What are the Different Types of Microgreens – Where To Start?

With an increasing number of different types of microgreens being available for both growing at home and purchasing at the supermarket, it can be a little overwhelming to know where to start. In this blog we’re going to cover all the different types of microgreens you can grow at home as well as offer some recommendations depending on how you want to use them. If you’re interested in learning more about how to grow, consume, and get the most out of your microgreens be sure to check out the links to our separate blogs on these topics below. 

Types of Microgreens you can Grow at Home

Microgreens are one of the most satisfying foods to grow – and the best suited to growing in small indoor spaces. They are super fast, nutritious, flavorful – and there are hundreds of varieties to choose from. Pretty much any vegetable, grain, legume, or salad green can be grown as a microgreen, so there’s lots to consider (flavor, looks, price, timing) but we find it most useful to think about it in terms of how you’ll use them.

Microgreen Varieties: Which Ones Are Right For You?

Microgreens with a MILD flavor 

Mild flavors that range from nutty to sweet, many with the delicate taste of larger vegetables – like carrot and cucumber. These make it easy to boost the nutrition of a meal without changing the taste too much. 

Our Favorites: Alfalfa, Borage, Broccoli, Carrot, Chard,  Kale

Microgreens with a SPICY flavor

There are several microgreens with deep spiciness that you can use in hearty dishes. We love dressing our salad with mustard microgreens and topping our pizzas with arugula. We also love the rush of eating the radish straight.. but maybe we’re a bit intense. 

Our Favorites: Arugula, Cress, Mustard, Radish

HERBS that can be grown as Microgreens

Most herbs can be grown as microgreens. In addition to the much shorter time to harvest (in days, not months), they are also more tender, making them better garnishes for desserts and cocktails. 

Our Favorites: Anise, Basil, Cilantro, Dill, Fennel, Scallion,  

Microgreen SHOOTS that are good for snacking 

Shoots are our favorite for snacking on straight – but also add a nice crisp to sandwiches and are some of the most kid-friendly varieties. They are typically bigger seeds that need to be soaked before planting. It’s not too hard, but is a tiny bit more advanced

Our Favorites: Corn, Garbanzo, Lentil, Peas, Soy, Sunflower 

Best types of Microgreens for Beginners

Unless you’re a celebrity chef or way ahead of the curve, chances are you don’t know what your favorite microgreen is. They’re also so many different flavors out there, we think it’s best to start with a wide range of representative flavors & textures (and ones that are also easy to grow) so you can get your footing and decide which flavors to explore further.

We think the perfect starting lineup is:

Radish: Radishes show off just how flavorful microgreens can be. Compared to the radishes you know, you will find these to be immensely rich, peppery, and slightly floral.

Lentil: While this might not be the first microgreen that comes to mind – it’s a great representative of the “shoots” family. It’s crisp with a fresh, sweet flavor and the easiest of the family to grow (doesn’t require soaking, ready in 7 days).

Mustard: This is a superfast grower, showing its green leaves after just 2 days, and you’ll be blown away by the bold, spicy mustard flavor. 

Kale: Kale is a classic “mild” microgreen – it has a rich, nutty flavor that goes will with a broad range of dishes. It’s soft texture also shows off just how tender microgreens are compared to their adult counterparts. 

Want to learn more about Microgreens? Check out our other blogs on:

• What Exactly Are Microgreens Anyway?
• How Anyone Can Grow Microgreens At Home
• Benefits of MicroGreens: It’s Not The Size That Counts
• How to Use Microgreens In Your Salads, Smoothies, Snacks and More

And if you’re ready to give growing microgreens a shot, our Microgreens Starter Kit can help you out with that. Let’s get sprouting!