Microgreens – nutritious herbs you can grow easily indoors

From seed to ready-to-eat in as little as seven days, harvesting your own greens has never been so simple.

radish microgreens being harvested

by Piper Huxley |
Updated on

Vibrant, delicate, and delicious microgreens are taking the gardening and culinary world by storm right now. Small in size and jam-packed full of nutrients, they're a super-easy way to nourish your body and add depths of flavour to your meals. They're an easy-to-grow indoor plant that can fit nicely onto your windowsill.

What are microgreens? They are essentially the seedlings of larger edible vegetables and herbs. Miniscule in size and loaded with nutrients such as vitamins C, E, and K, lutein, and beta-carotene, they contain four to six times the vitamins and phytochemicals found in mature leaves of the same plants. Packed with intense flavours and lovely texture, they'll elevate any salad dish or make the perfect garnish. They can be grown in indoor hydroponic gardens.

You may have already seen them on the menus of gourmet restaurants, but did you know you can easily grow them at home too? These miniature veggies and herbs require little space and plenty of light, and they're perfect to grow on a windowsill at home or in a window box. They're ideal if you have little or no outdoor space.

Best microgreens at a glance

Best microgreens starter kit: Classic Kitchen Garden Microgreens Starter Kit - View Offer on Amazon UK
Best microgreens seeds: Microgreens Salad Seeds Mix - View Offer on Amazon UK
Editor's pick: Veritable Smart Copper Indoor Garden - View Offer at Harts of Stur

From seed to ready-to-eat in as little as seven days, harvesting your own greens has never been so simple and low maintenance – even a serial plant killer would struggle to kill these off. Microgreens are one of many easy to care for plants.

Best microgreens starter kits and accessories

Best microgreens starter kit

Classic Kitchen Garden Microgreens Starter Kit
Price: £12.95

Description

Verdant Republic's Classic Kitchen Garden Microgreens Starter Kit contains everything you need to

Pros

  • Great for beginners
  • Quick and easy

Cons

  • May not be suited to novices

Best microgreens smart planter

Nouri 7 Pod Hydroponics Growing System
Price: £59.99

Description

A smart garden planter that does it all! This indoor herb garden germination kit is designed with

Pros

  • Good value hydroponics kit
  • Very sleek
  • Easy to set up

Cons

  • Only seven baskets were supplied instead of 14

Best microgreens seeds

Microgreens Salad Seeds Mix
Price: £8.95

Description

Specially selected for colour and flavour and pre-mixed for convenience, this Microgreens Salad

Pros

  • High germination
  • Easy to sprout

Cons

  • Few customers haven't had much luck

Editor's pick

Description

Take a step back from gardening and let this clever, smart garden do it all for you. Keeping

Pros

  • A great option for serial plant killers
  • Looks great in any space

Cons

  • Low in stock

Best microgreens beginner book

Microgreens: The Insiders Secrets To Growing Gourmet Greens & Building A Wildly Successful Microgreen Business

Rrp: £12.40

Price: £12.40

Description

Don't know where to start with microgreens? Get this handy paperback book that gives you an

Pros

  • Perfect for health-conscious individuals
  • Complete with recipes for microgreens

Cons

  • A little focused on business for some

Best microgreens growing tray

Mr Fothergill's 24725 Microgreens Growing Kit and 3 Packets of Seeds
Price: £8.75

Description

High-quality reusable trays to get you started growing microgreens with no need for soil! Just add

Pros

  • Budget-friendly option
  • Year-round, no soil is required

Cons

  • No frills - very simple

Best budget microgreens smart planter

Description

This Micro Grow GroFresh Indoor Kitchen Garden is perfect for nurturing your new microgreen seeds.

Pros

  • Budget-friendly indoor garden
  • An automatic watering system

Cons

  • No replacement sponges

FAQs

Which are the easiest to grow?

Radish

Broccoli

Cabbage

Kohlrabi

Rocket

Basil

What's not to love? Harvest your own super greens in as little as seven to ten days. Get started with our round-up of the best kits and accessories to get you started on your microgreens harvesting journey.

What do microgreens taste like?

Microgreens vary in taste depending on the variety. It can either taste relatively neutral, peppery, slightly sour or even bitter.

What are the health benefits of microgreens?

Microgreens are highly nutritious and may reduce the risk of the following diseases:

Heart disease: Microgreens are a rich source of polyphenols, a form of antioxidants linked to a lower risk of heart disease.

Alzheimer's disease: Antioxidant-rich foods with high amounts of polyphenols may be connected to a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Diabetes: Antioxidants may help reduce the stress that can prevent sugar from properly entering cells.

Certain cancers: Antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, especially those rich in polyphenols, may lower the risk of various types of cancer.

Best food for plants to ensure healthy growth

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Description

Discover everything you need to know to make your outside space look fantastic quickly and easily,

Piper Huxley is a Homes, Garden and Wellness Product Writer for Modern Gardens Magazine, an all-rounder. When she's not writing about houseplants, she's tending to her own growing collection…

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