How To Grow Broccoli Microgreens At Home

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Learn all about how to grow broccoli microgreens in your own home.  These tender and earthy microgreens are a nutrient-dense food that can easily be grown year-round indoors.  Broccoli microgreens are baby broccoli plants that are ready to harvest just ten days after planting and require minimal effort to grow.  Growing your own broccoli microgreens is a great way to get some nutrition from one of the planet’s healthiest superfoods without having to depend on the grocery store.

I have been growing microgreens and selling them to our local grocery stores every week for over two years now.  We grow four kinds of microgreens: sunflower, pea, broccoli and radish.  Our family enjoys eating them in soups, on our eggs, in wraps, on burgers, and in salads, or just as a healthy snack all by themselves.

What Are Broccoli Microgreens?

Broccoli microgreens are young broccoli plants with tender white fibers for stems and tiny dark green leaves that are grown indoors and harvested within a week or two of planting.  Unlike sprouts, microgreens are grown on soil and under lights giving them high levels of chlorophyll & plant pigment.   Broccoli microgreens are usually harvested about 9-10 days after germination.  During this phase of the plant’s life, sulforaphane (pronounced ‘sull-fore-uh-fane’), one of the plant’s natural compounds known for it’s cancer fighting properties peaks.  The health benefits of broccoli microgreens are unbelievable, considering their tiny size. They can contain up to 40 times the levels of essential nutrients by weight compared to mature broccoli!

Why You Should Eat Broccoli Microgreens?

Broccoli microgreens are not only delicious, they are more than 40x higher in nutritional value than other adult vegetables, so you don’t have to eat very many of them to reap lots of nutritional value.

My favorite part about microgreens is how fast and easy they are to grow.  Because they are grown indoors, you can easily have a continual supply of fresh greens in your own home year round with minimal effort. 

What Do Broccoli Microgreens Taste Like?

Broccoli microgreens taste similar to adult broccoli, but they are sweeter and less bitter.  The tiny plants have the most tender texture of any that I grow and are easy to eat, with a green earthy like flavor.  They are yummy with small leaves, and are my favorite thing to eat on a sandwich or on top of some eggs or crustless quiche.

What Are The Major Health Benefits of Broccoli Microgreens?

These little greens are packed with beneficial nutrients.  The potential health benefits of broccoli microgreens are they:

• Boost your immune system
• Increase energy levels
• ​Improves cardiovascular health
• Help lower bad cholesterol
• Contain chlorophyll
• Plant-based protein
• ​Have anti-inflammatory properties
• Improve digestion
• High in vitamin C, B, A, E & K
• Great source of copper
• ​Lower risk of premature aging by protecting cells from free radicals which can damage DNA

Sulforphane

Sulforaphane, known for fighting cancer cells, is nature’s most potent Nrf2 activator–which means it activates a biological process that actually creates antioxidant proteins in your body.

This chemical compound is also present in a few other cruciferous vegetables like Bok choy, cauliflower, cabbage, and kale. However, broccoli is one of the foods highest in sulforaphane, particularly at the sprout and microgreen stages.

Other health benefits:

• Anti-Cancer Properties
• Anti-Diabetic Properties
• Reduces Autism Symptoms
• Anti-Aging Properties
• Boosts Brain Function
• Lowers blood pressure
• Lowers risk of many types of cancer

Disclaimer: This website does not provide medical or nutritional advice. The information and material contained on this website are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek your physicians’ or qualified nutritionists’ advice before undertaking a new healthcare regimen or using any information you have read on this website to treat or prevent any condition.

How To Grow Broccoli Microgreens (A Complete Guide)

To grow broccoli microgreens you only need some seeds, a growing medium, a microgreen grow tray, water, and plenty of light.   

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here

Growing Supplies

What Are The Best Broccoli Seeds For Microgreens?

My favorite broccoli microgreen seeds to grow are the Waltham 29 variety from True Leaf Market.  

You don’t want to order cheap seed for growing microgreens because it won’t have as high of a germination rate and is sometimes treated with pesticides.  True Leaf Market is the best and most reliable supplier I have found.

Growing Medium

There are many different growing medium options on the market today for growing broccoli microgreens.  The very best medium that will give you the highest and most consistent yield is just regular old potting soil.  God designed plants to grow in soil, and that is still where they seem to grow best.  It doesn’t really matter what kind of potting soil you use because the plants are harvested so young that they are not actually getting any nutritional value from the potting soil or fertilizer that might be in it.  All the nutrition and energy in the broccoli microgreens come from within the seeds themselves, which is incredible!  I suggest that you buy some organic potting soil from your local hardware store or order some from Amazon.  I have also grown microgreens on coconut coir and been very successful, but the soil is the least expensive and works very well.  Whatever growing medium you choose, I know you will grow a bountiful harvest.

Microgreen Seed Trays

I highly suggest that you invest in some heavy duty shallow microgreen growing trays from True Leaf Market. I have grown microgreens constantly in these trays for the last two years, and they have held up really well.  For each tray of greens you want to grow, you will need a shallow microgreen tray without drainage holes, and a shallow microgreen tray with drainage holes.  You will nest the planting tray with holes inside the second tray without holes so they will be easy to water without making a mess.

It’s important to use these shallow trays because it allows more air flow to the plants as they are growing which reduces the chances of mold growth.  They are also much easier to harvest in these shallow trays.  

Light

You don’t need a special grow light for growing microgreens.  A regular LED shop light will work just fine.  You can also grow them in a sunny window if you’re not growing that many and you’re getting at least 12 hours of daylight.  However, if you’re interested in having a steady supply of microgreens year-round, then I suggest investing in my DIY indoor seed starting setup.  This is what I use to grow all of my microgreens and to start all my vegetable and flower seeds in the spring. 

Steps for Growing broccoli Microgreens

1. Place the microgreen tray with drainage holes inside the tray without drainage holes.
2. Add soil to the microgreen tray until your soil line is to the top of the tray.  I use about 14 cups of soil per tray.  Use another tray to press the soil surface down, which will help them to grow evenly.
3. Measure 32 grams (less than ¼ cup) of broccoli seeds into a small container
4. Sprinkle the seed evenly over the top of the soil in the tray.
5. Water evenly.  Use just enough water to wet them down, do not drown them.  I use the spray nozzle on my sink faucet.  
6. Place another empty growing tray on top of the seeded tray and place a 15 lb. weight on it.  I use a 5 gallon bucket, but a paving stone works well also. This is the germination phase which usually takes about 2-3 days.  You do not need to water them or do anything with them while they are sitting under the weighted tray in germination.
7. The next step is to take the weighted tray off the top and sprinkle the seeds with water.  Again, I just use the spray function on the faucet in my sink.
8. Place them under the LED grow lights on your plant rack.  Leave the lights on during the day, and turn them off at night.  It’s best if they get 12-16 hours of daylight per day.  If you need them to grow faster you can leave the lights on 24 hours a day, but typically I shut them off at night.
9. Water once per day by gently lifting the top tray enough that you can pour about a quart of water into the bottom tray.  This is called bottom watering.
10. On day 9 or 10, the broccoli shoots will be ready to harvest.  To harvest, grab a handful of greens with one hand, and cut them off close to the soil with a sharp knife in your other hand.  I do not recommend cutting them with scissors as it can crimp the stem of the greens which will shorten their shelf life.  It’s also best to stop watering the greens 12 hours before harvesting, so they will be dry and last longer.
11. You can dispose of the leftover soil and roots in your compost pile.  It will make really good compost.  
12. Be sure to clean and sanitize the trays to prepare them for their next use.  You can sanitize the trays by spraying them with diluted food-grade hydrogen peroxide.
13. Broccoli microgreens will maintain their crisp texture in the refrigerator for 2-4 weeks if kept in an airtight container.  The smaller the container the better, as the extra air in the container can tend to dry them out.
14. Enjoy as the base of any salad, in wraps, on egg dishes, on top of soup or anywhere you can add them to a meal.  Your body will thank you for the extra nutrition and boost to your immune system, especially in the winter.

Broccoli Microgreen FAQs

How Do You Eat Broccoli Microgreens?

• 1.  Eat them plain as a snack
• 2.  Anytime you make a salad, add some in with the lettuce
• 3.  Replace lettuce with microgreens in any sandwich, burrito, wrap, burger or taco
• 4.  Put them on top of eggs or steak
• 5.  Garnish your bowls of soup, or noodles with microgreens
• 6.  Add them to smoothies

What is the best way to water broccoli microgreen trays?

Broccoli microgreens grow best if they are watered from the bottom.  They will soak up the water they need and you won’t have any problems with mold or fungus like you might have if you top water them.  It’s important not to over water them.  I usually give them about a quart of water per day.

How long does it take to grow broccoli microgreens?

It takes about 7-10 days to grow broccoli microgreens from seeding until harvest.

How long does it take to harvest broccoli microgreens?

I can usually harvest a 10” x 20” tray of microgreens in less than 3 minutes.

How do you know when broccoli microgreens are ready to harvest?

Microgreens are harvested before the first true leaves (or the second set of tiny leaves) begin to appear. This is when they are the most tender and have the sweetest taste.

Do broccoli microgreens regrow after harvest?

No, they have used up all the energy in their seed, and will not regrow after harvest.

What is the best growing medium for broccoli microgreens?

The best growing medium for broccoli microgreen is soil.  You can grow broccoli microgreens coconut coir or growing mats, but I have found that the simplest, easiest and least expensive way to grow microgreens of any kind is on soil.

What does it cost to grow broccoli microgreens?

It depends on what you get for soil of course, but the seeds cost about $0.66 per tray, and the soil costs about $0.65 per tray, so your total cost per tray is approximately $1.31.  That is not including the initial investment of your microgreen trays and plant rack setup.

How many microgreens do you harvest off of each tray?

I usually get about 8-10 oz. of broccoli microgreens from each tray.

What is the retail value of microgreens?  

Microgreens are usually priced by the ounce for retail.  Depending on the variety, they are usually priced at a minimum of $2.00 per oz.  This will vary based on market location, variety of microgreens and type of packaging, etc.

Do broccoli microgreens need blackout?

No, broccoli microgreens do not need to spend time in a blackout phase.

Some microgreen growers like to leave their microgreens in “blackout” for a day after they come out of the germination phase.  This just means that they take the weight off of the trays, and leave them covered with another tray so the microgreens are in the dark.  This encourages them to stretch and grow taller.  I have found that putting them in blackout increases the chance for mold growth on your greens, so I do not recommend putting them in blackout.

How Do You Know When Broccoli Microgreens Are Ready To Come Out Of Germination?

Broccoli microgreens are ready to come out of germination and be put under lights when the seeds have sprouted and started to push up on the weighted tray above them. They will look like this:

Are broccoli microgreens hard to grow?

No, broccoli microgreens are not hard to grow.  They can be more susceptible to mold than other microgreens, so it’s very important to wash and sanitize your trays before planting a new crop.  It’s also important not to leave them in germination to long.  2-3 days is as long as you want to leave them in germination or they can start to mold on top.

Are broccoli microgreens good for you?

Yes, broccoli microgreens are known for being one of the planet’s healthiest superfoods with up to 40X higher nutrients than regular broccoli.  It is specifically known for it’s high levels of sulforaphane, which has been known to fight cancer.  These microgreens are even used as medicine in other parts of the world. 

Are microgreens and sprouts the same?

No, microgreens and sprouts are different.  Sprouts are grown by rinsing seeds in water twice a day and just letting the seeds “sprout”.  They are harvested 3-4 days after first starting to germinate.  Microgreens are grown on soil and under lights and are harvested at the small seedling stage, about 7-12 days after germination.  Microgreens are actually baby plants that have all the nutrients and energy that is found in the seed, along with the chlorophyll and plant pigment that comes from being grown under lights.  Also, when you eat sprouts, you are eating the seed and the sprout, but with microgreens you cut the seed part off and leave it with the roots in the soil.

Can you set up automatic watering for broccoli microgreens?

Yes!  There’s a little bit more involved in the growing setup, but if you’re going to be gone on vacation, and still want to have fresh broccoli microgreens available when you return, you can set up automatic watering for your greens.  The best way to do it is to get a 2” deep 10” x 20” tray and set another flexible tray upside down in the first tray.  Lay a piece of knit or super stretchy type fabric over the top of the upside down tray and tuck the sides of the fabric down into the bottom tray.  This will act as a wick for the water in the tray.

Then spread your soil or coconut coir on the fabric and plant your seeds.  Water lightly with a spray bottle and cover with a plastic bag to keep them moist while they germinate.  Once they start to sprout, remove the plastic, put them under lights.  Fill the bottom tray with water, making sure that the fabric wick can reach the water on at least two sides of the tray.  They should stay moist and grow without you having to add water. I also suggest getting a timer for your grow lights so your lights can automatically shut off at night when you’re gone. Please note:  this method works best for smaller seeded greens like broccoli and radish.  I wouldn’t recommend it for sunflower and pea shoot microgreens.

Microgreen Growing Tips

Don’t Overwater

The #1 tip for growing successful microgreens is not to over water them.  Over time you will get a feel for about how much water to give them based on the growing medium you choose, and the humidity and temperature of your growing environment. I usually give them about a quart of water per day. 

What kind of environment is best for growing broccoli microgreens?

The ideal environment is one with low humidity and cool growing temperatures of around 68 to 72 degrees.  A lot of professional microgreen growers have dehumidifiers and other special equipment to regulate the environment in their growing area.  I do not get too technical on the specifics of my growing environment, because I am growing my microgreens in my basement and I only have so many options for controlling the humidity etc..  They seem to grow just fine and be fairly adaptable.

Lighting

I use two LED lights per rack because I have it set up that way for starting my vegetable seeds, but you only really need one LED light for microgreens.  It also doesn’t matter if the lights are several inches away from the plants because you actually want microgreens to stretch and grow.  It doesn’t matter if they start to get “leggy”, which is something you want to avoid with vegetable seedlings you are growing for the garden.

Plan A Regular Seeding Day and Harvest Day    

In order to have a continual supply of microgreens always available to eat, I suggest that you have a consistent schedule for seeding and harvest.  I like to soak my seeds on a Monday evening, seed my microgreens on Tuesday morning and harvest the following Thursday (9 days later).  You can adjust this based on your exact growing environment, but this will give you an idea of how to set up your schedule.  It takes me about 15 minutes to seed 10 trays of greens for the week, and about an hour to harvest and package them for the grocery store.  If you’re growing them for home use, you can always just set a tray of mature microgreens on your counter, and harvest them right as you are ready to eat them.  Living superfood at it’s finest!

And that’s it!  Growing microgreens is a very simple and easy process, and it is very rewarding!  With just a small investment in a seed starting setup and some trays, you can be growing and enjoying these nutritious superfoods all year long!

Learn More About The Other Microgreens We Grow

To learn more about the other microgreens we grow, click here.

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Plant Rack

LED Shop Lights

S hooks for attaching lights to plant rack

Microgreen Tray Without Drainage Holes

Microgreen Tray With Drainage Holes

Soil or other growing medium

Broccoli Seeds

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