How to Sprout Microgreen Seeds at Home

If you've fallen in love with eating healthy and nutritious sprouting seeds, why not learn how to grow microgreens at home? Buying microgreen seeds from the grocery store can quickly get expensive. Growing your sprouts at home is not only more affordable, but it's also fun, easy, and offers better control of the growing conditions so you can be sure that your sprouts are organic and safe. Here are the top three easy ways to grow your favorite organic sprout seeds at home.

3 Great Ways to Grow Sprouts at Home:

1. Mason jar method
2. Growing trays
3. Automatic sprouter

How to Grow Sprouting Seeds in a Mason Jar

The Mason jar method is a quick, easy, and cheap way to grow microgreen seeds at home without the need for garden soil. 

Step 1: The first step is to find a jar. You can purchase a Mason jar specifically to use for sprouting seeds, or you can thoroughly rinse out a jar you already have. Pickle jars, salsa jars, and jelly jars all make great jars for growing microgreen seeds, as long as you've made sure that they are clean.

Step 2: Once you have a jar, you'll need water, your favorite organic sprout seeds, and either cheesecloth or a sprouting lid. 

Step 3: Pour two tablespoons of your chosen sprouting seeds into your jar and then fill the jar the rest of the way with cool water. Although it may seem tempting, don't add more seeds. Microgreen seeds drastically expand in water, and you want to ensure you have enough room in your jar.

Step 4: Cover your jar with a sprouting lid or cheesecloth, then place it out of direct sunlight for eight to 24 hours. 

Step 5: Once the time has elapsed, drain the water using the cheesecloth or sprouting lid to prevent any microgreen seeds from escaping. Fill the jar about halfway with clean water, gently swirl the seeds around, and then drain again. 

Step 6: Once you've drained the water, place your jar upside down at an angle to ensure that all the water has drained out. Adequate draining prevents mold while still encouraging the seeds to grow and sprout. 

Step 7: You'll need to rinse and drain your sprouting seeds using the same process at least twice a day until they've fully sprouted, usually between three and seven days.

Storing Homegrown Microgreens 

Once your microgreen seeds have sprouted, you can store them in an airtight container with a paper towel for up to five days in the refrigerator. If they begin to smell or you see any mold, immediately throw them away.

How to Grow Organic Sprout Seeds in a Seed Sprouter Tray

Growing microgreen seeds using a sprouter tray is just as easy as using the Mason jar method. Plus, it allows you to grow more varieties at once or keep seeds at various sprouting stages, giving you continuous access to fresh sprouts.

To start using sprouting trays, soak your sprouting seeds as you did with the Mason jar method and then place your seeds of choice into each level of the tray. Rather than having to worry about rinsing and draining your sprouts, the trays allow you to pour water into the top of the stack and have the water drain down through each level.

Perks of Using a Sprouting Seed Tray:

• Saves space compared to having multiple Mason jars
• Doesn't require rinsing and draining, and it can instead be done in one motion
• Allows for multiple stages of growth or different types of organic sprout seeds

Drawbacks of Sprouting Seed Trays:

• Be careful to avoid the sprouting seeds getting stuck in the drainage holes of the tray
• Taller sprouts can't grow to their full height if a lid or second container is on top of them
• Sprouts don't grow as entangled as they can in jars

Growing Microgreen Seeds in an Automatic Sprouter

If you want to enjoy fresh sprouting seeds year-round but don't want the task of rinsing your sprouts twice a day, an automatic sprouter is an excellent investment. Automatic sprouters work with multiple varieties of organic sprout seeds and are incredibly quick and easy to set up and maintain. These sprouters are great for people who are new to growing microgreen seeds or when given as a gift.

There are multiple advantages to automatic sprouters, especially if you are someone who tends to forget to rinse your sprouts or if you've had issues with the water not draining fully from your jars. 

There are several different types of automatic sprouters, so you can choose the price point and style that is right for you. This includes selecting the number of trays you want and any automatic water options included.

How Do Automatic Sprouters Work?

Automatic sprouters have trays that you can fill with your microgreen seeds. You then stack the tray into the sprouter and fill the reservoir with water. Once you plug in the sprouter, the water will automatically circulate to rinse your organic sprout seeds on a schedule, typically multiple times a day for a pre-determined number of days.

Best Seeds to Sprout at Home

There are dozens of different types of microgreen seeds that you can sprout at home, and each offers a unique addition to your nutrition, taste profile, and growing needs. In addition to blends and mixes, there are individual seeds that you can sprout at home that are easy regardless of your experience.

Our Favorite Organic Sprout Seeds:

• Alfalfa sprouts
• Broccoli sprouts
• Salad mix sprouts

Alfalfa sprouts: These are a customer favorite and are a fantastic source of calcium, potassium, and magnesium. It takes between three and seven days for alfalfa seeds to sprout.

Salad mix: If you want a great mix of organic sprout seeds to add nutrients and flavor to dishes, choosing a mix is a smart choice. Our 5 Part Salad Mix features alfalfa, radish, broccoli, green lentil seeds, and mung bean sprouts for a blend of mild flavors, crunch, and a touch of spice.