Sprouts & microgreens at home
Grow fresh greens on your kitchen counter in days, not months
Step-by-step guides, exact soak and harvest times for 67 seeds, and recipes for what you grow. Everything you need to start with one jar or one tray.
Choose your path
Sprouts or microgreens?
Same seeds, different stage. Sprouts are eaten whole after a few days in a jar. Microgreens grow in a tray under light and are cut above the root.
Sprouts
The fastest, cheapest way to grow your own food. No soil, no light, just a jar.
- Ready in 2–6 days
- A jar and a mesh lid
- Eat the whole sprout
Microgreens
Leafy, colourful and full of flavour. Grown in a shallow tray on a windowsill or under a light.
- Ready in 7–14 days
- A tray, soil or a mat, and light
- Cut above the roots
Seed Library
The seeds people grow most
Each seed has its own guide: soak time, rinse schedule, days to harvest, yield, flavour and where to buy it.
How sprouting works
Four steps, one jar, about five days
Soak
Cover the seed with cool water. Small seeds need 1 to 8 hours, beans and grains 6 to 12.
Day 0Drain & rinse
Drain well, then rinse and drain twice a day. Sprouts need moisture, not standing water.
Day 1–4Grow
Keep the jar tilted at room temperature, out of direct sun, so air can move through.
Day 2–5Harvest
Give a final rinse, let them dry for a few hours, then refrigerate and eat within 5 days.
Day 2–6
Latest guides
Fresh from the blog
MicrogreensMicrogreen Trays: 1010 vs 1020, Holes vs No Holes
1010 vs 1020 microgreen trays, holes vs no holes, shallow vs tall: which trays to buy for soil, mats or hydroponic microgreens.
SproutsBroccoli Sprouts vs Broccoli Microgreens: Which Has More Sulforaphane?
Broccoli sprouts vs broccoli microgreens: sulforaphane, vitamins, taste, growing time and which to grow for the most benefit.
SproutsCan Dogs Eat Bean Sprouts?
Can dogs eat bean sprouts? Plain cooked mung bean sprouts in small amounts are generally fine. What to avoid and how much to give.
Recipes
What to cook with what you grow
Salads, stir-fries, curries and smoothies, with metric and US measures.
Salad · 15 minSunflower Sprouts and Beetroot Salad With Citrus Vinaigrette
A colourful sunflower sprouts salad with roasted beets, orange, goat cheese and walnuts in a bright citrus vinaigrette. Crunchy, sweet and ready in 15 minutes.
Main course · 20 minBroccoli Sprout Pesto Pasta
A bright green pesto made with raw broccoli sprouts, basil and toasted pine nuts, tossed through pasta off the heat. Ready in 20 minutes, serves 4.
Main dish · 10 minMung Bean Sprout Stir-Fry
A 10-minute mung bean sprout stir-fry with garlic, ginger, scallions and a simple soy sauce. Crunchy, vegetarian and ready faster than takeout.
Hi, I’m Michael
I’m a passionate sprouting professional, and I write these guides to help you grow sprouts and microgreens at home with confidence, from your first jar to a windowsill full of trays.
Questions
Sprouting FAQ
What is the easiest seed to sprout for beginners?
Mung beans, lentils and alfalfa. They soak overnight, sprout in 2 to 5 days and forgive the odd missed rinse.
Are homegrown sprouts safe to eat raw?
Raw sprouts carry a known food-safety risk because the warm, moist conditions that sprout seeds also suit bacteria. Use seed sold for sprouting and keep everything clean. The FDA says young children, pregnant people, older adults and anyone with a weakened immune system should not eat raw sprouts, and Health Canada advises everyone to cook them.
Do microgreens need a grow light?
Not always. A bright south-facing window works in spring and summer. In winter or a dim room, a simple LED shop light 2 to 4 inches above the tray gives stockier, greener plants.
How long do sprouts last in the fridge?
Most sprouts keep 3 to 7 days if they're dry when they go in. Store them in a container lined with a paper towel.
What's the difference between sprouts and microgreens?
Sprouts grow in water for 2 to 6 days and are eaten whole, root and all. Microgreens grow in soil or on a mat with light for 7 to 21 days and are cut above the roots.
Ready to grow your first batch?
We recommend Sprouting.com: seed sold specifically for sprouting and microgreens, with growing directions for each variety.
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