So you're excited to start growing microgreens at home - fantastic! The first step is to set up your microgreens kit with all the essentials. The good news is that you don't need an elaborate setup; microgreens require only a few simple tools and materials. In this guide, we provide a simple checklist of everything needed and walk you through setting up a microgreens growing station on your kitchen counter or windowsill. By the end, you'll have a mini indoor garden ready for sowing seeds. (No big budgets or fancy equipment required - as you'll see, many home gardeners use repurposed household items. And if you bought a pre-made microgreens kit, this guide will help you understand each component.)
Essential Tools and Materials for Growing Microgreens
Let's start with the basic supplies. You will need the following items in your microgreens kit (whether you assemble it yourself or purchase a kit, these components are key):
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Seeds: Choose quality microgreen seeds. You can use any untreated, non-coated vegetable or herb seeds, but it's best to start with varieties labeled for microgreens (they're often sold in bulk and tested for good germination). For beginners, try easy varieties like radish or broccoli seeds, or check our Top 5 Easy Microgreens to Grow article for recommendations. Make sure your seeds are from a reputable source to avoid pathogens.
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Growing Containers (Trays): Shallow trays or containers to plant in. Standard microgreen trays are about 3-5 cm deep (1-2 inches). They can be plastic garden trays, take-out food containers, baking dishes - anything that can hold about 3-4 cm of growing medium. Ensure the container has drainage holes or use a two-tray system (one tray with holes nested into another without holes). Many kits include two trays so you can water from the bottom. Having a second tray or a lid is also handy to use as a cover during germination (to blackout the seeds for a couple of days).
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Growing Medium: Microgreens can be grown in soil or soilless media. A quality potting mix or seed-starting mix works great and is beginner-friendly. You can also use coconut coir, peat moss mix, or specialized microgreen grow mats (coco, hemp, jute, etc.). Soil tends to hold moisture well and provides some nutrients, which is helpful. Ensure the medium is fine-textured (no big bark chunks) so the tiny roots can penetrate easily. If using a dry compressed medium like a coir brick, hydrate it with water per instructions before use.
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Spray Bottle or Watering Can: Gentle watering is crucial for microgreens. A spray mist bottle is ideal for watering seeds and delicate seedlings. It allows you to moisten the soil without displacing seeds. You might also use a small watering can with a fine rose (sprinkling head) once plants are a bit sturdier. Many starter kits include a simple spray bottle.
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Light Source: While not a physical "item" in the kit box, light is essential. If you have a bright window that gets sun for 4+ hours a day, that might be sufficient for many microgreens. If not (especially in winter or in a dim space), you'll need some grow lights or fluorescent/LED lamp to give around 12-16 hours of light daily. (See Do Microgreens Need Special Lights? for a detailed look at lighting options - spoiler: you don't necessarily need an expensive grow light; a basic cool-white LED shop light or a sunny window often does the job.) Plan a spot for your kit near an outlet if you'll use supplemental lights.
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Miscellaneous: Sharp knife or scissors (for harvest time - a clean kitchen scissors or garden snips to cut microgreens), measuring spoon or shaker (optional, for evenly distributing small seeds), and paper towels or a small piece of cardboard (to help press seeds into the soil gently). It's also handy to have labels or tape to mark planting dates or seed types, especially if you have multiple trays going. Lastly, keep a clean towel or rag nearby for any spills, and a tray or sheet under your setup if you're concerned about water drainage when watering.
That's it! A typical microgreens kit will have trays, a growing medium (like a soil packet or coir mat), a spray bottle, and perhaps a dome lid. Now let's set it all up step by step.
Step-by-Step: Setting Up Your Microgreens Growing Station
Once you have your materials, follow these steps to get your microgreens kit ready:
1. Prepare the Trays: If using the double-tray method (recommended), take the tray with drainage holes and place it inside the solid tray. The solid one will catch excess water. If your tray has no holes, you'll need to be extra cautious watering (or consider carefully poking a few small holes and setting that in a drip tray). Clean the trays first if they are new or have factory dust - just a quick rinse and dry. Place the trays on a level surface where they will stay for the growing period. A windowsill, kitchen counter, or a shelf under a grow light are common spots. Ensure it's an area that can handle a bit of water and soil without issue.
2. Add the Growing Medium: Fill the planting tray (the one with holes) with your moistened growing medium. If using potting mix or coir, it should be damp like a wrung sponge - not dripping wet, but no dry patches. It's often easiest to pre-moisten soil in a bowl or bucket before filling the tray. Add 2-3 cm of medium and spread it evenly. Gentle pat down the medium so it's fairly flat and moderately firm (you don't want big air pockets). Leave a little gap (a few millimeters) below the tray rim so that watering won't overflow. A flat, even surface ensures uniform seed contact.
3. Sow the Seeds: Now for the fun part - sowing your microgreen seeds. Evenly sprinkle the seeds across the surface of the medium. Aim for a dense coverage, but try not to have seeds bunched in clumps. It's okay if seeds nearly cover the soil surface like a carpet; microgreens are grown much closer than regular plants. A general guide is that seeds can be about a few millimeters apart from each other. (For small seeds like broccoli or mustard, this could be ~1 teaspoon of seed for a 10×20 cm tray, for larger seeds like peas, just one layer of seeds touching each other is fine.) After sprinkling, lightly press the seeds into the soil with your palm or a piece of cardboard - this ensures each seed has good contact with the moist medium, which helps germination. For non-mucilaginous seeds, you can also sprinkle a very thin layer of soil on top to cover them, but tiny seeds like lettuce, basil, or mustard are usually left uncovered. (Check seed instructions if provided; for example, larger seeds like sunflower can be covered with a light dusting of soil, whereas broccoli and arugula are typically not covered.)
4. Mist and Moisten: Using your spray bottle, mist the seeds and soil gently. You want the top surface to be nicely moist without washing the seeds into corners. If you see puddles, you're overdoing it - a light misting all over is enough. This water plus the initial soil moisture will kick-start the germination. Tip: If you have hard water or chlorinated tap water, consider using filtered or boiled-then-cooled water for misting seeds, as very alkaline or chemically water can sometimes affect sensitive seedlings. (Not usually a big issue, but something to optimize as you continue growing.)
5. Cover for Germination: Most microgreens benefit from a dark, humid period (blackout period) for the first 2-5 days to germinate. Take a lid, plate, or the second tray and cover the top of the planted tray. This traps moisture and simulates the seeds being under soil. Professional growers even put a slight weight on top (like another empty tray or a book) to keep seeds in firm contact until they sprout - this can lead to sturdier stems. However, not all kits include a weight; it's optional for home growing. Importantly, covering keeps light out and humidity high, which seeds love for sprouting. Keep the tray in a warm spot - around 20°C is ideal for most seeds. You do not need light at this stage. Check on the seeds daily to make sure the medium stays moist; if it looks dry, give a misting. In 2-4 days, you'll likely see tiny sprouts (white or yellowish as they've been in the dark) pushing up.
6. Uncover and Light: Once the majority of seeds have germinated and you see little shoots (typically 3-5 days for most varieties, a bit longer for others), remove the cover and expose them to light. At this point, light is critical to turn those yellow sprouts green. Move your kit to a bright location - a south-facing windowsill is perfect as long as it's not extremely hot. If using grow lights, position the light about 25-30 cm above the tray. Microgreens generally need 12-16 hours of light per day once uncovered. A simple outlet timer can automate artificial lights to turn on in the morning and off at night (for example, 7 AM to 9 PM = 14 hours). If using sunlight, you might supplement with a lamp in early morning or evening to extend the light period, especially in winter. You'll notice within a day of light exposure, the sprouts turn green as chlorophyll develops.
7. Water as Needed: With the cover off, the soil will start to dry out faster, and the growing seedlings will drink more water. It's important to keep the medium consistently moist but not waterlogged. Many growers switch to bottom watering at this stage: instead of spraying on top (which can encourage mold if foliage stays wet), pour water into the bottom tray and let the soil soak it up from below. You can pour a few hundred milliliters and see if the top of the soil becomes moist after a few minutes, then drain any leftover water after an hour to avoid stagnation. Bottom watering provides moisture to roots while keeping leaves dry, greatly reducing mold risk. If you prefer, you can still mist lightly on top once or twice a day - just be careful to avoid over-saturating. Always observe your crop: if the seedlings look a bit wilting or drooping, that's a sign they need water. If the surface is wet and you see any fuzzy white growth, that could be mold from overwatering (ensure more airflow and reduce moisture). Strike a balance: moist but not swampy is the goal. (Our article on watering microgreens offers in-depth methods to get this right and avoid mold.)
8. Airflow and Spacing: As your microgreens grow (days 5-10), make sure they have some air circulation. If your kit is in a corner with little air movement, consider running a small fan nearby on low, or simply leaving a window cracked if weather allows. Good airflow prevents the air from becoming overly humid around the greens, again helping to prevent mold and producing sturdier plants. Also, rotate your tray once a day if it's by a window - seedlings will lean toward the light, so turning the tray helps keep growth straight and even. If you're growing multiple trays, give them a bit of space so they're not blocking each other's light or air.
That's the basic setup and first-week care! With this kit ready, you will watch tiny seeds turn into a lush mini-garden very quickly.
Maintaining Your Kit & Next Steps
Your microgreens kit, once set up, is low-maintenance. Aside from daily watering and providing light, there isn't much else required until harvest. Most microgreens are ready to cut in 1-2 weeks. Here are a few additional tips to get the most from your kit:
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Stagger Plantings: If you want a continuous supply of microgreens, start a new tray every few days. With a simple kit, you might plant one tray with (for example) radish this week, then another tray with pea shoots next week. This way, once you harvest the first, the second is coming up a few days behind. This "succession planting" keeps the greens coming. You can use the same kit trays; just harvest and then immediately re-seed the tray for the next batch (after a quick cleaning).
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Clean Between Grows: After you harvest a crop, it's important to clean your trays and tools. Microgreen roots and any debris should be composted or discarded. Wash the trays with warm soapy water and a bit of vinegar or a mild bleach solution (1:100 dilution) to sanitize. This prevents any mold or disease from carrying over to the next planting. Rinse thoroughly. Clean your spray bottle if you see any algae growth in it over time.
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Optimize Light and Temperature: If you notice your microgreens are pale or leggy (tall and thin), they may be not getting enough light. Move the kit to a brighter spot or lower the grow light closer (but not so close as to heat the plants - 20-30 cm distance is usually good for LEDs). Ideal temperature is around 18-22°C. Colder temps slow growth, while very high temps can cause wilting or spoilage. Most kitchens are in a fine range. Just avoid placing the kit right above a radiator or in a drafty cold basement, for example.
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Use a Light Schedule: Plants like a day/night cycle. If using artificial lights, give them at least a 4-6 hour dark period each 24 hours. Many growers use a 16 hours on / 8 hours off cycle for microgreens. This rest period actually helps plants respire and can sometimes improve growth and flavor. (For instance, a 12-on, 12-off cycle can slightly increase yield by allowing a bit of stretching in the dark.) A simple timer costs a few euros and saves you from manually flipping lights.
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Keep Records: As you start using your kit, it might help to note what you planted and when, and any observations. For example, "Sowed radish on March 1, harvested March 8 - good yield." This way, you learn how each variety performs in your home's conditions. Over time, you can fine-tune (more light, less seeding density, etc.) for even better results.
By following this checklist and steps, you've essentially recreated the instructions found in most "microgreens starter kits" sold commercially - but with the advantage of knowing how each part works and being able to refill or replace components yourself. You're now ready to grow!
When your microgreens reach the desired size (usually when you see the first true leaves on most varieties), it's time to harvest. Grab those clean scissors and cut your crop! For guidance on the best harvest techniques and how to store your fresh microgreens, head over to our article on How to Harvest and Store Fresh Microgreens. And if during your growing cycle you encounter any fuzzy white mold or issues, be sure to read Watering Microgreens the Right Way (No Mold!) which offers troubleshooting for common problems.
With your home microgreens kit set up, you'll find it easy to sow new greens every week. Enjoy your new self-sufficiency - soon you'll be garnishing every meal with homegrown microgreens! Happy planting.