What to Grow at Every Career Stage: From Beginners to Commercial Farms and Specialty Chefs
Choosing the right microgreen isn’t just about flavor. It shapes your entire business, from your daily workload to your margins and long-term growth. The best growers don’t just chase taste; they plan every crop around Days to Harvest (DTH), seed cost, and technical difficulty.
This guide gives you a practical roadmap for building a reliable, profitable crop lineup no matter where you are in your microgreen journey.
Part 1: Choosing the Right Crops for Your Stage
1. For Beginners: Fast Wins and Steady Learning
Goal: Build reliability and early wins with fast, low-risk crops.
Focus: Quick growth and easy germination.
Recommended Varieties:
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Radish (China Rose, Sango) – One of the fastest crops at 6–8 days. Great for learning density and timing. Its peppery flavor sells well in local markets.
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Broccoli – A “superfood” favorite with steady demand. Grows in 7–10 days and is easy to manage.
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Pea Shoots (Speckled, Dun) – Strong yields and forgiving to grow. Adds crisp texture and bulk to your lineup.
Beginner Tip: Master airflow and watering before moving on to tricky crops like basil or chia. Consistency beats complexity early on.
If you’re planning to turn your growing hobby into a small business, check out our guide on Unlocking the Profit Potential of Microgreens.
2. For Commercial Growers: Balancing Volume and Value
Goal: Expand your offerings and increase your average selling price.
Focus: Introduce more variety while keeping a manageable schedule.
Recommended varieties:
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Sunflower – High yield and a favorite among chefs for its nutty crunch. The hulls can be tedious, but the profit makes up for it.
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Arugula – Strong flavor that elevates mixes. Higher profit margin than mild greens and a hit with restaurant buyers.
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Kohlrabi (Purple/Red) – Great color and mild taste. Excellent visual balance for clamshell mixes.
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Cabbage (Red) – Adds color and crunch to mixes and holds up well in storage.
Commercial Tip: Sunflower and pea shoots make your base profits. Use arugula and kohlrabi to elevate your brand and justify a higher price point.
If you’re ready to expand your customer reach, you’ll find useful strategies in Sprouting Opportunities: Proven Marketing Tactics for Microgreens Sales.
3. For Specialty Growers: High-Margin Crops for Chefs and Fine Markets
Goal: Target restaurants, boutique grocers, and clients who pay for exclusivity.
Focus: Unique flavors, long grow times, and tricky germination.
Top picks:
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Cilantro – Takes 14–21 days and needs cracked seeds, but it’s essential in many dishes.
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Amaranth (Red Garnet) – Grown mainly for color. Low yield but visually striking.
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Shiso (Perilla) – Complex anise-mint flavor. Difficult to germinate and best for high-end buyers.
Specialty Tip: Only grow these under pre-order or contract. They’re high-cost and require a precise technique.
Part 2: Think Like a Business Owner
1. Know Your Numbers
Your spreadsheet matters more than your sprayer. Calculate profit per tray before sowing.
Formula:
Profit Margin = (Tray Revenue – Total Input Costs) / Tray Revenue
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Pea Shoots: Low seed cost, high yield, and great revenue per tray.
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Amaranth: Expensive seed, small yield, but higher price per ounce.
Actionable Tip: Always buy untreated, non-GMO bulk seeds from CEA (Controlled Environment Agriculture) suppliers. Buying in 50-lb sacks can cut costs per tray by more than half.
To learn more about scaling from local sales to wholesale, read Leveraging Farmers’ Markets to Expand Your Microgreens Business.
2. Sourcing Matters
Avoid seeds from garden centers or grocery aisles since they often have chemical coatings or poor germination rates. Choose suppliers that specialize in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) and can provide testing certificates for food safety.
Part 3: Technical Mastery and Troubleshooting
Even experienced growers lose trays. The difference is that pros know how to read the symptoms early.
Handling Tricky Seeds
|
Seed Type |
Examples |
Challenge |
Expert Tip |
|
Mucilaginous Seeds |
Basil, Chia, Cress |
Produce a gel that traps moisture and molds easily |
Sow dry, mist lightly for 12 hours, then switch to bottom watering. No humidity domes. |
|
Large/Heavy Seeds |
Sunflower, Pea Shoots |
Need weight to root properly |
Soak 8–12 hours, use 10 lbs of weight for 3–4 days during blackout. |
|
Hard-Shelled Herbs |
Cilantro, Beet, Shiso |
Poor, uneven germination |
Crack cilantro seeds, cold-soak shiso, and extend blackout by 1–2 days. |
|
Fine Seeds |
Amaranth, Parsley |
Prone to rot and wash away |
Use a shaker for even seeding, bottom-water only, and maintain gentle airflow. |
Top 3 Reasons Microgreens Fail (and How to Fix Them)
|
Problem |
Cause |
Fix |
|
Damping Off (Mold) |
Too much humidity, poor airflow |
Keep RH around 50–65%. Add fans when trays hit the light. Use diluted food-grade peroxide mist as a preventive. |
|
Uneven Germination |
Old seeds, poor soaking, uneven weight |
Use quality seed, soak large seeds, and ensure even tray pressure. |
|
Leggy or Pale Growth |
Too little light or a long blackout |
Shorten blackout, lower lights, and aim for a 10–15 DLI for healthy color and strength. |
For a deeper understanding of prevention strategies, read How to Prevent Damping Off in Microgreens
Part 4: Flavor, Nutrition, and Market Appeal
Microgreens aren’t just crops, they’re ingredients. Knowing their profiles helps you sell with confidence.
|
Microgreen |
Flavor |
Key Benefit |
Best Use |
|
Radish |
Peppery, sharp |
Rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants |
Adds bite to sandwiches and soups. |
|
Broccoli |
Mild, clean |
High in sulforaphane, supports detox |
Great for smoothies and meal prep kits. |
|
Sunflower |
Nutty, crunchy |
High in protein and Vitamin E |
Works in salads and wraps. |
|
Arugula |
Pungent, peppery |
High in folate and calcium |
Complements Italian dishes. |
|
Beet (Bull’s Blood) |
Earthy, sweet |
High in betalains |
Used for its deep color in fine dining. |
Part 5: The Core 10 (High-Profit & High-Reliability Portfolio)
This table provides the essential production metrics and strategic guidance for the top 10 microgreens used by successful commercial operations.
|
Microgreen (Primary Focus) |
Recommended Seed Density (Dry Weight / 10x20 Tray) |
Avg. Days to Harvest (DTH) |
Profit Strategy (Business Lever) |
Expert’s Secret Tip (The Technical Edge) |
|
Pea Shoots (Volume King) |
180–200 grams (must be pre-soaked) |
10–14 days |
Low Seed Cost, Max Bulk: The foundation for guaranteed volume and reliable revenue for CSAs and high-volume accounts. |
The Second Cut: Harvest 1 inch above the seed line. Certain varieties (like Dun) can yield a profitable second harvest in 5–7 days with aggressive watering immediately post-cut. |
|
Sunflower (Protein/Texture) |
100–120 grams (hulled) |
7–10 days |
High Value Addition: Sells extremely well in mixed-green clamshells and fetches a premium for its unique nutty flavor and crunch. |
Heavy Blackout is a Must: Use 10+ lbs of weight for 3-4 days to force strong, straight stems and guarantee the husk removal before light. Harvest before the first true leaves appear (bitterness). |
|
Radish (Speed Demon) |
35–45 grams |
6–8 days |
Fastest ROI & Cycle Stability: Unmatched turnaround time. Use this to fill gaps in your harvest schedule and ensure consistent weekly sales revenue. |
Color & Heat Control: Sango for purple stems, China Rose for reliability. Keep the grow room slightly cooler (68-70°F) after lighting to maximize stem color integrity. |
|
Broccoli (Nutritional Staple) |
30–35 grams |
7–10 days |
Mass Market Appeal: High consumer demand due to its superfood status (sulforaphane). Excellent base for any "power green" or nutritional mix. |
Manage the Moisture: Extremely prone to mold/fungus and damping off. Always bottom-water, ensure excellent airflow (oscillating fans), and be aggressive in managing humidity. |
|
Arugula (Spice & Zest) |
15–20 grams |
8–12 days |
The Flavor Multiplier: High value in gourmet salad mixes. Its peppery kick allows you to price it higher than mild greens. |
The Density Paradox: Do not over-seed. Overcrowding dramatically reduces airflow, stunts the true leaf development, and intensifies the risk of rot near the soil line. |
|
Kohlrabi (Color & Mildness) |
30–35 grams |
9–11 days |
Garnish Value & Contrast: Highly sought after by chefs for its bright pink/purple stems and pleasant, mild cabbage flavor. |
Cool Color Pop: Grows best in slightly cooler conditions (65°F) once it sees light. This promotes the vibrant anthocyanin production in the stem without stressing the plant. |
|
Cabbage (Resilience & Crunch) |
30–35 grams |
7–9 days |
Back-Up Powerhouse: The most forgiving and resilient brassica. Reliable source of bulk for blends and holds up well in refrigeration post-harvest. |
Use the Red Variety: Red Cabbage microgreens stems are a beautiful light pink, offering color contrast in a mix without the strong flavor of radish or mustard. |
|
Cilantro (Herb – Advanced) |
40–50 grams (Cracked Seed) |
14–21 days |
Premium Herb Price: Commands a high price per ounce. Focus on contracts with Latin, Thai, or specialty restaurants to maximize profit per tray. |
The Cracked Seed Protocol: Use only mechanically cracked seed and give it a 24-hour soak. Expect a long, 5-6 day blackout period to ensure roots are deep before the first light hits. |
|
Amaranth (Exotic Color – Expert) |
5–8 grams |
14–20 days |
Ultra-High Margin Niche: Sold strictly for its intense crimson color in fine dining. Low yield, extreme price. |
Dread the Damping Off: Use ultra-low seeding density and never let water touch the top of the medium once seeded. It is highly delicate and prone to failure from over-saturation. |
|
Shiso (Perilla) (Gourmet Flavor – Expert) |
15–20 grams |
18–25 days |
Chef Exclusive / Highest Margin: The complex, aromatic, anise-like flavor differentiates your brand. Target chefs with custom orders. |
The Stratification Secret: Soaking seeds in refrigerated water for 12-24 hours before planting mimics a cold period, which is essential to breaking the seed's dormancy and ensuring uniform germination. |
Final Thoughts: Building Your Own Crop Strategy
If you’re serious about microgreens, your goal isn’t just to grow greens; it’s to build a system that scales with you. Start simple. Master the fast crops. Then branch into specialty trays once your base income is secure.
Every tray should earn its place on your rack. When you track your numbers, learn your crops’ quirks, and grow with intention, your farm becomes more than a garden. It becomes a business.