radish
Radishes are some of the fastest veggies to grow in a garden, but these plants are also quick to mature as microgreens. With their slightly spicy bite, radish microgreens will add unexpected heat to any dish and their lively stem and leaf colors are pretty too. Like many other microgreens, radish microgreens can be sown in potting mix or soil-free growing mats and they’ll be ready to harvest about 8 to 10 days after planting.
Related: The 13 Best Potting Soils for Indoor and Outdoor Plants
3. Lentil
The seeds of lentil plants are commonly used in soups and other hearty fare. But many types of lentils can also be grown as microgreens and you can harvest them in just 3 to 5 days. Green, brown, yellow, and red types all make fantastic microgreens; just make sure that you don’t choose split lentils because these won’t sprout.
4. Kale
Kale is a popular plant to grow in cool weather gardens, but if you want to enjoy this vegetable at any time of the year, you can also grow kale as microgreens. All types of kale can be used as microgreens, including purple and green varieties, but if you want to get lots of color, ‘Red Russian’ is particularly eye-catching with its bright pink stems. Like other microgreens, kale greens are harvested at the seedling stage before their true leaves emerge, or about 10 days after planting.
5. Mustard
Mustard greens and microgreens are known for their spicy heat, which can elevate the taste of stir fries, salads and even cocktails. Mustard microgreens are harvested about 8 to 11 days after planting and the seedlings’ green or purple leaves contrast nicely against their bright white stems. For better flavor and straighter stems, be sure to grow your microgreens in lots of light or place them under grow lights.
Related: The 12 Best Grow Lights to Help Your Plants Thrive in 2023
6. Arugula
Full-sized arugula leaves are often eaten as salad greens, but arugula microgreens are even more versatile and they can be used as garnishes on salads, potatoes, and egg dishes too. Fast growing and hardy, arugula microgreens mature in 10 days and they have a delightful, peppery flavor that makes them stand out.
7. Broccoli
When you think of broccoli, you probably think of broccoli crowns, which are actually the immature flowerheads of the plants. But if you love the mild and slightly sweet flavor of these broccoli florets, you may also want to try growing broccoli microgreens. Broccoli microgreens are harvested 10 to 14 days after planting or when seedlings are about 2 to 3 inches tall.
8. Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi isn’t as commonly grown as some other veggies, but this tasty Brassica has lots to recommend it. Ready to harvest in about 1 to 2 weeks, kohlrabi microgreens have a sweet and mild flavor. Green kohlrabi has its charms, but microgreens from purple kohlrabi seeds are particularly appealing with their bright purple stems.
9. Sunflower
Don’t have the space to grow tall sunflower plants? No problem. Both black oil and striped sunflower varieties make delicious microgreens and they’ll be ready to harvest in 2 weeks. Just keep in mind that sunflower seeds have better germination rates if you soak them for 8 to 10 hours before planting.
10. Chives
Many herbs can be grown as microgreens, including cilantro, basil, parsley, and dill. But if you want microgreens that really pack a punch, you need to try chive microgreens, also called micro chives. The slender leaves of micro chives have a mild, oniony flavor that’s perfect on baked potatoes and other savory dishes and they can be harvested in 14 to 25 days.
Tips for Growing All Types of Microgreens
One of the great things about growing microgreens is that most types of microgreens have similar growing needs. So if you master the basics of growing one type of microgreen, you can grow them all. Here are a few tips that will boost your success:
Large microgreen seeds, like peas and sunflowers, germinate better if you soak them for a few hours prior to planting.
Place seedling trays in an area that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of bright light daily.
Mist seeds daily to keep the soil or other growing mat moist.
Harvest microgreens when stems are 2-3 inches tall and the plant’s first seed leaves have unfurled.
Keep misting the remaining seeds after harvest and if you’re lucky, you may be able to get a second or even third harvest of microgreens out of a single planting tray before you need to sow more seeds.
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