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Getting Started on the Micro level…

A lot of power can be contained within small packages and this is exactly what our little buddies provides us as a starting point.

Andrew Steenkamp
5 min readDec 20, 2024

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Microgreens are a great business venture or hobby, whether you’re growing for personal use or commercial sale. Here’s a detailed, step-by-step guide to help you get started successfully, whether you’re growing for your home, selling to restaurants, or diving into a commercial enterprise.

Step 1: Decide Who You Want to Grow For

Home Use
If you’re growing microgreens for personal consumption, it’s best to begin with just a few varieties, around two to four. This will give you enough variety and yield to supply your household, and you’ll likely end up with extra to share with friends or family. Some varieties, like broccoli and Chinese cabbage, can produce over 200 grams per standard grow tray (53 x 27 x 3 cm).

Larger-yielding varieties, like sunflower, can produce around 500 grams of fresh greens per tray. By growing just four trays, you can get a good amount of produce. For more information on sowing weights, yields, and grow times, refer to the seed section of your supplier for each specific variety.

Commercial or Resale
If you’re growing microgreens commercially, start small and scale up as your customer base grows. Initially, begin with around four varieties. Ideal starter varieties include:

  • Sunflower
  • Radishes
  • Chinese cabbage
  • Broccoli
  • Peas

These are easy to grow, basic varieties that will appeal to a wide audience. If you’re interested in offering something unique to differentiate yourself in the market, varieties like Amaranth, Rocket, and Beetroot add vibrant color and bold flavors but are slightly trickier to grow.

As you familiarize yourself with the growing process, start sampling your microgreens with potential clients like chefs and restaurants. You can find helpful selling tips in the microgreens section of supplier websites. As demand increases, simply expand your operation by adding more trays to meet production needs.

Step 2: Decide Where You Want to Grow

Indoor Growing
If you’re growing at home, a sunny windowsill can work fine, but if you plan to expand and grow more trays, you’ll need some artificial lighting.

Lighting Options for Indoor Growing:

  1. LED T8 Grow Lights
    These are the blue and red lights you often see, and they are highly effective for growing microgreens. These lights range from 9W to 22W, depending on their length, and are made up of about 75% blue spectrum and 25% red spectrum light. The blue spectrum promotes vegetative (leaf) growth, which is what microgreens need, while the red spectrum helps with fruiting and flowering.
  2. LED T8 Daylight Tubes (6500K)
    A more affordable option is standard LED daylight tubes (found at local electrical shops). Some microgreens actually thrive better under these lights than under grow lights. 6500K refers to the color temperature, and lights with this rating closely mimic the full daylight spectrum, making them a good choice for microgreens.

When setting up, arrange two lights per row of trays parallel to each other for optimal coverage.

For larger indoor operations, especially commercial ones, ensure you have good air circulation to avoid issues like mold. If you’re scaling up, consider installing in-line fans to improve airflow and keep your microgreens healthy.

Outdoor Growing
If you have the space, you can grow microgreens outdoors as well. Make sure they receive partial sunlight, as too much direct sunlight can damage delicate young plants. Outdoor growing may require protective netting to guard against pests and weather conditions.

Step 3: Prepare Your Equipment and Seeds

Once you know where and for whom you’re growing, it’s time to gather your supplies. Here’s a list of what you’ll need:

  • Grow trays: Standard 53 x 27 x 3 cm trays are recommended.
  • Growing medium: Soil, coconut coir, or hemp mats work well for microgreens.
  • Seeds: Choose varieties that suit your purpose, whether for home use or commercial sales.
  • Lights: LED grow lights or daylight tubes, depending on your setup.
  • Watering system: A fine mist spray bottle is ideal for keeping the delicate shoots hydrated.
  • Air circulation: Fans or a well-ventilated area are essential, especially for indoor commercial setups.

Make sure to source high-quality seeds, as this will significantly impact the yield and health of your microgreens.

Step 4: Learn the Basics of Microgreens Care

Microgreens are fairly low maintenance, but there are a few key points to keep in mind:

  • Watering: Microgreens require regular misting to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Check your trays daily.
  • Light: Ensure your microgreens get enough light. Indoors, this means using artificial light for at least 12–16 hours a day.
  • Harvesting: Microgreens are usually ready to harvest in 7–14 days, depending on the variety. Use sharp scissors to snip them just above the soil line when they reach about 1–3 inches tall.

Step 5: Scale Up as Needed

As you gain experience, you can begin to expand your operation. Add more trays or different varieties to diversify your offerings. For commercial growers, increasing production is as simple as adding more trays or lights to your setup. As demand increases, consider investing in more sophisticated growing equipment like automated watering systems or larger-scale lighting solutions.

Conclusion

Growing microgreens can be a fulfilling venture, whether for home use or as a business. By starting small, understanding your market, and scaling as needed, you’ll be well on your way to a successful microgreens journey. With proper lighting, air circulation, and care, you’ll enjoy fresh, nutritious greens in no time — whether on your own plate or in the hands of happy customers.

Happy growing!

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Andrew Steenkamp
Andrew Steenkamp

Written by Andrew Steenkamp

9-5 investment analyst and tech enthusiast passionate about feeding the future. Looking at bridging IT and how we look at life to create innovative solutions!!

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