Microgreens

How To Grow Microgreens at Home in 7–14 Days

By Russell Neale, Founder, Seed Cube Updated 27 June 2026 3 min read

TL;DR

  • Microgreens are young edible seedlings, ready to cut in 7 to 14 days.
  • The Micropod grows them soil-free: add water, sow, blackout 2 to 3 days, then light.
  • Bottom-water only and give gentle airflow to avoid mould.
  • Harvest at the first true leaves and plate into the Easy-Tray with chop.

Quick answer

To grow microgreens at home, sow seeds densely on a moist grow mat, cover for a 2 to 3 day blackout, then move to bright light and bottom-water only. Most varieties are ready to harvest in 7 to 14 days, when the first true leaves appear above the seed leaves. Snip above the mat and serve fresh. Radish is the fastest for beginners. Avoid avocado, onion, garlic and nightshade foliage if feeding birds.
How To Grow Microgreens at Home in 7–14 Days
From windowsill to harvest in 7 to 14 days with the Micropod.

What are microgreens?

Microgreens are young edible seedlings, harvested once the seed leaves and first true leaves appear. Most common varieties are ready to cut in 7 to 14 days.

They are not sprouts. Sprouts grow in high humidity and are eaten seed, root and all. Microgreens are grown with light and airflow, then cut above the mat or medium.

Micropod microgreens in the blackout phase on the honeycomb grid

What you need

Equipment

  • A Micropod tray with grow mats
  • Clean water for bottom-watering
  • Scissors or Micropod Micro Snips
  • A Small or Large Easy-Tray for serving

Seeds and quantities

  • 1 to 2 teaspoons of seed per standard tray
  • Beginner-friendly varieties: radish (fastest), sunflower, broccoli
  • Mixed varieties or single-type plantings both work

Close up of micro herb seeds for growing microgreens

The 7 to 14 day timeline

Days 1 to 3, germination. Prep, sow and a short blackout. Most seeds show white shoots by day 3.

Days 4 to 7, growth. Move to light and begin bottom-watering. Seed leaves open and green up.

Days 7 to 14, harvest. Ready when the first true leaves appear beyond the seed leaves and plants are 3 to 5 cm tall.

Step by step: sow to harvest

  1. Prep the tray. Place a mat in the Micropod tray and pre-moisten evenly. Damp throughout, not dripping.
  2. Seed evenly. Sprinkle 1 to 2 teaspoons in a dense, even layer. Full coverage without big clumps.
  3. Blackout 2 to 3 days. Cover completely to encourage upright growth. Keep moist, not wet, and check daily.
  4. Light and airflow. Move to a bright windowsill once most seeds sprout. Gentle airflow builds sturdy stems.
  5. Bottom-water only. Add water to the base so the foliage stays dry. Never water from above once plants emerge.
  6. Grow to first true leaves. Usually day 7 to 14 depending on variety and temperature.
  7. Harvest and serve. Snip above the mat, then portion straight into the Easy-Tray with your chop. Store extras in the fridge for 5 to 7 days.

Mizuna microgreens at day 8 showing first true leaves

Plate it fast with the Easy-Tray

Use the Easy-Tray to portion chop and fresh microgreens fast. The shallow tray suits small servings, lets birds sample variety and rinses clean in seconds.

  • Portion control for small birds
  • Works with wet chop or dry toppers
  • Swap trays for quick refills
  • Rinses clean in seconds

Start with a teaspoon of microgreens and increase gradually. Remove leftovers daily.

Micropod tray system prepping chop and microgreens for birds

Key facts

  • 7 to 14 days

    Seed to harvest

  • No soil

    Grow-mat system

  • 1 to 2 tsp

    Seed per tray

  • Bird safe

    Most veg varieties

Grow your ownMicropod Starter Grow Kit-Seed Cube

Fresh greens at home

Micropod Starter Grow Kit

$51.00

The Micropod is a clean, soil-free grow kit. Add water, sow, and harvest fresh microgreens in 7 to 14 days, then plate straight into the Easy-Tray with your chop.

Shop Micropod
Micropod Starter Grow Kit-Seed Cube
Micropod Starter Grow Kit $51.00
Shop Micropod

Frequently asked questions

What are microgreens?

Young edible seedlings cut above the mat at the seed-leaf to first-true-leaf stage. Most home trays are ready in 7 to 14 days.

How long do microgreens take to grow?

Commonly 7 to 14 days depending on variety, temperature and light. Radish is fastest at 5 to 7 days, then mustard and cress. Sunflower and broccoli follow at 7 to 10 days.

Do I need special lights?

Bright indirect light on a windowsill is fine. Grow lights help in winter or very low-light rooms.

Why are my microgreens mouldy?

Usually too much surface moisture and poor airflow. Bottom-water, thin your seeding rate and add gentle airflow.

Do microgreens regrow after harvest?

Most do not regrow well, so reseeding gives the best results. Pea shoots can sometimes regrow once.

Can I grow microgreens without soil?

Yes. The Micropod system uses grow mats instead of soil, which keeps it clean and mess-free and is ideal for indoor growing.

Are microgreens safe for parrots and budgies?

Many vegetable microgreens are fine in moderation as part of a varied diet. Avoid avocado, onion or garlic types and nightshade foliage. Rinse before serving and consult an avian vet if unsure.

About the author

Russell Neale
Russell Neale
Founder, Seed Cube

Russell Neale is the founder of Seed Cube, a bird-feeding brand he started in 2024 in the Hills District of NSW. A long-time bird owner himself, with three birds including a 12-year-old hand-raised Alexandrine, Russell built Seed Cube after years of frustration with messy, flimsy and poorly designed feeders.

Seed Cube makes practical, durable products that keep feeding cleaner, easier and safer for pet birds, and that are designed to last rather than end up in landfill. The brand works closely with Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, and everything it makes is BUILT FOR BIRDS™.

Microgreens are one of the easiest fresh foods to grow at home. Sow densely, blackout for a few days, bottom-water, and harvest at the first true leaves. The Micropod keeps it soil-free and clean, and the Easy-Tray makes plating chop and greens a two-minute job.

Shop Micropod

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