Microgreens – nutritious herbs you can grow easily indoors

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

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.

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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…