The Comprehensive Guide to 70 Microgreens Varieties for the Aspiring Urban Farmer
For anyone exploring different types of microgreens and sprouting, these nutritional powerhouses offer exceptional health benefits and culinary versatility. However, successfully growing microgreen varieties from seed to harvest requires precise knowledge of each variety's unique requirements. That's where MP Seeds comes into the picture.
We understand the challenges of mastering common microgreens and specialty varieties alike. Recognizing the need for a comprehensive resource, we've meticulously prepared a comparison table encompassing 70 microgreens types and sprouts—creating the most complete list of edible microgreens available.
This detailed guide transforms complex growing decisions into straightforward success for urban farmers, hobbyists, and commercial enthusiasts. Download link available at the bottom of this article.
1. What Does the Microgreens Comparison Table Offer?
Our table is not just another list. It is a thorough guide that details
Every variety is listed by its name, ensuring easy reference. We skipped the latin names of all 70 microgreens, but if you need it you will find them in each product description.
Whether the seeds are best suited only for microgreens, sprouts, or both.
An estimate of how many seeds you get per gram, helping in accurate measurement.
The ideal seed density for a 10x20 tray, ensuring optimal growth, and sow seeds not too crowded.
Information about whether the seeds for growing microgreens need soaking and for how long.
A guide on the amount of water each variety needs: frequent, moderate, or low. What you need to remember is that microgreens do not like watering and spraying from above. We are talking about bottom watering.
Duration for which the seeds need to be kept in the dark to promote sprouting.
From sowing to harvesting, how many days you need to wait.
An accumulated time frame that assists in planning your urban farm activities. This is how many days in total you need to plan for harvesting your greens- including soaking and germination period.
Mild, or spicy, nutty, fresh, or crispy? Here is the quick guide on the taste of the microgreens, helping farmers and consumers alike.i
A note on the stem and leaf colors, which can be crucial for culinary presentations.
An overview of the vitamins contained in each variety, allowing farmers to highlight the health benefits to their customers.
2. What microgreens varieties and sprouts are in the table?
- AlfaAlfa
- Anise
- Amaranth Red
- Arugula
- Asian Micro Mix
- Basil Italian
- Basil Red Opal
- Red Chard Bulls Blood
- Yellow Chard
- Borage Violet
- Broccoli Raab
- Calabrese Broccoli
- Red cabbage
- Falla carrot
- Celery
- Chervil
- Chickpeas
- Cilantro Coriander Split
- Cress
- Dichondra repens
- Dill Dakota
- Broad bean
- Fenugreek
- Fennel
- Red Russian Kale
- Red Kohlrabi
- Red Komatsuna
- Red lentils
- Lemon balm
- Lupin
- Melon
- Red Mizuna Red Frills
- Mung Bean
- Mustard Red Giant
- Mustard Radd
- Mustard White
- Mustard Black
- Mustard Chinese Brown
- Onion, Barbra
- Pak Choi white stem
- Pak Choi, red leaves
- Parsley
- Curly parsley
- Pea, Frilly
- Pea, Jumbo
- Pea, Salad
- Pea, Foxy
- Pea, Taiga
- PopCorn
- Radish, Daikon
- Radish, Pink
- Radish, Rose
- Radish Red Rambo
- Sage
- Spinach
- Sunflower Big
- Turnip
- Wheatgrass
- Nasturtium Tom Thumb
- Nasturtium King Theo
- Nasturtium Empress of India
- Marigold, Beauty
- Salad, Burnet
- Spinach New Zeland
- White Yarrow
- Red Shiso
- Red Veined Sorrel
- Purslane
- Marigold
- Shungiku
- Crisp Lettuce
3. Why Every Urban Farmer Growing Microgreens Needs This Table?
3.1 Making professional microgreeners life easier
This table is designed to make the life of an urban farmer easier. Instead of referring to multiple sources or relying on memory, farmers can now have every detail at their fingertips. With the information so neatly compiled, planning becomes effortless, be it for soaking, growing, or harvesting.
3.2 Microgreens Informative guide for clients
Additionally, the table is not just a tool but also an informative piece for customers. Farmers can easily showcase how nutritious their produce is, and the range of flavors they offer. By highlighting the health benefits and taste profiles, farmers can appeal to a broader clientele, from health enthusiasts to gourmet chefs.
3.3 Easy access
Download, Print, and Grow! The best part? This treasure trove of information is available for download. Farmers can print it out, pin it up in their growing space, or even carry it around for quick reference. Think of it as your cheat sheet for daily farming activities, ensuring you never miss a step and always produce the best microgreens.
4. Tailoring the Selection of Microgreens to Taste and Nutritional Value
Choosing the right microgreen varieties for your urban farm isn't just about what's easiest to grow—it's about understanding your target market and matching different types of microgreens to specific culinary and nutritional needs. With our comprehensive list of edible microgreens, you can strategically select varieties that will not only thrive in your growing space but also command premium prices in the marketplace.
4.1 Flavor Profiles: Matching Microgreens Types to Culinary Applications
Understanding the taste profiles of common microgreens is crucial for both commercial growers and home enthusiasts. Mild varieties like sunflower and pea microgreens appeal to a broader audience and work excellently in smoothies, salads, and as garnishes for delicate dishes. Meanwhile, spicy options such as radish varieties (Daikon, Pink, Rose, and Red Rambo) add a peppery kick that chefs love for enhancing flavor complexity in gourmet preparations.
Nutty varieties including sunflower and chickpea microgreens provide substance and protein, making them perfect for health-conscious consumers looking to boost their nutritional intake. Fresh and crispy options like broccoli and cabbage microgreens offer that satisfying crunch while delivering exceptional nutritional density.
4.2 Nutritional Powerhouses: Selecting for Health Benefits
When planning your microgreens types selection, consider the specific vitamins and minerals each variety offers. Dark leafy varieties such as kale, spinach, and chard microgreens are vitamin powerhouses, packed with vitamins A, C, and K. These varieties appeal to health enthusiasts and can be marketed as premium nutritional supplements.
Protein-rich options like pea varieties (Frilly, Jumbo, Salad, Foxy, and Taiga) along with chickpeas and broad beans provide essential amino acids, making them attractive to fitness enthusiasts and plant-based eaters. Antioxidant-rich varieties such as red amaranth, red cabbage, and purple varieties offer both visual appeal and exceptional health benefits.
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4.3 Market Positioning: Common Microgreens vs. Specialty Varieties
Smart urban farmers balance their production between reliable common microgreens and unique specialty varieties. Staple varieties like arugula, broccoli, and radish microgreens form the backbone of consistent sales due to their familiar flavors and proven market demand. These varieties also tend to have reliable growing characteristics, making them perfect for beginners.
However, incorporating unique varieties from our list of edible microgreens—such as nasturtium varieties (Tom Thumb, King Theo, Empress of India), shiso, or marigold—can set your operation apart from competitors. These specialty microgreen varieties command higher prices and attract gourmet restaurants and adventurous home cooks looking for distinctive flavors and visual appeal.
5. From Seed to Harvest: Planning Your Microgreens Workflow
Successful microgreens production requires meticulous planning and understanding the unique growing requirements of different types of microgreens. Our comprehensive comparison table becomes your essential planning tool, helping you coordinate multiple varieties simultaneously while ensuring optimal harvest timing. With detailed information on over 70 microgreen varieties, you can create an efficient workflow that maximizes your growing space and delivers consistent results.
5.1 Pre-Production Planning: Organizing Your Microgreens Types
Before sowing your first seed, successful urban farmers map out their production schedule using our detailed list of edible microgreens. The key is understanding that different varieties have vastly different requirements—some common microgreens like radish and arugula need minimal soaking time, while others such as chickpeas and sunflower require extended soaking periods of 8-12 hours.
Start by categorizing your selected microgreens types by their soaking requirements and blackout periods. Quick-turnaround varieties like cress and mustard can fill gaps in your production schedule, while longer-cycle varieties like sunflower and pea need careful timing to ensure continuous harvests. Use our table's "Total growing time" column to plan backward from your desired harvest dates, accounting for soaking, germination, and growing periods.
Smart workflow planning also involves grouping varieties with similar water requirements together. This allows you to optimize your watering schedule and ensure that moisture-loving varieties like celery and parsley receive adequate hydration without over-watering drought-tolerant options.
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5.2 Production Scheduling: Maximizing Efficiency with Multiple Varieties
The beauty of growing different types of microgreens lies in creating a continuous harvest cycle. Our comparison table's detailed growing days information allows you to stagger plantings strategically. For example, while your 14-day sunflower microgreens are approaching harvest, you can simultaneously be starting quick 7-day radish varieties to maintain constant production flow.
Professional growers often work with three production categories: fast-turnaround common microgreens (5-10 days), medium-cycle varieties (10-14 days), and specialty longer-growing microgreen varieties (14-21 days). By maintaining multiple trays at different growth stages, you can ensure weekly harvests while accommodating the varying requirements outlined in our comprehensive guide.
5.3 Quality Control and Harvest Optimization
Understanding the specific appearance characteristics and optimal harvest timing for each variety in our list of edible microgreens is crucial for maintaining quality standards. Our table's appearance column helps you identify when microgreens have reached their peak—looking for specific stem colors, leaf development, and overall vigor indicators.
Harvest planning becomes systematic when you understand each variety's characteristics. Quick-growing microgreens types like mustard and cress should be harvested promptly at peak freshness, while hardier varieties like sunflower and pea can maintain quality for slightly longer periods. This knowledge allows you to prioritize harvesting and processing based on each variety's optimal window.
6. Conclusion
Stop guessing, start growing with confidence. MP Seeds' comparison table delivers precise data for 70+ microgreen varieties—from soaking times to harvest windows—eliminating costly trial-and-error experiments. Home growers discover perfect matches for family preferences, while commercial operations optimize production schedules and market positioning. The detailed profiles reveal which microgreens types thrive in your conditions and appeal to your customers.
Ready to elevate your microgreens game? Download this expertly compiled resource and watch your growing success multiply—one perfectly timed harvest at a time.
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