10 Easiest Microgreens to Grow for Beginners (Ranked)

The easiest microgreens have three things in common: they germinate quickly, they tolerate a little too much or too little water, and they do not need special handling such as weighting or hull removal. Starting with one of these gives you a successful first harvest and the confidence to try fussier crops later.

We ranked the options below on four criteria: germination speed, days to harvest, tolerance of mistakes and ease of sowing.

The ranking at a glance

Rank	Crop	Days to harvest	Flavor	Why it is easy
1	Radish	7–12	Peppery, crisp	Germinates in a day, grows in almost any conditions
2	Broccoli	8–12	Mild, slightly cabbage-like	Even germination, rarely falls over
3	Pea shoots	10–14	Sweet, like fresh peas	Big seeds are easy to spread; can regrow once
4	Kale	8–12	Mild, sweet	Similar to broccoli, very forgiving
5	Red cabbage	8–14	Mild cabbage	Pretty purple stems, easy
6	Kohlrabi	8–12	Mild, sweet	Purple stems, uniform growth
7	Mustard	8–12	Hot, like wasabi	Fast; needs dry sowing
8	Arugula	8–12	Nutty, peppery	Fast; seeds clump if wet
9	Sunflower	8–12	Nutty, crunchy	Excellent yield, but hulls need attention
10	Wheatgrass	7–10	Grassy (for juicing)	Very tough, but not for salads

1. Radish

Radish is the classic first microgreen. The seeds are large enough to see and spread evenly, they sprout within 24–48 hours, and the tray is usually ready in about 8 days. Varieties such as ‘China Rose’, ‘Rambo’ (purple) and ‘Daikon’ all work well.

Watch out for: harvesting late. After about 12 days the flavor becomes very hot and the stems turn stringy. Full instructions: how to grow radish microgreens.

2. Broccoli

Broccoli microgreens taste mild and slightly sweet, which makes them a good everyday green for sandwiches and eggs. They germinate evenly and form a dense, upright stand.

Watch out for: sowing too heavily. Broccoli seed is small and it is easy to overdo it; 18–25 g per 10×20 tray is plenty. See how to grow broccoli microgreens.

3. Pea shoots

Pea shoots are the most rewarding crop for beginners who want volume. The large seeds are easy to spread, the shoots grow tall and sweet, and you can often get a second, smaller cut. They do need an overnight soak and a little weight during blackout.

Watch out for: mold on un-germinated seeds. Rinse soaked peas well and remove obvious duds. Full guide: how to grow pea shoots indoors.

4. Kale

Kale grows almost exactly like broccoli — fast, upright and mild. Red Russian kale gives attractive purple-tinged stems; Dwarf Blue Curled Scotch gives a classic green tray.

Watch out for: uneven light. Turn the tray daily if you grow on a windowsill.

5. Red cabbage

Red cabbage microgreens have deep purple stems and blue-green leaves. They taste like a mild, sweet cabbage and add color to any plate.

Watch out for: the color fading in weak light. Strong light keeps the stems purple.

6. Kohlrabi

Purple kohlrabi is very similar to red cabbage: purple stems, mild flavor, easy growth. It is a good alternative if red cabbage seed is hard to find.

7. Mustard

Mustard microgreens are fast and fiery — some varieties taste almost like wasabi. A small amount goes a long way, so a 5×5 inch tray is plenty for most households.

Watch out for: soaking. Mustard seed is mucilaginous — it forms a sticky gel when wet. Sow it dry onto damp medium and mist.

8. Arugula

Arugula (rocket) microgreens have the nutty, peppery taste of the adult plant in a delicate package. They grow quickly but stay small and slender.

Watch out for: clumping. Like mustard, arugula seed turns gel-like when wet; sprinkle it evenly while dry.

9. Sunflower

Sunflower microgreens are crunchy, nutty and filling, and a 10×20 tray gives one of the largest harvests of any crop. They rank lower only because they need soaking, weight during blackout and some help shedding their hulls.

Watch out for: harvesting late. Once true leaves form, sunflower turns bitter. See how to grow sunflower microgreens.

10. Wheatgrass

Wheatgrass is extremely easy and fast, but it is a juicing crop rather than a salad green — the blades are too fibrous to chew. Grow it if you have a juicer or want to grow cat grass.

Guide: how to grow wheatgrass indoors.

Microgreens to leave until later

These crops are not difficult once you have a little experience, but they punish the usual beginner mistakes:

Crop	Why it is harder
Basil	Slow (16–25 days), mucilaginous seed, sensitive to cold and over-watering
Cilantro	Slow, uneven germination; best grown from split seed
Beet	Seed caps stick to the leaves; slow and needs consistent moisture
Parsley	Very slow germination, sometimes 2 weeks
Amaranth	Tiny seed, fragile seedlings that dry out quickly

When you are ready, our basil microgreens guide is a good next step.

Tips that make any crop easier

1. Use fresh, untreated seed sold for microgreens.
2. Do not sow too densely. Use the seed calculator to get the amount right for your tray.
3. Keep the room between 65 and 75°F (18–24°C).
4. Bottom water once seedlings are uncovered — see how to water microgreens.
5. Add a fan on low for gentle airflow. It is the single best defence against mold.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best microgreen for a first try?

Radish. It is fast, cheap, easy to sow and tolerant of mistakes.

Which microgreen tastes the mildest?

Broccoli, kale, kohlrabi and pea shoots are all mild. Children often prefer pea shoots for their sweetness.

Which microgreens give the biggest harvest?

Sunflower and pea shoots give the most weight per tray because the seedlings are large. Small-seeded crops like arugula and amaranth give the least.

Can I mix seeds in one tray?

Yes, if they have similar timings — for example broccoli, kale, kohlrabi and red cabbage, which all take 8–12 days. Do not mix fast radish with slow basil, or one will be past its best before the other is ready.