The 8 Best Microgreen Kits for Growing Fresh Greens at Home

Olsen appreciated the details that made the project engaging and fun to assemble. “I liked the easy-to-follow instructions that were included on the package alongside a QR code with a helpful growing video,” she said. “The kit also comes with a printed watering checklist that came in handy.” Most of the microgreens were ready to harvest within a week, and the seeds are certified organic and non-GMO. Olsen was able to harvest about a cup of microgreens using this kit.

One thing to note: the pop-up elements of this kit are made of paper and can easily tear, so you’ll want to use a light hand when assembling. We also wish this kit could be used more than once. Still, it’s cute, affordable, and a fun way to teach your kids about microgreens.

You get a lot of variety with minimal effort with this kit from Zestigreens. The kit includes six biodegradable grow trays, six different types of seeds (sunflower, pea, amaranth, radish, mixed salad, and broccoli), and six soil discs that expand into a fluffy growing medium when exposed to water. After assembly, maintenance primarily involves checking to ensure the soil does not dry out.

Dietitian and writer Tori Martinet, MS, RD, enjoyed the simplicity of this kit. “It was interactive and fun, but still low maintenance and quick to set up,” she notes. Her microgreens began sprouting within two days, and by day six, she was able to harvest a small handful from each tray. For just under $30, you can grow a wide variety of microgreens for a fraction of what a small clamshell of them would cost at your local grocery store or farmer’s market, and all of the seeds are USDA-certified organic and non-GMO.

One thing to be aware of: the grow trays are made of biodegradable cardboard, and the surfaces can become damp. You’ll want to ensure that these are set on a tray or a waterproof surface to prevent water damage.

Have you seen the running online joke gardeners post every year? “Why spend $5 at the store when you can spend $500 growing it yourself?” Growing microgreens at home can get surprisingly expensive, especially once you factor in grow lights, trays, seed refills, and other accessories. If you're looking for an affordable way to try microgreens, this kit from Back to the Roots offers a low-cost option that doesn’t feel cheap.

The kit includes everything you need to get started, including organic seeds, growing medium, and a ceramic planter attractive enough to leave out on your countertop. Unlike some budget-friendly gardening kits that rely on flimsy plastic containers, this one feels more substantial and can be reused long after you've harvested your first batch of greens. Dietitian and writer SaVanna Shoemaker, MS, RDN, LD, particularly appreciated the ceramic planter, noting that it looked nicer than many of the other containers she encountered during testing.

The biggest challenge came during watering. Shoemaker found that the included instructions called for more water than the seedlings needed in the early stages of growth, which required some trial and error to keep the soil at the proper moisture level. “I think they need to provide more clear instructions about the ideal texture of the soil after rehydration and when to cut back on water,” Shoemaker said. “A beginner who followed the instructions to the letter would no doubt be extremely disappointed and have no harvest because all of their seedlings drowned.”

As a result, it isn't quite as foolproof as some of our beginner-focused picks, but it is one of the most affordable. If you have a little more experience with growing microgreens, it’s a good way to grow your own without making it a major investment.

With so many potential benefits, it only made sense to include sprouts in our lineup, and this stainless steel kit from Zestigreens has a lot to offer. Its stackable stainless steel trays provide plenty of growing space while allowing excess water to drain away between rinses. The multi-tier setup allows you to grow several varieties of sprouts at the same time (not just beans and lentils), and the stainless steel containers are easy to clean and endlessly reusable. Most varieties are ready to harvest in about five to seven days, depending on the seed. It’s a great option if you’re avoiding plastic and like a versatile, easy-to-clean sprouting system.

If you already consider yourself an experienced indoor gardener, some of these kits may feel a little too basic. So if you’re serious about growing your own microgreens and are willing to spend a little more, the Gardyn Microgreens Complete Kit offers a system that’s both comprehensive and fairly low-maintenance.

The Gardyn kit uses pre-seeded growing pads and a structured hydroponic setup that helps eliminate much of the guesswork involved in germination. Each seed pad (this unit fits up to 10) goes on a small grow plate; each seed pad has a wick for pulling water to the baby greens. The grow plates are reusable, and truly all you need is a sunny windowsill and a steady supply of fresh water to grow an impressive harvest.

Of course, this setup does take up a bit more counter space, and unless you’re a devoted microgreen consumer, the harvest may be more bountiful than necessary. But for enthusiastic home gardeners or anyone who plans to keep fresh greens in regular rotation, the added convenience and consistent harvest may be worth sacrificing a bit of counter space. 

One of my biggest challenges during microgreens testing was watering. Too little, and you’ll come home to sad, desiccated greens. Too much, and the only thing you’ll be harvesting is mold. This self-watering microgreens kit from Orta Garden not only took most of the guesswork out of watering, but it’s kind of cute, too.

The kit includes a handmade terracotta planter, four packets of organic microgreen seeds (radish, arugula, komatsuna, and kohlrabi), and enough soil to grow four rounds of greens. The terracotta wicks water from an internal reservoir, so once you’ve added water to the base, the soil stays evenly moist without daily attention. You’ll only need to refill the water about once a week, making it one of the lowest-maintenance kits I tested.

I loved this kit’s clean design; not only does the terracotta make watering less complicated, but it’s also endlessly reusable. This piece is sturdy, and while I could see having to eventually replace the cork that plugs the reservoir, I don’t foresee ever needing to replace the planter. It’s definitely pricier than some kits, but since the planter is reusable and the design is completely zero-waste, it’s a worthwhile pick for anyone looking for a more permanent setup.

It is worth noting that this kit uses soil pucks as a growing medium. When you wet them, they expand into a mound of fluffy soil. While this is gratifying to watch, it can also be a bit messy, especially compared to some hydroponic setups. 

If the idea of measuring soil, evenly distributing seeds, and monitoring moisture levels just makes you feel tired, Hamama helps simplify the process considerably. Instead of loose soil and seed packets, the kit uses pre-seeded "seed quilts" that sit in a reusable tray and draw water from the built-in reservoir.

"These were super easy and my favorite of the kits I tried for this reason!” says Martinet. “The seed quilts come pre-seeded, and all you have to do is submerge them in water once, check to remove the top of the quilt, and otherwise just harvest. No watering, no soaking, nothing.” She noted that setup takes just a few minutes, and because the seed quilts are already planted and portioned, there was no need to worry about over-seeding or uneven growth.

The biggest drawback is that you're buying into Hamama's ecosystem. Once you've harvested your microgreens, you'll need to purchase replacement seed quilts directly from the company. While that convenience is part of the appeal, it can become more expensive over time than growing from loose seeds. Still, if your priority is a nearly foolproof growing experience with minimal maintenance, Hamama is hard to beat.

Two potential barriers to growing microgreens are space and complexity. Not everyone has the space for a big growing setup, and dealing with watering schedules and trays of damp soil can feel pretty intimidating. The MicroPod solves these issues, making it easy to enjoy fresh greens without turning your kitchen into a miniature greenhouse.

Unlike many traditional kits that rely on soil, the MicroPod uses a hydroponic system, keeping the entire process surprisingly tidy. The small footprint makes it easy to tuck beside a coffee maker or toaster, and the minimalist design ensures this doesn’t look like a child’s school project. It's also remarkably simple to use, requiring little more than adding water and monitoring growth as the seedlings mature.

The tradeoff, of course, is capacity. This isn't the kit for you if you're hoping to harvest enough greens for a week's worth of salads. But if your goal is a steady supply of fresh microgreens for sandwiches, grain bowls, and avocado toast, the Micropod makes the whole process fairly painless.

Microgreens kits come in, shall we say, varying levels of attractiveness. Most prioritize function over form, but this bamboo growing tray from Gardener’s Supply manages to walk that line very well. Its clean design and natural bamboo construction make it one of the few kits we tested that look just as good on a kitchen counter as on a sunny windowsill.

But this kit isn't just a pretty face. Shoemaker liked that the tray includes adjustable vented lids that let you control humidity and airflow during germination, helping you create an ideal environment for young seedlings. It also comes with 15 growing mats, so you can enjoy multiple harvests before needing to replace them. One thing to keep in mind is that the kit does not include seeds, so you'll need to purchase those separately before getting started.

Shoemaker was ultimately impressed by the system's overall design and usability. "This was my personal favorite of the three sets I tried. It's great for beginners and experienced microgreens growers,” she said.