How Long Do Microgreens Take to Grow?

Microgreens usually take 5 to 10 days to grow from seed to harvest. Some varieties grow even faster. In my experience growing microgreens at Wagner Greens, many of the most popular varieties like radish, broccoli, and kale are ready in about 5 days, while larger crops like sunflower or pea shoots may take 5 to 12 days depending on conditions.

The reason microgreens are so popular is simple. They grow incredibly fast, require very little space, and you can grow them right at home on a windowsill.

Real Growing Times From My Experience

After growing thousands of trays, these are the typical timelines I see in the grow room:

Fast-growing varieties like radish and broccoli are great for beginners because you see results quickly. Crops like sunflower and peas take a little longer but produce thicker, larger greens.

What Affects How Fast Microgreens Grow?

Several factors determine whether your microgreens grow in 5 days or closer to 10 days.

From my experience, these matter the most:

Temperature
Microgreens grow fastest around 65–75°F. Cooler rooms slow them down.

Seed quality
Good seeds make a huge difference. Cheap or old seeds can delay germination or grow unevenly.

Soil quality
Healthy soil gives roots the nutrients they need to grow quickly. Organic growing mixes usually work best.

Seed density
Too many seeds packed into a tray can slow growth and create mold issues.

Proper germination
Most microgreens need to be covered for the first few days to germinate evenly before they are exposed to light.

The Biggest Mistakes That Slow Microgreens Down

Over the years, I’ve seen beginners make the same mistakes that delay growth or cause failure.

The most common ones are:

• Using the wrong soil

• Overwatering

• Using too many seeds

• Not covering trays during germination

• Forgetting to water

• Poor light conditions

I made plenty of these mistakes myself when I first started. I bought way too many fancy tools and complicated equipment when the reality is that microgreens are actually very simple to grow.

The Simple Way to Grow Microgreens at Home

You really only need a few things to grow microgreens successfully:

• A tray or container

• Good microgreen seeds

• Quality soil

• Sunlight from a window

• A way to water the tray

That’s it.

At Wagner Greens, we actually built our microgreens growing kit for beginners around this exact idea. Instead of overwhelming beginners with complicated equipment, the kit includes everything you need to grow four full cycles of microgreens, and the only things you provide are water and sunlight.

It keeps the process simple so you can focus on growing instead of figuring out equipment.

Why Microgreens Grow So Fast

Microgreens grow quickly because you harvest them when they are still young seedlings. Instead of waiting for a plant to mature for weeks or months, you harvest the greens when they develop their first set of leaves, called cotyledons. If you're not sure exactly when that point is, here’s a full guide on when to harvest microgreens.

This early stage is when the plants are:

• Tender

• Flavorful

• Packed with nutrients

Research has shown microgreens can contain significantly higher nutrient levels than mature plants.
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3791249/

That means in just 5 to 10 days, you can grow fresh greens at home that are incredibly nutritious. Once harvested, it’s important to handle them correctly, so here’s how to store microgreens properly to keep them fresh longer.

The Bottom Line

Microgreens are one of the fastest crops you can grow.

Most varieties take 5 to 10 days, and some can be harvested in as little as 5 days with the right setup. If you use good seeds, proper soil, and basic sunlight, growing microgreens at home is incredibly simple.

If you're just getting started, keep it simple. A tray, soil, seeds, water, and sunlight are all you need.

And if you want the easiest way to begin, the Wagner Greens Microgreens Growing Kit gives you everything you need to grow your first four harvests right at home.