Microgreens varieties

What you need

• Red amaranth seeds — easily found in specialty stores or online.
• Growing trays — flat and shallow, with and without drainage holes.
• Growing medium — potting soil or coconut coir.
• Spray bottle or watering can.
• Natural light or an LED grow light — red amaranth needs plenty of light.

1. Prepare the tray — always clean it thoroughly with water and soap.
2. Add the growing medium — slightly moisten the soil before sowing.
3. Sow the seeds — spread them evenly. Unlike other varieties, red amaranth germinates best without being covered with soil.
4. Water gently — use a spray bottle to avoid disturbing the seeds.
5. Cover the tray — for the first few days, cover it with another tray to create a blackout effect.
6. Light — once the seeds have germinated, place the tray in a well-lit spot.
7. Consistent watering — keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.
8. Harvest — ready in 2 to 3 weeks. Use scissors to cut just above the soil.

Red amaranth is not only tasty, it also adds a striking pop of colour to your dishes — good in salads, sandwiches, or as a garnish.

What you need

• Lettuce seeds — easily found in specialty stores or online.
• Growing trays — flat and shallow, with and without drainage holes.
• Growing medium — potting soil or coconut coir.
• Spray bottle or watering can.
• Natural light or an LED grow light — LED works well indoors.

1. Prepare the container — use a tray with good drainage. Wash it thoroughly with soap and water before you start.
2. Add the substrate — fill the tray with soil and moisten it.
3. Sow the seeds — spread them evenly over the soil. You do not need to cover them; just press gently for good contact with the substrate.
4. Water gently — use a spray bottle to keep the surface moist without displacing the seeds.
5. Light and location — place the tray in a well-lit area, or under grow lights if indoors.
6. Maintain moisture — water regularly, but avoid overwatering.
7. Harvest — usually between 1 and 3 weeks later. Use clean scissors and cut just above the soil line.

Easy, tasty and quick — the best first tray if you want a result within days.

What you need

• Broccoli seeds — preferably organic and labelled for sprouting or microgreens.
• Growing trays — flat and shallow, with and without drainage holes.
• Growing medium — potting soil or coconut coir.
• Spray bottle or watering can.
• Natural light or an LED grow light — broccoli microgreens need good lighting to develop their rich green colour.

1. Prepare the tray — wash it well with soap before using. Add an even layer of growing medium and lightly moisten it.
2. Sow the seeds — spread them evenly over the surface. There is no need to cover them; just press gently so they make good contact.
3. First watering — mist the seeds carefully to moisten them without moving them.
4. Darkness period — cover the tray with another inverted tray or an opaque lid for 2 or 3 days. This helps germination and makes the stems stronger.
5. Light and ventilation — when the first sprouts appear (around day 2 or 3), uncover the tray and give it good natural light or LED grow lights.
6. Daily watering — mist once or twice a day to keep the medium moist, but avoid excess water, which can cause mould. See our guide on how to prevent mould when growing microgreens.
7. Growth and colour — within a few days the stems straighten and the leaves turn deep green.
8. Harvest — between days 7 and 10. Cut just above the growing medium with clean scissors.

Broccoli microgreens contain glucoraphanin, which the body converts into sulforaphane when the leaves are chewed or chopped. Which compounds they carry, and by how much they differ from mature broccoli, depends on the cultivar and the growing conditions, so there is no single multiplier — see the full broccoli guide.

What you need

• Radish seeds — common varieties are red radish, daikon or watermelon radish.
• Growing trays — flat and shallow, with and without drainage holes.
• Growing medium — potting soil or coconut coir.
• Spray bottle or watering can.
• Natural light or an LED grow light — they grow stronger and more colourful with good lighting.

1. Prepare the tray — clean it thoroughly before using, with water and soap if necessary.
2. Add the growing medium — fill with an even layer of soil or coconut coir and moisten it.
3. Sow the seeds — spread them evenly over the surface. They do not need covering.
4. Initial watering — use a spray bottle to moisten gently without displacing the seeds.
5. Darkness period — cover the tray with another tray turned upside down, or a piece of opaque cardboard, for 2–3 days.
6. Light and ventilation — when the first sprouts appear (usually on the second day), uncover and give the tray good natural light or LED grow lights.
7. Keep it moist — mist once or twice a day so the substrate never dries out completely.
8. Harvest — in 7–10 days. Cut with clean scissors just above the soil.

Radish microgreens are visually striking, with red stems against green leaves, and they are one of the fastest and most forgiving crops to start with.