The Comprehensive Guide to Types of Microgreens: Complete Variety List and Growing Chart

Microgreens are young, edible shoots grown from the seeds of suitable vegetables, herbs, cereals, legumes and other edible plants. They are harvested after the cotyledons develop and the first true leaves begin to appear. The shoots are cut above the growing medium, unlike sprouts, which are eaten together with the seed and root.

The same plant species may be grown as microgreens or allowed to mature, but seeds used for microgreen production should be untreated, uncoated and suitable for this purpose. This updated guide compares 120 products from the current MP Seeds catalogue, including 104 microgreen products alongside sprouting seeds, edible flowers, herb microgreens and selected hydroponic crops. Use the table to compare difficulty, taste, soaking, blackout, total growing time and seed density for a standard 10×20 tray. A complete, downloadable version of the table is available at the end of the article.

Grower wearing a cap outdoors — header image for MP SEEDS' guide to microgreens varieties

1. What Does the Microgreens Comparison Table Offer?

Our table is not just another list. It is a thorough guide that details

Name of the Microgreen/Sprout:

Every variety is listed by its name, ensuring easy reference. We skip the Latin names in this guide, but if you need them, you'll find them in each product description.

Seed Category:

Whether the seeds are classified as microgreens, sprouting seeds, edible flowers, herb microgreens, or hydroponic seeds.

Seed count:

An estimate of how many seeds you get per gram, helping in accurate measurement.

Density:

The ideal seed density for a 10x20 tray, ensuring optimal growth, and sowing seeds not too crowded.

Soaking Needs:

Information about whether the seeds for growing microgreens need soaking and for how long.

Water requirements:

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.

Blackout period:

Duration for which the seeds need to be kept in the dark to promote sprouting.

Total growing time:

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.

Taste profile:

Mild, or spicy, nutty, fresh, or crispy? Here is the quick guide on the taste of the microgreens, helping farmers and consumers alike.

Appearance:

A note on the stem and leaf colors, which can be crucial for culinary presentations.

2. How to use the microgreens comparison table

Each row below represents one product from the current MP Seeds catalogue, sized for a standard 10×20 inch tray. Soaking shows whether the seeds benefit from pre-soaking before sowing; Blackout is how many days the tray should stay covered in the dark to encourage germination; Total growing time covers the full cycle from sowing to harvest, including soaking, blackout and light growth. Actual timing can vary with room temperature, light intensity and your specific setup, so treat these as starting points rather than a fixed schedule.

Where a value is marked Not applicable, that measurement doesn't apply to the growing method (for example, soaking and blackout for hydroponic lettuce grown to a full head rather than as a microgreen). Where it's marked Not available, the data wasn't recorded for that variety in our catalogue.

Total growing time for all 120 MP Seeds microgreens, sprouting, edible flower and hydroponic varieties, from sowing to harvest. Full details (category, difficulty, taste, soaking, blackout, watering, seed count, tray density, stem/leaf color) available in the downloadable version at the end of this guide. Data updated 18 September 2026.
Variety	Total Growing Time
Adzuki Red Bean Microgreens Seeds	15-17 days
AlfaAlfa seeds for sprouts	7-8 days
Alyssum Snowcloth Edible Flower Seeds	4–6 weeks
Alyssum Violet Queen Edible Flower Seeds	6–8 weeks (to flowering)
Amaranth, Red Microgreens Seeds	15-16 days
Anise Microgreens Seeds	19-21 days
Arugula, Rocket Microgreens Seeds	7-8 days
Arugula, Wild Microgreens Seeds	8-12 days
Asian Micro Mix Microgreens Seeds	7-8 days
Basil, Cinnamon Microgreens Seeds	14-28 days
Basil, Italian Microgreens Seeds	14-28 days
Basil, Lemon Microgreens Seeds	14-28 days
Basil, Red Opal Microgreens Seeds	14-28 days
Beet, Bulls Blood Microgreens Seeds	12-14 days
Beet, Red Microgreens Seeds	14-16 days
Beet, Yellow Microgreens Seeds	15-16 days
Borage, Violet Microgreens Seeds	14-17 days
Broccoli, Calabrese Microgreens Seeds	9-10 days
Broccoli, Raab Microgreens Seeds	7-9 days
Buckwheat	8-12 days
Cabbage Michihili Microgreens Seeds	9–12 days
Cabbage, Red Microgreens Seeds	7-9 days
Caraway Microgreens Seeds	19-20 days
Carrot, Falla Microgreens Seeds	17-19 days
Celery, Leafly Microgreens Seeds	19-20 days
Chervil Microgreens Seeds	17-18 days
Chickpea Microgreens Seeds	9 days
Chicory Endive Microgreens seeds	5-8 days
Chinese Chives - Garlic, Microgreens Seeds	14-21 days
Chinese Mahogany Microgreens Seeds	14 days
Cilantro- Coriander, Split Microgreens Seeds	19-20 days
Clover Microgreens Seeds	8–12 days
Corn Salad Microgreens Seeds	18-21 days
Cornflower Double Mixed Edible Flower Seeds	8–10 weeks to flowering
Cornflower Polka Dot Mixed Edible Flower Seeds	60–90 days
Cress Microgreens Seeds	7 days
Daisy Monstrosa Mix Edible Flower Seeds	90–120 days (flowering stage)
Dandelion Microgreens Seeds	16–25 days (average 18 days)
Dill, Dakota Microgreens Seeds	19-20 days
Echinacea, Microgreens Seeds	10-14 days
Fava Bean Microgreens Seeds	15-17 days
Fennel Microgreens Seeds	19-20 days
Fenugreek Microgreens Seeds	9 days
Hibiscus, Microgreens Seeds	8–11 days
Hyssop Microgreens Seeds	16 days
Kale, Red Russian Microgreens Seeds	8 days
Kale, Tuscan Black Microgreens Seeds	8 days
Kohlrabi, Red Microgreens Seeds	7 days
Komatsuna, Red Microgreens Seeds	10-12 days
Leek Microgreens Seeds	14-21 days
Lemon Balm Microgreens Seeds	24-29 days
Lentils, Red Microgreens Seeds	10 days
Lettuce, Brune D'Hiver Hydroponic Seeds	40–45 days (full head)
Lettuce, Crisp Microgreens seeds	5-8 days
Lettuce, Green Salad Bowl Hydroponic Seeds	30–35 days (full head)
Lettuce, Lollo Green Hydroponic Seeds	30–35 days (full head)
Lettuce, Lollo Red Hydroponic Seeds	30–35 days (full head)
Lettuce, Red Salad Bowl Hydroponic Seeds	30–40 days (full head)
Lupine Microgreens Seeds	10-12 days
Maiden Pink Edible Flower Seeds	approx. 8–12 weeks to flowering
Marigold, Beauty Microgreens seeds	10-13 days
Melon, Cantaloupe Microgreens Seeds	16-20 days
Milk Thistle Microgreens Seeds	7-8 days
Mizuna, Green Microgreens Seeds	7-12 days
Mizuna, Red Frills Microgreens Seeds	7-12 days
Mung Bean Microgreens Seeds	8-9 days
Mustard, Black Microgreens seeds	10-11 days
Mustard, Chinese "B" Microgreens seeds	10-11 days
Mustard, Radd Microgreens seeds	8-11 days
Mustard, Red Giant Microgreens Seeds	8-11 days
Mustard, Spicy Microgreens Seeds	10–11 days
Mustard, Wasabi Microgreens seeds	10-11 days
Mustard, White Microgreens seeds	10-11 days
Nasturtium, Empress Of India - Dark Selection	14-17 days
Nasturtium, Tom Thumb Alaska	14-17 days
Nasturtium, Tom Thumb Microgreens Seeds	14-17 days
Nigella damascena 'Persian Jewels' Edible Flower Seeds	8–12 weeks
Onion, Barbra Microgreens seeds	11 days
Oregano, Microgreens seeds	21–35 days
Pak Choi, Red Microgreens seeds	9-12 days
Pak Choi, White Stem Microgreens seeds	9-12 days
Parsley Microgreens seeds	21-23 days
Parsley, Curly Microgreens seeds	21-23 days
Pea Dunn microgreens seeds	7-9 days
Pea, Foxy Microgreens seeds	9-11 days
Pea, Frilly 2.4 Microgreens seeds	16 days
Pea, Jumbo Microgreens Seeds	16 days
Pea, Salad Microgreens seeds	16 days
Pea, Taiga Microgreens seeds	16 days
Pea, White - Microgreens seeds	9-12 days
Perilla Green Shiso Microgreens seeds	16–18 days
Perilla Red Shiso Microgreens seeds	27 days
Perilla Shiso BiColor, Microgreens seeds	18 days
PopCorn Microgreens seeds	15 days
Radish Micro Mix	5 days
Radish, Daikon Microgreens seeds	8 days
Radish, Pink Microgreens seeds	9 days
Radish, Red Rambo Microgreens Seeds	9 days
Radish, Rose Microgreens seeds	9 days
Rape Microgreens Seeds	5-8 days
Sage Microgreens Seeds	20-21 days
Salad Burnet Edible Leaves Seeds	21-23 days
Salvia, Clary Sage Microgreens Seeds	14+ days
Shungiku Microgreens seeds	10-13 days
Snapdragon Maximum Mix Edible Flower Seeds	110–120 days
Sorrel, Red Veined Microgreens seeds	21 days
Spinach, Lorelay Microgreens seeds	15 days
Sunflower, Big Microgreens seeds	8-9 days
Sunflower, Small Microgreens Seeds	8–9 days
Swiss Chard, Pink Microgreens Seeds	15-16 days
Tagette Mexican Marigold Microgreens Seeds	10-13 days
Tagette Peruvian - Huacatay Microgreens Seeds	10-13 days
Tagette, Citron Microgreens Seeds	10-13 days
Tagette, Pink Microgreens seeds	10-13 days
TatSoi Microgreens Seeds	9–12 days
Thyme, Microgreens seeds	21–35 days
Turnip Microgreens seeds	7-9 days
Watercress Microgreens Seeds	21–27 days
WheatGrass Microgreens seeds	8 days
Yarrow, White Microgreens seeds	20-30 days

3. Why This Table Matters

Instead of checking multiple sources or relying on memory, you get every variety's blackout and total growing time in one place — useful for planning your own grow schedule. The full, downloadable version at the end of this guide covers every column.

4. Tailoring the Selection of Microgreens to Taste and Nutritional Value

Choosing the right microgreen varieties isn't just about what's easiest to grow — it's about matching different types of microgreens to specific culinary applications, from mild sunflower and pea shoots to spicy radish varieties (Daikon, Pink, Rose, Red Rambo).

Colorful Varieties for Plating and Presentation

Stem and leaf color makes a dish stand out. Purple and red varieties such as red amaranth, red cabbage, red Russian kale and Bulls Blood beet add strong color contrast, while red opal basil and red-veined sorrel bring subtler tones.

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Common Microgreens vs. Specialty Varieties

Staple varieties like arugula, broccoli and radish form the backbone of consistent sales. Specialty varieties — nasturtium (Tom Thumb, Empress of India), shiso, marigold — command higher prices with gourmet restaurants and home cooks.

5. From Seed to Harvest: Planning Your Microgreens Workflow

Successful production means understanding each variety's blackout and growing time. Our table becomes your planning tool for coordinating multiple varieties and hitting your harvest dates.

Pre-Production Planning

Group your selected varieties by blackout period and total growing time. Quick-turnaround varieties like cress and mustard fill gaps in your schedule, while longer-cycle varieties like sunflower and pea need earlier planning. Use the "Total Growing Time" column to plan backward from your target harvest date.

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Production Scheduling

Stagger plantings using the total growing time column: start a quick 7-day cress crop while your 16-day peas approach harvest. Professional growers group varieties into fast (5-10 days), medium (10-14 days) and slow (14-21 days) cycles to keep weekly harvests consistent.

6. FAQ

How many types of microgreens are there?

No fixed number — this guide compares 120 products, 104 of them microgreens seeds.

What are the easiest microgreens to grow?

52 of 120 are rated "Easy," including Radish Micro Mix, Rape and Arugula Rocket — ready in 5-8 days.

Which microgreens grow the fastest?

Radish Micro Mix, at 5 days total.

Which microgreen seeds need soaking?

28 of 120, mostly larger seeds like chickpeas, peas and sunflower — see the full download.

What is the difference between microgreens and sprouts?

Sprouts are eaten whole after 2-5 days in water; microgreens are cut above the growing medium after 7-21+ days.

Is the complete microgreens chart available as a PDF or spreadsheet?

Yes — download the complete table here.

7. Conclusion

Stop guessing, start growing with confidence: this guide gives precise data for all 120 products in our catalogue. Download the complete, regularly updated table (all 14 columns): MP Seeds Microgreens Variety Catalogue (CSV)