Center for Crop Diversification Crop Profile

CCD-CP-104

Microgreens
Cheryl Kaiser1 and Matt Ernst2
Introduction
Microgreens are young, tender, edible crops that are
harvested as seedlings. These tiny plants are grown to
the first true leaf stage. They should not be confused
with sprouts, which are germinated seeds lacking true
leaves. Microgreens are sold as a raw product for use
in salads, on sandwiches, and as a garnish.

Microgreens production requires a protected environ-

ment, such as a greenhouse or high tunnel. It is also
possible to produce microgreens indoors under artifi-
cial lights. The short turnaround time and potentially consumers, but the highly perishable nature of the
high value of microgreens can seem attractive to pro- crop can create substantial marketing challenges,
ducers; however, production is very labor-intensive. particularly for inexperienced growers.
Marketing One possible marketing strategy for producers
Although interest in microgreens has expanded since interested in growing microgreens is to work directly
their introduction into high-end culinary establishments with a restaurant or chef, growing and delivering
in the late 1990s, the main market continues to be microgreens at the requests and preferences of the
restaurant chefs. Other direct market opportunities restaurateur. Microgreens are typically purchased and
could include upscale or gourmet grocery stores, as used by restaurants in small amounts, and the quick
well as health food stores. growing and harvest time may make this a more
attractive crop for very small growers interested in
Market Outlook developing nearby, high-end specialty markets for fresh
Microgreens, known in the past as vegetable confetti, produce. Regulations and food safety requirements
increased in popularity after being introduced in haute may evolve and change for newer products like
cuisine around 2006. Many restaurants now routinely microgreens, and growers should check with state
use microgreens as garnishes or flavorings, and or federal agencies for any specific requirements or
consumers are more aware of microgreens as a highly considerations.
nutritious food that can be grown hydroponically.
Microgreens are also offered by some community Production Considerations
supported agriculture farms and year- Crop selection
round farmers market vendors to extend A large number of vegetable, herb and
the produce season. Some specialty agronomic crops and crop varieties can
grocers and health-food stores are be used for microgreen production.
interested in supplying microgreens to www.uky.edu/CCD Lettuces may be too delicate, and are
1
Cheryl Kaiser is a former Extension Associate with the Center for Crop Diversification.
2
Matt Ernst is an independent contractor with the Center for Crop Diversification.
Cooperative Extension Service | Agriculture and Natural Resources | Family and Consumer Sciences | 4-H Youth Development | Community and Economic Development
often not considered good candidates for microgreens. crop are broadcast densely over the media. Treated
Refer to Table 1, below, for a partial listing of potential seeds may have elevated levels of chemical residue in
crops. the small seedlings and are discouraged. The optimum
seed density is one that maximizes production space
Crop selection is often based on seedling color, texture, while avoiding stands so thick that stems become
flavor and market demand. How quickly and easily the elongated and/or disease issues develop. Depending
seed germinates should be another consideration for on the crop and production system, a light layer of
the producer. Growers may need to evaluate a number growing media may be spread over the seeds. It is best
of crops, in consultation with end-user markets, before to seed only one type or cultivar per flat; however, if
selecting the ones most suitable to their production more than one species will be seeded in the same flat,
system and market. the crops should have similar germination rates so the
whole flat can be harvested at the same time. Irrigation
Table  1.  Potential  Microgreen  Crops with overhead mist or an ebb and flow bench system
is common. Well or county water should be used for
Amaranth Fennel irrigation as surface water sources, such as ponds,
Arugula Kale pose a disease and product contamination risk.
Asian  greens Kohlrabi
Pest management
Basil Lemongrass
The microgreen high density cropping system provides
Beet Mizuna
the ideal environment for the development of seedling
Broccoli Mustard
diseases. These young tender plants are particularly
Buckwheat Nasturtium
vulnerable to Pythium and Phytophthora damping-
Cabbage Onion off; however, Botrytis, Sclerotinia and Rhizoctonia
Carrot Parsley diseases may pose a problem on some hosts. Sanitation,
Celery Popcorn proper plant density for good air circulation, and good
Chives Radish cultural practices will be necessary to prevent these
Cilantro Spinach diseases from gaining a foothold. In addition, the
Collards Sweet  pea use of a sterile soilless media, which is required for
Cress Swiss  chard success, should reduce any potential disease problems.
Dill Tatsoi Potential insect problems include aphids and thrips.

Harvest and storage

Production site and planting The time from seed to harvest varies between crop
The delicate nature of microgreens requires that they species; however, many seedlings will be ready
be protected from rainfall and other environmental for harvest in seven to 14 days. Microgreens are
stresses; thus they need to be grown in a greenhouse, harvested at the first true-leaf stage; seedlings will
high tunnel, shade structure or indoors. These crops be approximately 1½ to 2 inches tall. Only the
may be grown in conventional bench-top production stems with leaves attached are harvested; roots are
or hydroponically. Growers should note that fertilizer left behind. Whether grown in a bench-top system
is not needed for fast growing microgreens such as the or hydroponically, stems should be cut high enough
brassicas. Fertilizer may be helpful for slower growing above the growing media to prevent contamination
microgreens such as carrot, lemongrass and onion. of the harvested crop. Plants grown in soilless media
are cut by hand just above the soil line using scissors.
Plastic flats with drainage holes at the bottom are An electric knife or trimmer can be used to harvest
generally used for microgreen production. The trays microgreens grown on seeding mats. Mats are held
are either lined with a sterile fiber-like seeding mat or vertically while the crop is “shaved” from the mat into
partially filled with a peat-based soilless germinating a clean container.
media. Hydroponic producers may utilize aggregate
culture with rockwool as the inert growing medium. Microgreens are highly perishable and need to be
Pesticide-free and highly viable seeds of the desired washed and cooled as soon after harvest as possible.
Food safety good handling Harvest labor for microgreens
practices should be followed. will be greater than leaf let-
Microgreens are packaged tuces grown under shelter due
into plastic clamshell con- to more intensive harvest op-
tainers for grocers. Often the erations.
entire tray is sent intact to
a restaurant where the chef Because of the significant
harvests the microgreens as variations between micro-
needed. However, only those green market prices and pro-
microgreens grown in a rock- duction systems, a producer
wool slab or growing mat (or should estimate potential pro-
something similar) could be duction costs based on their
marketed to restaurants in this individual situation. Produc-
manner since any sort of loose growing media would tion budget templates for lettuce may be modified to
not be permitted in the food preparation area. individual microgreen production situations. Template
budgets for high tunnel and greenhouse production
Labor requirements are listed in the resources, below.
Microgreen production is a highly labor-intensive
endeavor. Labor will be needed for preparing growing Producers able to market high-quality microgreens at
trays, seeding and harvest. Because of the short crop $25 to $50 per pound are likely to generate positive
turnaround and necessity of a continuous succession economic returns from this crop under both high
of plantings, labor needs will also be continuous. tunnel and greenhouse production systems.
Labor requirements will vary considerably between
production scale and systems. Harvest and handling Selected Resources
are the most labor-intensive parts of microgreen • High Tunnel Sample budgets and Spreadsheets
production. (Cornell University)
http://blogs.cornell.edu/hightunnels/economics/
Economic Considerations sample-budgets-spreadsheets/
Initial investments include greenhouse or high tunnel • Hydroponic Crop Program Budgets (Ohio State
construction, installation of an irrigation system, University) http://u.osu.edu/greenhouse/hydroponic-
plus equipment purchases. Additional start-up costs crop-program-economic-budgets/
include purchase of seed, flats, growing media and • Microgreens: A New Specialty Crop (University of
other inputs. Seed purchase costs may be significant Florida, 2016) http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1164
for this enterprise.
Suggested Citation:
Establishment costs for high tunnels and greenhouses Kaiser, C. and M. Ernst. (2018). Microgreens. CCD-CP-104.
Lexington, KY: Center for Crop Diversification, University
can greatly vary and may be especially impacted by of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
site preparation and equipment purchases. Establishing Available: http://www.uky.edu/ccd/sites/www.uky.edu.ccd/files/
a high tunnel can cost around $1.50 per square foot, microgreens.pdf
plus labor costs. Greenhouse establishment can range
from $8 to $30 per square foot.

Reviewed by Rick Durham, UK Extension Specialist, and Shari Dutton, UK Horticulturalist

Photos courtesy of USDA May 2018
For additional information, contact your local County Extension agent
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