How to Grow Broccoli Microgreens at Home

Broccoli microgreens are one of the easiest and quickest microgreens you can grow indoors. They’re packed with nutrients, have a mild taste, and grow well even without a garden. Whether you want a fresh garnish or a healthy boost for your meals, growing your own is simple.

 

You don’t need to buy fancy trays to get started. I often reuse shallow plastic containers from store-bought food — like berry or salad boxes. Just make sure there are some drainage holes in the bottom (you can poke a few with scissors if needed). It’s a great way to save money and reduce plastic waste.

What You Need to Grow Broccoli Microgreens

  • Broccoli microgreen seeds
  • Shallow tray with drainage holes and lid (you can also use cling wrap instead of a lid). You don’t have to buy a specific set up. You can reuse plastic containers. Just make sure it is well cleaned!
  • Shallow tray without drainage holes for underneath. Anything to catch the water will work.
  • Growing medium (coconut coir, potting soil, seed starter mix)
  • Water (spray bottle can be helpful)
  • Sunny spot or grow light
Trays and soil needed for growing microgreens at home
Trays and Soil for Growing Microgreens

How Long Do Broccoli Microgreens Take to Grow?

The seeds will take 2–4 days to germinate, then another 7–14 days to grow to the size you want for harvest (about 5 cm). It all depends on the conditions.

How to Grow Broccoli Microgreens

  1. Soak the seeds
    Soak the seeds for a few hours before planting — it helps with germination.
  2. Prepare the tray
    Add about 3 cm of moist growing medium and flatten it gently. Make sure the soil (or your medium of choice) is nice and moist. Place it inside the second tray to catch drainage.
  3. Sow the broccoli seeds
    Sprinkle the seeds evenly over the surface. No need to bury them. Press them down gently for good contact. You can add a light sprinkle of soil on top, but it’s not required.
  4. Cover for germination
    Cover the tray with a lid or cling wrap for 2–3 days until the seeds sprout. This helps maintain moisture and ensures surface contact. Broccoli seeds don’t need light to germinate but other seeds may do so.
  5. Uncover and grow
    Once the majority of the seeds have sprouted, remove the lid. Move your tray to a sunny windowsill or under a grow light. Let them grow until the first leaves start to appear (about 7–10 days).
  6. Water gently (preferably from below)
    After the seeds have sprouted and if your tray setup allows, bottom watering is ideal — let the soil soak up water from below without disturbing the sprouts.
  7. Daily care and harvest 
    Water daily and harvest what you need when the microgreens have produced their seed leaves (cotyledons).
Watering in broccoli seeds to grow microgreens
Watering in Seeds

When to Harvest

These first leaves are called cotyledons — the baby seed leaves. When they are fully developed it is time to harvest.

Letting them grow beyond this stage will result in a more bitter taste. That’s why we harvest them as microgreens — they’re sweeter and more tender before the true leaves develop fully. Harvest with clean scissors and enjoy fresh.

Sprouted broccoli seeds for growing microgreens
Sprouting Seeds after 4 days

Broccoli microgreens are fast, fresh, and low-maintenance — a perfect place to start if you’re new to indoor growing. Try a small tray and see how it goes.

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