Want to Grow Microgreens at Home? These Kits Make It Easy

One of the trickier parts of cultivating microgreens is that, unlike sprouts, they need light. And if your windows don’t receive much light, that can result in sad, etiolated (pale) seedlings. The Ingarden Microgreens Growing Kit solves that by including everything you need for your microgreen farm, including a grow light, reservoir to ensure even watering, and seed pads for an easy, self-contained hydroponic system without messy soil or growing medium.

During testing, I was struck by how sturdy this kit is. The base is made of a sturdy ceramic material, and the frame is metal. While it makes the kit heavy (a little over 6.5 pounds without water), it also means that my cat couldn’t tip it over, and it feels like it will last you through many microgreens harvests. The Ingarden kit comes in four colors, including a pretty seafoam green and dusty pink, elevating it a bit from your standard utilitarian growing kit. 

What I liked best about this kit was the lack of maintenance. Set-up was a fairly easy process. The step-by-step instructions were clear—though I could never get the accompanying QR code to work—and once complete, I mostly had to check the water levels to ensure it didn’t run too low. Each seed pad sits on a small metal plate you thread with a thick cord, which serves as a wick to bring just the right amount of moisture to the germinating seedlings. 

I had a thick crop of microgreens in just over seven days with minimal attention; I had to top off the reservoir about every three days. When you’ve harvested your current crop, you just peel off the old seed pad, wash off any clinging roots, and replace it with a new pad. Overall, if you want a self-contained system that gives you an excellent harvest for minimal effort, this is my top pick.

You get a lot of variety with minimal effort with this kit from Zestigreens. The kit includes six biodegradable grow trays, six different types of seeds (sunflower, pea, amaranth, radish, mixed salad, and broccoli), and six soil discs that expand into a fluffy growing medium when exposed to water. After assembly, maintenance primarily involves checking to ensure the soil does not dry out.

Tester Tori Martinet, MS, RD, enjoyed the simplicity of this kit. “It was interactive and fun, but still low maintenance and quick to set up,” she notes. Her microgreens began sprouting within two days, and by day six, she was able to harvest a small handful from each tray. For just under $30, you can grow a big variety of microgreens for a fraction of what a small clamshell of them would cost at your local grocery store or farmer’s market, and all of the seeds are USDA-certified organic and non-GMO.

One thing to be aware of: the grow trays are made of biodegradable cardboard, and the surfaces can become damp. You’ll want to ensure that these are set on a tray or a waterproof surface to prevent water damage.

This kit from Urban Leaf has everything you need to start growing microgreens, even if you have limited space. This compact set comes with three sprout trays, six varieties of seeds (radish, kale, mustard, broccoli, and a “rainbow” and a “spicy” mix), and six growing mats. The mats are made of jute, which helps wick moisture to the seedlings to ensure they get just the right amount of moisture with minimal effort on your part. Urban Leaf also goes to great lengths to ensure that setup is easy, which is helpful if you’re a microgreens newbie.

“I found the quick-start printed guide to be very helpful,” said tester Marisa Olsen. “The guide was well outlined with pictures and illustrations to get started, and included information on how to take care of seedlings and information about each microgreen, plus ideas for recipes and use.”

Olsen also found that the bulk of the seeds sprouted and that by day four, she had a small crop of microgreens. This is where the extra details included in the instructions came in handy, as they helped Olsen determine that the fuzzy roots on her seedlings were “a sign of healthy microgreens, not harmful mold.”

Olsen also liked that many parts of the kit were reusable, such as the trays and lids. However, since this is a kit meant for small spaces, you can expect a smaller harvest. Still, this kit is easy to use and gives even those with little windowsill space the opportunity to grow a variety of microgreens.

One of my biggest challenges during microgreens testing was watering. Too little, and you’ll come home to sad, desiccated greens. Too much, and the only thing you’ll be harvesting is mold. This self-watering microgreens kit from Orta Garden not only took most of the guesswork out of watering, but it’s kind of cute, too.

The kit includes a handmade terracotta planter, four packets of organic microgreen seeds (radish, arugula, komatsuna, and kohlrabi), and enough soil to grow four rounds of greens. The terracotta wicks water from an internal reservoir, so once you’ve added water to the base, the soil stays evenly moist without daily attention. You’ll only need to refill the water about once a week, making it one of the lowest-maintenance kits I tested.

I loved this kit’s clean design; not only does the terracotta make watering less complicated, it’s also endlessly reusable. This piece is sturdy, and while I could see having to eventually replace the cork that plugs the reservoir, I don’t foresee ever having to replace the planter. It’s definitely pricier than some kits, but since the planter is reusable and the design is completely zero-waste, it’s a worthwhile pick for anyone looking for a more permanent setup.

It is worth noting that this kit uses soil pucks as a growing medium. When you wet them, they expand into a mound of fluffy soil. While this is gratifying to watch, it can also be a bit messy, especially compared to some hydroponic setups. 

With so many potential benefits, it only made sense to include sprouts in our testing, and this purple clay kit from Permafarm quickly became a favorite. The vessel is made from porous, lead-free clay that naturally regulates airflow and moisture, helping keep your sprouts fresh without turning slimy. Unlike most kits, it doesn’t rely on plastic trays or mesh lids. Instead, it uses a simple clay pot and interior weight to help grow crisp, sturdy sprouts. Most varieties are ready to harvest in about five to seven days, depending on the seed.

“This sprouter produced a very large harvest of mung beans—the entire base was filled to the brim at 2.9 liters, or nearly 12 cups,” says tester Olsen. She did note that the lack of instructions made the setup less beginner-friendly. But once you get the hang of it, the process is simple, and the generous harvest makes it easy to toss fresh sprouts into stir-fries, sandwiches, and grain bowls all week long.

Olsen appreciated the details that made the project engaging and fun to assemble. “I liked the easy-to-follow instructions that were included on the package alongside a QR code with a helpful growing video,” she said. “The kit also comes with a printed watering checklist that came in handy.” Most of the microgreens were ready to harvest within a week, and the seeds are certified organic and non-GMO. Olsen was able to harvest about a cup of microgreens using this kit.

One thing to note: the pop-up elements of this kit are made of paper and can easily tear, so you’ll want to use a light hand when assembling. We also wish this kit could be used more than once. Still, it’s cute, affordable, and a fun way to teach your kids about microgreens.