Short answer: grains sprout in 1 to 3 days, beans and lentils in 2 to 4, and small leafy seeds like alfalfa, broccoli and radish in 4 to 5. As microgreens, brassicas take 7 to 12 days, big-seed shoots 8 to 12, and herbs 12 to 28. Find any seed in the sprouting chart below.
How to read the sprouting chart
- Soak: how long to soak before the first rinse. "No soak" means a gel-forming seed: sow it dry on a damp surface.
- Sprouts: days to harvest in a jar or tray sprouter.
- Microgreens: days to harvest on soil or a mat with light.
- Method: jar, tray, plate or soil tray.
Days come from Sprouting.com's product pages where available.1 Warm kitchens are faster, and cool ones slower.
| Seed | Grow as | Soak | Sprouts (days) | Microgreens (days) | Method | Flavour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adzuki bean | Sprouts | 6–12 hours | 2–4 | n/a | Jar | Nutty, sweet |
| Alfalfa | Sprouts, Microgreens | 4–12 hours | 5 | 8–12 | Jar | Mild, grassy |
| Arugula | Sprouts, Microgreens | No soak | 4–5 | 8–12 | Plate or tray | Peppery, nutty |
| Barley | Sprouts, Microgreens | 6–12 hours | 2–3 (hulless) | 8–10 (grass) | Jar or tray | Mild, sweet |
| Basil | Sprouts, Microgreens | No soak | 5–7 | 12–21 | Plate or tray | Sweet basil, hint of clove |
| Beet | Microgreens | 4–6 hours | n/a | 8–12 | Soil tray | Earthy, sweet |
| Bok choy | Sprouts, Microgreens | 1–2 hours | 5 | 10–14 | Jar or tray | Mild, sweet cabbage |
| Borage | Microgreens | Not needed | n/a | 12–15 | Soil tray | Fresh cucumber |
| Broccoli | Sprouts, Microgreens | 1–2 hours | 4–5 | 7–10 | Jar or tray | Mild, peppery |
| Broccoli raab (rapini) | Sprouts, Microgreens | 2–4 hours | 4–5 | 10–14 | Jar or tray | Bitter-sweet broccoli |
| Buckwheat | Sprouts, Microgreens | 6–12 hours | 1–2 (hulled groats) | 10–12 | Soil tray | Mild, lemony |
| Caraway | Microgreens | Not needed | n/a | 14–21 | Soil tray | Light anise and rye bread |
| Carrot | Microgreens | Not needed | n/a | 8–12 | Soil tray | Sweet, carroty, a little parsley |
| Celery | Microgreens | Not needed | n/a | 18–21 | Soil tray | Strong celery |
| Chervil | Microgreens | Not needed | n/a | 14–21 | Soil tray | Mild anise and parsley |
| Chia | Sprouts, Microgreens | No soak | 4–5 | 8–12 | Plate or tray | Mild, slightly peppery |
| Chickpeas | Sprouts | 6–12 hours | 2–3 | n/a | Jar | Nutty, beany |
| Chicory | Microgreens | Not needed | n/a | 10–14 | Soil tray | Bitter, like endive |
| Clover | Sprouts, Microgreens | 4–8 hours | 4–5 | 8–10 | Jar | Mild, sweet, grassy |
| Collard | Sprouts, Microgreens | 2–3 hours | 4–5 | 8–10 | Jar or tray | Mild cabbage |
| Coriander (cilantro) | Microgreens | Optional, 8–12 hours | n/a | 16–28 | Soil tray | Fresh cilantro |
| Cranberry beans | Sprouts | 6–12 hours | 2–3 | n/a | Jar | Creamy, beany |
| Curly cress | Sprouts, Microgreens | No soak | 4–5 | 8–12 | Plate or tray | Hot, peppery |
| Daikon radish | Sprouts, Microgreens | 4–6 hours | 4–5 | 8–10 | Jar or tray | Hot, peppery |
| Dill | Microgreens | Not needed | n/a | 14–21 | Soil tray | Fresh dill |
| Dwarf grey sugar peas | Sprouts, Microgreens | 6–8 hours | 2–3 | 8–10 (shoots) | Jar or soil tray | Sweet, fresh pea |
| Endive | Microgreens | Not needed | n/a | 10–14 | Soil tray | Mildly bitter |
| Fava beans | Sprouts, Microgreens | 6–12 hours | 3–4 | 10–14 (shoots) | Jar or soil tray | Sweet, green bean |
| Fennel | Microgreens | Optional, 4–6 hours | n/a | 10–14 | Soil tray | Sweet anise |
| Fenugreek | Sprouts, Microgreens | 6–12 hours | 3–5 | 8–12 | Jar | Bitter, maple-like |
| Flax | Sprouts, Microgreens | No soak | 4–6 | 8–12 | Plate or tray | Mild, nutty |
| Garlic chives | Sprouts, Microgreens | 4–6 hours | 12–14 | 14–21 | Soil tray | Garlicky |
| Kale | Sprouts, Microgreens | 2–8 hours | 4–5 | 10–14 | Jar or tray | Mild, sweet cabbage |
| Kamut® khorasan wheat | Sprouts, Microgreens | 6 hours | 2–3 | 10–12 | Jar or tray | Buttery, nutty |
| Komatsuna | Sprouts, Microgreens | 1–2 hours | 4–5 | 10–14 | Jar or tray | Mild mustard and spinach |
| Leek | Microgreens | Not needed | n/a | 14–21 | Soil tray | Mild onion |
| Lemon balm | Microgreens | Not needed | n/a | 14–21 | Soil tray | Lemony mint |
| Lentils | Sprouts, Microgreens | 6–12 hours | 2–3 | 8–12 (shoots) | Jar | Earthy, crunchy |
| Millet | Sprouts, Microgreens | 6–8 hours | 1–2 | 8–10 (greens) | Jar or tray | Mild, sweet |
| Mung beans | Sprouts | 6–8 hours | 2–3 | 6–7 (long bean sprouts) | Jar | Fresh, mild, crunchy |
| Mustard | Sprouts, Microgreens | Varies: yellow no soak, wasabi 1–2 hours | 4–5 | 8–12 | Jar or tray | Hot, wasabi-like |
| Nasturtium | Microgreens | 8–12 hours | n/a | 10–14 | Soil tray | Peppery, like watercress |
| Oats | Sprouts, Microgreens | 4–8 hours | 2–3 | 10 (grass) | Jar or tray | Sweet, oaty |
| Onion | Sprouts, Microgreens | 4–6 hours | 10–14 | 14–21 | Jar or soil tray | Sharp onion |
| Parsley | Microgreens | Optional, 8–12 hours | n/a | 14–21 | Soil tray | Fresh parsley |
| Peas | Sprouts, Microgreens | 4–8 hours | 2–3 | 8–10 (shoots) | Jar or soil tray | Sweet, fresh pea |
| Popcorn shoots | Microgreens | 6–12 hours | n/a | 10–12 | Soil tray (dark) | Very sweet corn |
| Purple kohlrabi | Sprouts, Microgreens | 1–2 hours | 5 | 8–10 | Jar or tray | Mild, sweet cabbage |
| Quinoa | Sprouts | 4–8 hours | 2–3 | n/a | Jar | Nutty, mild |
| Radish | Sprouts, Microgreens | 4–8 hours | 4–5 | 10–12 | Jar or tray | Hot, peppery |
| Red amaranth | Microgreens | No soak | n/a | 14–16 | Soil tray | Mild, earthy |
| Red cabbage | Sprouts, Microgreens | 4–6 hours | 5 | 10–12 | Jar or tray | Mild, sweet cabbage |
| Red shiso (perilla) | Microgreens | Not needed | n/a | 14–21 | Soil tray | Mint, basil and cinnamon |
| Rye | Sprouts, Microgreens | 6–12 hours | 2–3 | 8–10 (grass) | Jar or tray | Earthy, nutty |
| Seed blends | Sprouts, Microgreens | Varies by blend | 3–5 | 8–10 | Jar or tray | Varies |
| Sesame | Sprouts | 4–8 hours (unhulled seed only) | 1–2 | n/a | Jar | Nutty |
| Speckled peas | Microgreens | 6–12 hours | n/a | 8–10 (shoots) | Soil tray | Sweet, fresh pea |
| Spelt | Sprouts, Microgreens | 4–8 hours | 2–3 | 10 (grass) | Jar | Nutty, sweet |
| Spigarello | Sprouts, Microgreens | 3–6 hours | 5 | 8–10 | Jar or tray | Sweet broccoli |
| Sunflower | Sprouts, Microgreens | 4–8 hours | 1–2 (hulled seed) | 8–10 | Soil tray | Nutty, crunchy |
| Swiss chard | Microgreens | 4–12 hours | n/a | 8–12 | Soil tray | Mild, earthy |
| Tatsoi | Sprouts, Microgreens | 2–3 hours | 3–6 | 10–12 | Jar or tray | Mild mustard |
| Thyme | Microgreens | Not needed | n/a | 14–21 | Soil tray | Thyme |
| Triticale | Sprouts, Microgreens | 6–12 hours | 2–3 | 8–10 (grass) | Jar or tray | Nutty |
| Turnip | Sprouts, Microgreens | 2–4 hours | 4–5 | 8–12 | Jar or tray | Peppery, mild |
| Watercress | Sprouts, Microgreens | No soak | 4–6 | 10–14 | Plate or tray | Peppery |
| Wheat | Sprouts, Microgreens | 8–12 hours | 1–3 | 8–10 (grass) | Jar | Sweet, chewy |
| Wheatgrass | Microgreens | 8–12 hours | 1–2 (before planting) | 8–10 | Soil tray | Sweet, grassy |
Seasonal notes for the sprouting chart
- Summer: sprouts may be ready a day early. Rinse three times a day and keep jars out of the sun.
- Winter: add a day or two. Find a spot around 65 to 75°F (18 to 24°C).
- Microgreens in winter: low light slows them down. A simple LED helps. See microgreens grow light.
Read year-round sprouting for more.
Plan a steady supply
Start a new jar every 2 to 3 days and a new microgreen tray every 4 to 5 days. Use the sprouting calculator to get a harvest date for any seed and amount, and the microgreens seeding chart for seed per tray.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest seed to sprout?
Grains like quinoa, millet, wheat and buckwheat groats sprout in 1 to 2 days. Mung beans and lentils are ready in 2 to 3 days.
How long do most sprouts take?
Most sprouts take 2 to 5 days. Beans and grains are quickest; small leafy seeds like alfalfa and broccoli take 4 to 5 days.
How long do microgreens take?
Most take 7 to 14 days. Brassicas are fastest. Herbs like basil, cilantro and parsley take 2 to 4 weeks.
Sources
- Sprouting.com (Mumm's Sprouting Seeds). Product pages: days to sprout, soak time and yield for each seed. Link