Radish in five days, sunflower for crunch, basil for the aroma - the microgreen world is bigger than the Woolworths punnet suggests. Here are the best microgreens to grow at home in Australia, the easiest and most forgiving varieties first.
Best for: Beginners to intermediate microgreen growers across Australia.
This guide covers 26 microgreen varieties commonly grown in Australian homes: Brassica beginners, colourful Asian greens, kitchen herbs, and speciality crops chefs reach for first. Each variety delivers a different harvest window (7 to 25 days), flavour, and plate colour. The guide matches each variety to the kitchen, climate, and use case where it shines.
Quick answer: Australian home growers can pick from 26 commonly grown microgreen varieties across Brassicas, legumes, Asian greens, herbs, and speciality crops, harvested 7 to 21 days after germination.
Key takeaways:
- 26 microgreen varieties commonly grown in Australian homes, most ready in 7 to 21 days (some slower herbs up to 25).
- Beginner Brassicas (broccoli, radish, kale, mustard) are ready in 7-10 days (kale sometimes up to 12).
- Asian greens (pak choi, mizuna, tatsoi) grow indoors across Australia (Brisbane to Hobart) on a 7-12 day cycle. Indoor LED growing buffers most outdoor climate variation.
- Source untreated, microgreen-suitable seed from AU suppliers (The Seed Collection, Mr Fothergill's, Eden Seeds, Greenharvest, Seedmart).
- A Smart Microgreen Kit at $129 reduces supermarket spend over time. At $3-$5 per small punnet, a weekly tray habit pays back in a few months.
What are microgreens? Definition and 3 stages
Microgreens are young vegetable, herb, or grain plants typically harvested between 7 and 21 days after germination (some slower herbs up to 25 days), once the cotyledons have opened and the first true leaves begin to appear. They sit between sprouts (eaten with seed and root) and baby leaves (grown to full leaf stage), and they are cut above the growing medium so only the stems and cotyledons go on your plate.
Honest disclosure from Laszlo: not every one of the 26 varieties has yet been grown on the Sunshine Coast test bench at LaNiTex Hydro Garden. The focus has been bringing the Smart Microgreen Kits and Germinating Growing Mats to market first. The variety guidance combines published microgreen growing references (Penn State Extension, MP Seeds, Bootstrap Farmer) with The Seed Collection's AU catalogue and feedback from LaNiTex Kit customers across QLD, NSW, VIC, SA, and TAS.
The three stages every variety passes through:
- Germination (days 1 to 4): seed coat splits, root pushes into substrate. Blackout dome locks in humidity. Lift the dome briefly each day for airflow to reduce damping-off risk.
- Cotyledon emergence (days 4 to 8): first leaves push above the substrate, green up within 24 hours of light, dome comes off.
- First true leaves (days 7 to 25): the mature shape emerges. Most varieties are harvested here. Cut at substrate level and refrigerate promptly. Most varieties keep 3-5 days; some delicate cotyledons (basil, coriander) fade faster.
Why grow microgreen varieties at home in Australia?
A small 15-30g supermarket microgreen punnet typically costs $3-$5 at Coles and Woolworths (mid-2026), wrapped in plastic and reaching the shelf 3 to 5 days after harvest. A home tray costs cents per cut, and one Smart Microgreen Kit replaces hundreds of dollars of punnet spending a year for a regular grower.
Studies report many microgreen varieties carry higher vitamin and antioxidant levels than the same species at mature stage. The measured ranges are collected in our microgreens nutrition chart. Broccoli, kale, red cabbage, and amaranth are notable for glucosinolate and pigment content.
Around 28% of Australian households live in attached dwellings (apartments, units, townhouses) with limited garden access, per the ABS 2021 Census (72% are separate houses). An LED kit supports broccoli microgreens reliably in both Brisbane and Hobart. The LED handles light; the dome handles humidity. Tray pace varies slightly with room temperature, but the 7-10 day window holds across most Australian indoor environments.
Two paths to start. Same Smart Microgreen Kit, two finishes. The microgreen growing kit (Black Metal) and the wooden microgreen kit share the identical 16W LED, blackout dome, and self-watering reservoir — the only difference is the enclosure (matte-black metal or wood-grain). Both ship Australia-wide.
The 26 microgreen varieties at a glance
Days-to-harvest values below assume standard LED indoor conditions; actual timing varies with room temperature and seeding density. The table covers every AU microgreen variety with the five data points that matter most: climate band, days to harvest, difficulty, taste, and whether the seed needs a pre-soak before sowing. Most Brassicas are indoor-anywhere, while amaranth genuinely prefers warmth. As a rough yield guide, a 10x20-inch tray of brassica microgreens returns roughly 150 to 250 g of cut greens depending on variety, seed density and light - kale and broccoli sit at the higher end, while lower-light home trays often yield less. Larger-seeded sunflower and pea shoots return more by weight.
| Variety | Climate | Days to harvest | Difficulty | Taste | Pre-soak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broccoli | Indoor-anywhere | 7 to 10 | Easy | Mild, cabbage-like | No |
| Radish (Japanese, Pink, Sango) | Indoor-anywhere | 6 to 10 | Easy | Peppery, sharp | No |
| Sunflower | Indoor-anywhere | 10 to 14 | Easy-medium | Nutty, crunchy | 8-12 h |
| Pea shoots | Indoor-anywhere | 10 to 14 | Easy | Sweet, tender | 6-12 h |
| Kale (Dwarf Blue Curled, Red Russian) | Cool-friendly | 8 to 12 | Easy | Mild, earthy | No |
| Rocket / Arugula | Cool-friendly | 7 to 10 | Easy | Peppery, nutty | No |
| Mustard Green | Indoor-anywhere | 6 to 10 | Easy | Wasabi-heat | No |
| Cabbage Red | Cool-friendly | 8 to 12 | Easy | Mild, slightly sweet | No |
| Coriander / Cilantro | Warm-friendly | 14 to 21 | Medium | Citrus, herbal | No (crush seed) |
| Basil | Warm-friendly | 14 to 21 | Medium | Sweet, aromatic | No (gel-forming) |
| Beetroot (Bull's Blood, Detroit) | Indoor-anywhere | 10 to 14 | Medium | Earthy, sweet | ~4 h |
| Amaranth (Red Garnet, Red, Green Leaf) | Warm-friendly | 8 to 14 | Medium | Mild, nutty | No |
| Pak Choi / Bok Choy | Indoor-anywhere | 7 to 12 | Easy | Mild, mustardy | No |
| Mizuna | Indoor-anywhere | 7 to 10 | Easy | Mild, peppery | No |
| Mibuna | Indoor-anywhere | 8 to 12 | Easy | Mild, peppery | No |
| Tatsoi | Indoor-anywhere | 7 to 12 | Easy | Mild, spinachy | No |
| Chia Black | Warm-friendly | 8 to 12 | Medium | Mild, nutty | No (gel-forming) |
| Onion | Indoor-anywhere | 14 to 21 | Medium | Strong allium | No |
| Chives | Indoor-anywhere | 14 to 21 | Medium | Mild allium | No |
| Celery | Cool-friendly | 14 to 21 | Medium | Herbal, intense celery | No |
| Carrot | Cool-friendly | 14 to 21 | Medium-hard | Sweet, carrot-tops | No |
| Salad Mix | Indoor-anywhere | 7 to 14 | Easy | Mixed | No |
| Alfalfa | Indoor-anywhere | 7 to 10 | Easy | Mild, nutty | Optional rinse |
| Wheatgrass | Indoor-anywhere | 7 to 10 | Easy | Grassy, sweet | 8-12 h |
| Fenugreek | Warm-friendly | 8 to 14 | Easy | Slightly bitter | No |
| Cress | Cool-friendly | 7 to 10 | Easy | Peppery, sharp | No (gel-forming) |
The 26 varieties fall into a handful of plant families, and knowing the family is a quick shortcut to flavour and growing speed. Brassicas (broccoli, radish, kale, rocket, mustard, red cabbage, pak choi, mizuna, mibuna, tatsoi, cress) are the fast, peppery backbone and cover the largest cluster; the Asian greens among them grow indoors anywhere in Australia on a 7-12 day cycle. Amaranthaceae (beetroot, amaranth) bring the magenta colour. Apiaceae (coriander, celery, carrot) and Lamiaceae (basil, chia) are the slower aromatic herbs that need 14 to 21 days for mature-class flavour. Fabaceae legumes (pea shoots, alfalfa, fenugreek) add sweet, tender shoots, while sunflower (Asteraceae) and wheatgrass (Poaceae) round out the speciality crops. Onion and chives (the alliums, Amaryllidaceae) deliver the strongest savoury punch.
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Join the newsletter →Which plants you should never grow as microgreens
A few common garden plants are unsafe to eat at the seedling stage, so they never belong in a microgreen tray. Penn State Extension notes that tomato, capsicum (pepper), eggplant, and potato "are not edible at the seedling stage and are not suitable to produce microgreens because they contain alkaloids, which at high levels, are toxic for humans." Grow these for their ripe fruit or tubers only, never as a cut microgreen.
- Nightshades - tomato, potato, capsicum, eggplant. The young leaves and shoots carry toxic glycoalkaloids such as solanine. Eat the ripe fruit or tuber, not the seedling.
- Rhubarb. The leaves are high in oxalic acid and are toxic; only the cooked stalks are edible, so rhubarb is never grown as a microgreen.
- Unknown or wild seed. Penn State Extension warns that many wild species look like edible plants but contain toxic compounds, so stick to known edible varieties from a reputable supplier.
One safety rule covers all 26 varieties above: use only untreated seed sold for sprouting or microgreens. Ordinary garden seed is often coated with fungicide - a pink or blue dye is the tell - which is unsafe to eat, and that is exactly why the AU seed suppliers named in this guide all stock untreated, sprouting-grade seed.
Best microgreens for beginners in Australia
The easiest microgreens germinate quickly (under 4 days), tolerate slightly uneven watering, and show a clear harvest window. Broccoli is the obvious starting point.
Broccoli
Sprouts in 2 to 3 days, ready in 7 to 10. Mild cabbage flavour suits salads, smoothies, and toast. Yields 200 to 250 grams per 10x20-inch tray under standard LED conditions. The default first variety for almost every Australian home grower.
Radish
The fastest at 6 to 10 days, with peppery bite. Three colour variants (Japanese green, Pink, Sango) mix in a single tray. Common mistake: don't oversoak the seeds, as radish germinates so fast it will mould if the substrate stays waterlogged after day 3.
Sunflower
10 to 14 days, with nutty crunch that holds up in heartier salads. Prefers a slightly deeper substrate layer (~15 mm or more) and lower seed density because of larger seed size. Hulls sometimes stick to cotyledons. Rub them off when watering on day 5.
Pea shoots
Sweet and tender, ready in 10 to 14 days. Pre-soak seeds 6 to 12 hours (8 hours typical) for even germination. The most kid-friendly variety because the shoots look like tiny pea plants and the taste is sweet rather than sharp.
Mustard
Wasabi-heat punch in 6 to 10 days. Great for sandwiches and as garnish on grilled fish. Mustard prefers a slightly drier substrate than broccoli or radish. Water from below using the Smart Kit reservoir, never from above after cotyledons emerge.
Beetroot
10 to 14 days for deep magenta stems and earthy-sweet flavour. Pre-soak 4 hours. Accept slightly uneven germination. Bull's Blood and Detroit Dark Red both work in the same tray.
Best microgreens for flavour
Flavour-targeting microgreens deliver concentrated taste. Six varieties anchor the chef cluster.
Basil
Sweet, aromatic, slightly liquorice-toned in 14 to 21 days. Pair with tomato dishes and summer pastas. Germinates best in 18-35°C (ideal 21-27°C). Use a heat mat in cool Hobart and Melbourne winters; give the tray a warm nook either way, as both kit styles share the same open growing area and offer no thermal difference.
Coriander / Cilantro
Bright citrus-herbal, 14 to 21 days. Crush the seed lightly before sowing to speed germination. Pair with curries, salsa, and pho.
Mustard
Wasabi-style heat with mustardy depth. Suits sushi plating, char-grilled meats, and pickle plates.
Radish
Punchy peppery bite. Pink and Sango radish add contrast on white plates. Pair with smoked salmon and grilled steak.
Rocket
Peppery-nutty in 7 to 10 days. Cool-friendly, so Melbourne and Hobart growers favour it in summer. Pair with prosciutto, parmesan, and figs.
Fennel
Sweet anise notes, 14 to 21 days. Worth growing for seafood dishes and citrus salads.
Best microgreens for nutrition
Microgreens carry higher vitamin and antioxidant density than the same species at mature stage, according to a Frontiers in Genetics review. Six varieties stand out.
Broccoli
The most-studied microgreen for glucosinolate content. Studies report broccoli microgreens carry several times the glucosinolate level of mature florets, with sulforaphane being the most-discussed compound.
Kale
High in carotenoids and Vitamin K. 8 to 12 days. Milder earthy flavour than mature kale.
Red Cabbage
Strong anthocyanin content drives the deep purple colour. Higher vitamin C and Vitamin E than mature cabbage.
Beetroot
Magenta-stem betalain pigments. Earthy-sweet flavour.
Amaranth
Vivid red or green leaves depending on variety. High in iron, calcium, and Vitamin K. Slower (8 to 14 days) and warmth-preferring.
Pea shoots
Higher protein than most leafy microgreens, plus folate and Vitamin C. Sweet flavour makes them easy in school lunches.
A short note: nutrition data on microgreens comes from research labs. Home trays vary based on substrate, light, and harvest stage. The variety mix gives the broadest nutrient spread, not a guaranteed dose. Research supports nutrient richness, not medical claims.
Best microgreens for colour and garnish
Plating-focused varieties earn their tray space with visible colour. Six anchor the chef-plating cluster.
Amaranth (Red Garnet)
Vivid magenta stems and red-tinted leaves. Lifts plain rice bowls, light-coloured fish, and white-plate desserts. The most-photographed microgreen on Australian chef Instagram.
Red Cabbage
Deep purple-green leaves with white stems. Holds colour after cutting longer than amaranth.
Beetroot (Bull's Blood)
Bright crimson stems with dark green leaves. The most contrasty against pale plates.
Red Mustard
Burgundy leaf edges with wasabi-mustard heat. Colour interest plus strong flavour.
Purple Basil
Glossy purple leaves with the standard basil flavour. Pairs with stone fruits and tomato dishes.
Coriander
Fine fronds add textural contrast that photographs well. Often mixed with amaranth for layered plating.
Chefs typically mix 3 to 5 colour varieties on a single garnish tray.
Fresh microgreens on your kitchen bench in 7–14 days — the self-watering tank and full-spectrum LED do the daily work. You supply the seeds.
Start your first tray →Personally tested at home on the Sunshine Coast before listing.
Growing any microgreen in the Smart Microgreen Kits
The seven-step setup is identical for every variety. What changes is seed density and harvest day. The kit replaces sunlight with a 16 W LED, the watering can with a self-watering reservoir, and the soil tray with reusable Germinating Growing Mats.
- Source seeds from an AU supplier. LaNiTex doesn't sell seeds. Try The Seed Collection (theseedcollection.com.au), Mr Fothergill's, Eden Seeds, Greenharvest, or Seedmart. Choose untreated or organically certified seed.
- Prep one Germinating Growing Mat per tray. The Pack of 10 at $14.90 gives ten harvests at about $1.49 per flush. Soak two minutes in clean water before laying it in the tray.
- Sow evenly. Sprinkle seeds across the wet mat in a single layer. Brassica microgreens: about 20-30 g per 10x20 tray (broccoli, kale, mustard, radish 20-65g range). Larger seeds: sunflower 120-150 g per tray, pea shoots 200-300 g per tray.
- Blackout germination (days 1 to 4). Drop the integrated dome to lock in humidity. The dark stops seeds wasting energy on premature leaf colour.
- Light phase (day 4 onwards). Lift the dome, turn the LED on (the kit handles the schedule), and let the cotyledons green up.
- Mist and check water level. The reservoir handles base watering. Mist cotyledons every other day in week one if the air is dry.
- Harvest when first true leaves appear. Use sharp scissors at substrate level. Refrigerate promptly and use within 3-5 days.
One exception - gel-forming seeds. Chia, basil and cress are mucilaginous, which means they form a jelly-like coating when wet. Do not pre-soak them. Sprinkle them dry across the damp Germinating Mat so they gel in place, keep them under the blackout dome through germination, and mist gently rather than watering heavily until the cotyledons lift.
Pick the kit that suits your kitchen. Choose your style — same kit inside. The Black Metal Style ($129) has a matte-black powder-coat enclosure; the Wooden Style ($189) has a wood-grain finish for open-plan kitchens. Identical LED, reservoir, and dome in both — pick whichever suits your kitchen. Both ship Australia-wide. Subscribe for the NEWSLETTERDISCOUNT10 code (10% off the first order).
Once you have picked a variety, see our honest comparison of the best microgreen kits in Australia to choose the right setup.
Restock the refill your kit runs on — ten soil-free germinating mats, one per flush, so a fresh tray is always ready to sow.
Stock up on mats →Personally tested at home on the Sunshine Coast before listing.
Microgreen varieties FAQ
What are the different types of microgreens I can grow at home in Australia?
Australian growers can choose from leafy brassicas, herbs, legumes, and speciality greens. Popular brassicas include broccoli, radish, kale, rocket, mustard, red cabbage, mizuna, mibuna, tatsoi, and pak choi. Also sunflower, pea, beetroot, amaranth, chia, coriander, basil, onion, chives, celery, carrot, and alfalfa. Most harvest 7 to 21 days after germination.
Which microgreen is the easiest to grow at home in Australia?
The easiest for Australian homes are fast, forgiving brassicas and legumes. Radish, broccoli, kale, rocket, mustard, mizuna, mibuna, tatsoi, pak choi, pea, and sunflower sprout quickly and are ready in about 7 to 14 days. They germinate well on a bright windowsill across most Australian climates.
What's the difference between broccoli, radish, and sunflower microgreens?
Broccoli microgreens are mild and cabbage-like, suiting salads and smoothies, with high glucosinolate content. Radish microgreens are punchy and peppery, ideal as garnish or in sandwiches. Sunflower microgreens are larger, crunchy, and nutty, adding bulk to salads. Sunflower needs deeper media and lower seed density.
Which microgreens have the strongest flavour?
Brassicas and aromatic herbs deliver the strongest flavour. Radish, mustard, rocket, mizuna, mibuna, tatsoi, pak choi, kale, and red cabbage deliver pungent, spicy notes from glucosinolates. Coriander, basil, chives, onion, and celery provide intense herb and allium flavour. Ideal for stir-fries and Asian-style meals.
Which microgreens grow the fastest?
Fast-growing varieties harvest in about 7 to 10 days. Radish, broccoli, rocket, mustard, kale, mizuna, mibuna, tatsoi, pak choi, and cress-type brassicas have short cycles, sometimes under 8 days in warm conditions. Pea and sunflower are slightly slower, usually 10 to 14 days.
What are the best microgreens for kids to grow?
Kids do best with microgreens that sprout fast and show clear progress. Radish, broccoli, sunflower, pea, kale, rocket, mustard, and alfalfa are ideal classroom or kitchen projects because they germinate quickly and are ready in 7 to 14 days. Shallow trays, basic potting mix, and a spray bottle keep the process hands-on and low-mess.
Which microgreens have the most nutrients?
Microgreens as a group are nutrient-dense. Studies report many have higher vitamin content than their mature vegetables. Brassicas (broccoli, kale, red cabbage, rocket, mustard) are rich in glucosinolates and pigments. Beetroot, amaranth, and chia contribute colourful antioxidant-rich leaves. A mixed tray gives the broadest nutrient spread.
Which microgreens add the best colour or visual appeal to a plate?
For standout colour, choose microgreens with red, purple, or bright green foliage. Beetroot and red amaranth provide vivid magenta stems. Red cabbage, purple mustard, and some kale types give deep purple-green tones. Chia, red basil, coriander, and carrot tops add delicate contrast. Chefs mix 3 to 5 varieties for layered colour.
Can I grow tropical microgreens like pak choi or amaranth in cooler parts of Australia?
Pak choi and Asian brassicas grow reliably as microgreens in cool areas because they only stay in the tray 1 to 3 weeks. Amaranth prefers warmth but still produces microgreens indoors or in a greenhouse with stable temperature and light. Heat mats and sheltered positions replicate the warm conditions these species prefer.
Where can I buy seeds for these microgreen varieties in Australia?
Buy microgreen-suitable seed from general AU vegetable seed suppliers. Microgreen seeds are the same species used for mature crops. Choose organically certified or untreated seed labelled for sprouting. AU retailers include The Seed Collection, Mr Fothergill's, Eden Seeds, Greenharvest, and Seedmart.
Growing mung bean microgreens
Mung beans are best known as bean sprouts, the plump white shoots in a pad thai, and that's a different crop from a microgreen. A sprout germinates in a jar and you eat the whole thing, seed and all. A microgreen grows on a surface, gets light, and is cut above the mat. You can grow mung beans as a microgreen if you want to: soak the seed 8 to 12 hours, sow it thickly on a damp Germinating Growing Mat, and keep it under the blackout dome. A light weight on top gives you the long, pale shoots you see in gourmet stir-fries. Bring the tray into the light for a day or two, then cut at about 8 to 12 days. Mung bean germination is quick and hard to get wrong. Most people who just want bean sprouts reach for a jar, while the Smart Microgreen Kit and mats are set up for tray microgreens like broccoli, radish, pea and sunflower.
How to grow mung bean sprouts
Mung bean sprouts are the easiest sprout to grow at home, and all you need is a jar. Rinse a few tablespoons of dried mung beans for sprouting, then soak them 8 to 12 hours in plenty of cool water. Drain, tip them into a clean jar with a mesh or cloth lid, and rinse and drain twice a day, keeping the jar tilted so no water sits in the bottom. The beans swell, split, and push out a white shoot, and they're ready in about 3 to 5 days once the tails reach 2 to 3 cm. One honest caveat: sprouts are eaten raw and grow in a warm, moist jar, which suits bacteria too, so Australian and US food-safety bodies rate raw sprouts as higher-risk than tray-grown greens. Keep them cold, and cook them if you're serving young children, older people, or anyone pregnant or unwell, since a rinse alone won't make a contaminated batch safe. Mung bean microgreens sidestep that because you cut them above the mat instead of eating the soaked seed, and the Smart Microgreen Kit is built for exactly that. Same bean, different method.
About the writer
For Laszlo Bulatko, LaNiTex Hydro Garden is as much a mission as a business: helping everyday Australian families grow their own fresh food at home, even without a backyard. From the Sunshine Coast, he brings smart indoor growing within reach — hydroponic grow boxes, a benchtop Mini Grow Pot, and the Smart Microgreen Kit — and through the Term-Grow Enrolment programme puts grow boxes in Queensland primary school classrooms. He set up LaNiTex in December 2024 and personally tested every product at home before it went in the catalogue, bringing 15 years of brand-building from the Hungarian fishing-tackle trade. Read Laszlo's story on the About Laszlo founder page. ABN 47 682 768 967.
Microgreens cost cents per cut at home, not five dollars per punnet at the supermarket. -- Laszlo Bulatko, Founder, LaNiTex Hydro Garden
Further reading
- How to grow microgreens at home in Australia, the pillar guide.
- Penn State Extension: The ABCs of Microgreens, university resource.
- Reddit r/microgreens community, active AU contributors.
The full range
Find the microgreen kit that suits your kitchen
Supported in Australia - every model tested before listing.
Sources
- The Seed Collection Australia: "All the seeds in our microgreen range are guaranteed to be true-to-type, untreated and non-GMO."
- Penn State Extension: "Microgreens are young, tender, edible greens harvested when the first true leaves develop."
- Frontiers in Genetics microgreen review: "Microgreens of many species have higher vitamin and phytochemical contents than the same varieties of vegetables harvested at later, more mature growth stages."
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census 2021: "The majority (72%) of households lived in separate houses while 28% lived in apartments or townhouses (medium or high density homes)."
