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microgreens growing kits

9 Best Microgreen Growing Kits

If you’re looking for the best microgreen growing kits, we’re going to discover some really awesome and helpful products that can easily help you have your own batch of microgreens in your home in just 2-3 weeks from sowing the seeds.

Some manufacturers state that you can enjoy a bountiful crop of baby vegetables in 7 to 10 days, which is indeed possible. It’s just that if you let them grow longer before harvesting, the micros get taller.

These kits are especially awesome for beginners. They’re a great foray into this universe of growing so many varieties of tiny plants, plants that won’t reach maturity.

I’ll address microgreens as micros and as seedlings because that’s what they truly are.

Best Microgreen Growing Kits

top microgreens kits

The major advantage that the best microgreen growing kits offer is that they can provide a wonderful, easy start to a new passion.

Once you get used to the whole process, you can think of maybe growing more microgreen varieties and experimenting with a bunch of different seeds.

1. Microgreen Pros Organic Growing Kit: One of the Best Microgreen Growing Kits

 

The Microgreen Pros Organic Growing Kit is one of the most complete kits for growing micros. That’s why it’s also my first recommendation.

It also looks absolutely amazing. It’s a pretty beautiful manner of growing micros.

Components

  • beautiful wooden planter with concealed liner (a plastic tray)
  • the liner is made of BPA-free plastic – this is where the soil actually goes in and it has a 2 inches depth, which is good
  • you can take out the liner to wash it off or disinfect it between crops
  • 2 lots of fiber soil (expanding soil) – I love that the substrate is included in this kit, after that you can buy potting soil or hemp mats, if you want to try the soilless methods
  • packet of organic sunflower black oil microgreen seeds, which the manufacturer says that it’s the most popular variety
  • mixed salad microgreen seeds – broccoli, kale, kohlrabi, arugula, and red acre cabbage seeds
  • each packet of seeds can be used for 2 crops, don’t sow all the seeds all at once, just half is enough
  • water spray bottle – although, I would advise you to use the spray water bottle only for the 3 days when the tray is kept in the dark, then water the soil from the bottom
  • easy instructions

I must say that I appreciate a lot that a pretty wide variety of seeds is offered. That’s indeed what a package must offer so that it can qualify as one of best microgreen growing kits.

No assembly is required.

Plus, you can also use it for growing hydroponic microgreens without soil or continue growing in potting mix.

Price

It’s not the cheapest out there but, given what it looks like and what it includes, I think it’s worth it. It’s not outrageously expensive. There are other more pricier models.

Plus, as long as you buy new potting soil and new seeds, you can grow tiny plants indoors all-year round for many years to come. It’s a good investment.

Dimensions

The dimensions are not the biggest but it can be more than enough as a starting point.

It’s 16 inches long and 8 inches wide, it has a rectangular shape. These two measurements are taken on the outside. The plastic liner, where the soil actually goes in is smaller.

The depth is 2 inches, which is a good size.

There certainly are microgreen growing trays that are bigger than this kit but that’s not the point here. The point is that this is one of the best microgreen growing kits for beginners. Once you decide that the space offered by this wooden countertop planter, then you can move on to other means of growing.

Cons

Some people have complained that the liner is too flimsy. That can be a problem because, it if breaks, it would be pretty hard to find a tray that fits the dimensions of the wooden planter.

For others, the seeds where missing from the package. At that point, you need to contact the manufacturer. If something is missing from the kit, contact Microgreen Pros and they will solve the problem.

There’s no lid for the blackout period, which lasts about 3 days on average. Just place the planter in the pantry or in a dark cupboard and it should be fine.


2. ZestiGreens Microgreens Growing Kit

This is my second recommendation when it comes to the best microgreen growing kits.

It’s another pretty complete model that offers the possibility of growing micros in soil or without soil (on hemp mats or on coco coir compressed blocks).

Components

  • grow tray in a bamboo surround – another example of a beautiful kit that fits the design in any home
  • black out wooden lid for the next 3 days after sowing the seeds when they have to be kept in the dark – that’s a nice addition that makes things a bit easier
  • 2 hemp mats – after the first 2 crops, you can choose to buy hemp mats again or you can try using potting soil, it can be a bit more messy but the yield can also be better
  • 1 packet of organic broccoli microgreen seeds
  • 1 packet salad mix microgreen seeds
  • instructions booklet

You should definitely read the booklet before doing anything because the manufacturer wants you to grow your micros in 7 to 18 days and it says that no special lighting is required.

Don’t be mistaken, I still think you need to place the tray in a place where it will receive sunlight daily.

ZestiGreens doesn’t think so and people have had very good yields following the instructions so I might be mistaken.

The instructions are easy to follow, which makes it the perfect product for beginners who don’t mind spending a bit more than the average for a kit.

Dimensions

Although it’s a bit more expensive than the above model, it’s also quite tiny. I must admit that the size doesn’t impress me.

The bamboo surround measures 12 by 6 inches. If you have a big family, one small tray like this will be eaten at a single meal, especially if all of you love your greens.

But it can be the perfect model for children, since the instructions are so easy to follow.

Someone who uses it to grow grass for their cats mentioned that the cats haven’t figured out how to turn the bamboo box upside down. We’ll count that as a plus.


3. Urban Botanic Microgreens Growing Kit: One of the Cheapest Kits for Microgreens

 

First of all, I really like that this is one of the cheapest best microgreen growing kits. Even so, it still has a lot to offer, it has some really great features.

Let’s get over the components first and then we’ll talk about where I disagree with the instructions offered by Urban Botanic.

Components

  • 3 grow trays – the trays are made from biodegradable materials, not plastic, but the beauty is that they can be reused for new crops as long as they don’t break, which is a plus
  • sustainable coco grow medium – for the next crops, you will have to get potting soil or hemp mats or coco coir compressed blocks
  • 3 packets of non-GMO seeds: broccoli, radish, and arugula

Basically, you get everything you need for 3 small crops.

The trays are tiny, 5.5 by 4 inches, but at least yo get 3 of them for a pretty cheap price. I love that it’s a complete microgreens kit and it has reusable trays.

Instructions

Now, this is where I disagree with Urban Botanic.

First, I disagree that the seeds should be covered with the grow mix. They say that 90% of the grow mix should be placed in the tray, sow the seeds, and cover them with the rest of the grow mix. Once sown, the seeds should only be sprayed with a bit of water and taken in a dark place.

Secondly, in their instructions, they don’t mention that the seeds need 3 days of blackout time after sowing. It means that for the first 3 days, the trays should be placed in a cupboard or in a dark place.

During those first 3 days you water them from above with a spray bottle or by just sprinkling droplets of water with your fingers.

Once the yellow tiny sprouts appear, the trays are placed in the sunlight. They do need to be placed in the sunlight or you can use an artificial light.

Once the trays are placed in the light, the watering is done from below, by carefully watering the substrate but not the leaves of the micros.

You can try both ways and see if their instructions work, they might, although I haven’t tried it their way.


4. MicroFarm Professional Microgreen Gardening Kit: Expensive Microgreen Growing Kit

 

Let’s put it this way: the price for this kit is maybe 5 times higher than the first two best microgreen growing kits that I reviewed above. It’s a kit that has a ballpark price of $150.

There are indoor garden hydroponic systems that are cheaper than this kit, even some AeroGarden models are cheaper.

However, if you want to grow your micros in expensive systems only, this MicroFarm kit might be perfect for you.

The second option for expensive kits for growing microgreens is the one from ingarden. I’ll review it right below so you can make a comparison.

Components

  • 2 grow trays – one to cover the one with the seeds during blackout time (first 3 days after sowing)
  • or you can use both trays at the same time to grow a wider range of micros – just cover them with something else for those 3 days of blackout
  • all you need is paper towels but you can also use soil or other substrates if you want – you can use paper towels with any of the above kits, too
  • full spectrum lights – if you have access to sunlight, you don’t need artificial lights or you could buy some really affordable LED grow lights, although microgreens do really well with fluorescent lights (T5 bulbs), too
  • it comes with an app that provides growing schedules, nutritional information and recipes with microgreens plus a chat function if you have any questions
  • very durable, both the trays and the whole structure

The disappointment is that they don’t include the seeds. For this price, I would have expected some amazing seeds to wow us with.

Is it worth it?

It looks really great, I won’t deny that. It might be the prettiest on this list.

Nevertheless, given that you can grow microgreens on tissue paper or by using any of the above kits just as successfully, I would say that it’s just too expensive.

And even if you need a grow light, you can buy the GE Lighting LED Grow Light, which is really cheap. So, the price is not really justified.

If you’re into really fancy things, then you’ll definitely love it.


5. ingarden Superfood Growing Kit

 

First thing first, I love that they name it Superfood Growing Kit. It makes it stand out.

I don’t know if micros are superfoods or not and I don’t really care, to be honest. I just love eating greens in all forms and I love experimenting with growing all kinds of seedlings and eating them daily.

Another think I really love about this ingarden model is the mint color of the tray. It’s a pretty color that is unique among all these recommendations for the best microgreen growing kits.

Components

  • automated LED grow light – given that it has a price over $100, you should definitely expect grow lights
  • stainless steel frame
  • ceramic grow tray of mint color – beautiful, that’s the only way to describe it
  • 3 superfood seed pads – I like that the tray is compartmentalized in 3 different sections because we can grow a wider array of seedlings at the same time
  • 1 radish superfood
  • 1 broccoli superfood
  • and 1 mustard superfood seed pad
  • the selection of seeds is wonderful and they’re certified organic superfood microgreens
  • hydroponic watering – basically we pour water into the tray and the roots take what they need

It’s incredibly easy to use and won’t require more than a few minutes to set it up and get the seeds to grow. I love it, even if it’s so pricey. But it’s very well made, the quality is top-notch.


6. Back to the Roots Organic Microgreens Kit

 

This is not one of my favorites when it comes to picking the best microgreen growing kits. The price is a bit expensive for what it offers.

But we do get 6 compostable grow trays, which means that we can grow a lot of micros. And a wide variety of them at the same time.

It doesn’t have the same beautiful design, like the Microgreen Pros Organic Growing Kit does. But it has a pretty similar price.

Let’s see what else we should know about the Back to the Roots Organic Microgreens Kit.

Components

We get 3 small boxes. Thanks to these 3 boxes, the kit contains:

  • 6 small grow trays
  • 6 tray covers
  • seed packets – the seeds are GMO-free, organic, natural
  • expanding soil disks

It’s a complete kit.

The grow trays aren’t exactly beautiful but they’re are compostable. That’s pretty great really.

Combining the seeds we get for these 3 boxes, the seedlings we can grow are: broccoli, kale, purple kohlrabi, and red cabbage. That’s a nice selection, I’ll give them that.

The instructions are also easy to follow. We’re told that we can harvest in just 7 days.

Cons

There are a few complaints about seeds molding. Nevertheless, there are plenty of users who are completely satisfied with their kit.

Also, I really don’t think that you’re going to harvest in 7 days. The realistic timeline for harvest would be 2 weeks.

Some seeds might need as much as 3 weeks until they’ve grown in seedlings that can be harvested as micros.

I recommend harvesting microgreens when they have a tiny set of true leaves. Check out my cotyledon vs true leaf article to see the difference between the two.


7. Window Garden Microgreens Grow Kit

The price for this kit is really affordable. Plus, we get everything we need for the first harvest. The plastic tray is not the prettiest but it’s functional. All in all, it’s a nice recommendation as one of the best microgreen growing kits.

Components

  • acrylic tray – it’s a transparent BPA-free plastic tray that is not the prettiest but it measures 15 x 6 inches so it’s big enough for a good harvest of micros
  • fiber soil – it comes in the form of disks that are expanded with water
  • radish microgreen seeds
  • 150ml sprayer

Afterwards, if you want to grow more seedlings, you can buy potting soil, like the FoxFarm Happy Frog Potting Soil or any other rich potting soil. Or you can buy the Window Garden Expanding Organic Fiber Soil if you want to keep using the expanding disks.

If you want to stick this tray to a window to receive maximum sunlight, you can buy their Double Veg Ledge Suction Cap Shelf. However, the ledge is around the same price as the kit. Buying both the kit and the ledge will end up costing you $50-$60.

My recommendation is to just place the tray on a windowsill where it will receive the needed sunlight because that doesn’t cost anything.


8. Hamama Home Microgreens Growing Kit

This Hamama kit seems to be quite popular. Frankly, I don’t see why it’s so popular.

It’s really expensive. And it’s not even that pretty. I much prefer the design of the Microgreen Pros Organic Growing Kit, which is also probably almost half the price of this Hamama micros kit.

Plus, users complain about seeds that didn’t sprout or of seedlings that grew up wilted. Since those are not only a couple of negative reviews, their number is substantial, I think you should head those warnings.

Components

  • growing tray
  • bamboo frame
  • super salad mix seed quilt
  • hearty broccoli seed quilt

Each kit has 3 seed quilts for growing micros. It’s an interesting concept with easy-to-follow instructions but it’s just too expensive for my tastes.


9. Alcedia Premium Sprouting Jar Kit

 

I wouldn’t exactly say that this qualifies as one of the best microgreen growing kits.

But that’s only because it’s mainly a kit for sprouting seeds.

Sprouts are a bit different from microgreens and they look different.

But, in the end, sprouts are just another fun and healthy way of transforming seeds into something delicious in just a couple of weeks.

So, those of you who are interested in growing sprouts from seeds at home and indoors, can check out the Alcedia Premium Sprouting Jar Kit.

Components

  • quart wide mouth glass jar (30 oz)
  • rust proof strainer lid
  • rust resistant stand and glass drip tray

It is a bit pricey, given what it offers. But it looks beautiful and it can also serve as a unique gift.

The advantage is that for sprouts you only have to use water. That’s it. No soil, no hemp mats, no nothing.

You can grow any seeds and beans in this jar but the manufacturer doesn’t include any in their kit, which is disappointing.

So, buy the seeds when you’re buying the jar.

For some, this kit might only serve as an inspiration.

You might decide to just buy some wide mouth quart mason jars and then buy sprouting lids for them. Sprouting lids are indeed a thing.

Just remember that the jars need to be placed upside down and at an angle so that the sprouts don’t rot. You can actually buy stainless steel sprouting stands.


Best Microgreens to Grow: Seeds & Varieties

Now that we have reviewed some of the best microgreen growing kits, it’s time to talk about seeds.

After all, once you grow your first crop, you’ll want to experiment with even more varieties. For that, you need to buy new seeds.

First of all, you can buy regular seeds and grow them as micros.

Micros are immature plants that grown under certain conditions that lead to harvesting baby vegetables in 2-3 weeks.

Basically, microgreens are seedlings.

With that definition in mind, you understand why I say that you can buy all kinds of regular seeds and grow them as micros.

On the other hand, buying microgreen seed mixes is another interesting option. A really big bag will not cost that much. It can definitely be exciting to buy these mixes that offer a wider variety.

Leafy greens, sunflower, and herbs remain some of the most popular plants to be grown as micros.

But we can go further than that and grow peas, cabbage, broccoli, beets, celery, carrots, turnips, radishes, cauliflower, etc.

Best Microgreen Growing Kits Alternatives

container with microgreens sprouts

I wrote an article on how to grow microgreens without soil.

In that post, I talk about different substrates for growing micros, including how to grow them on tissue paper. That’s a perfect alternative to buying the best microgreen growing kits because it doesn’t cost much at all.

It can all be done indoors.

Moreover, for those who want to grow many different seeds at the same time without spending a lot of money, the more affordable way is to just get a few growing trays and get some potting soil or some hemp mats/coco coir blocks.

If you want to see how profitable microgreens are as a business, I found an interesting video for you.

I talk about all of this in my article on the best microgreen trays. It’s another great alternative to the best microgreen growing kits, geared towards those who want more crops grown at the same time.

Best microgreen growing kits FAQs

Let’s answer some questions related to the best microgreen growing kits.

1. Are microgreens still profitable 2023?

In my opinion, microgreens are profitable and they will continue to be so in the years to come. According to a survey by the National Restaurant Association, microgreens were among the top 10 food trends for 2022. If you want to check out an article discussing microgreens profitability in the future, you can check it out here.

2. What are the disadvantages of microgreens?

There are no disadvantages to growing microgreens, as far as I’m concerned. I love eating them but it would be really expensive if I had to buy them. Thus, a disadvantage we could talk about is that microgreens are very expensive if we don’t grow them at home. But we can easily grow microgreens at home on paper towels or by looking for the best microgreen growing kits if we have more generous budgets.