Microgreens for Greenhouse Production: Best Crops, Setup, and What to Grow

Microgreens can be an excellent addition for greenhouse operations. They are Fast-cycling, labor-efficient, and in strong demand from restaurants, retailers, and direct consumers.

This guide covers which microgreens perform best in a greenhouse environment, how to set up production, and what to consider when building a microgreens program.

Top Microgreen Types

The following microgreen types are among our most popular at Paramount Seeds, sorted by days to harvest:

Microgreen Type	Key Variety	Flavor Profile	Days to Harvest
Radish	Radish Sango	Spicy, peppery	6–8 days
Mustard	Wasabi Mustard	Spicy, wasabi-like heat	7–9 days
Mizuna	Mustard - Mizuna	Mild, peppery	7–10 days
Tatsoi	Mustard - Tatsoi	Mild, spinach-like	7–10 days
Arugula	Wild Arugula	Peppery, bold	7–10 days
Micro Mix	Micro Mix	Varied, balanced	7–10 days
Broccoli	Broccoli Waltham 29	Mild, slightly sweet	7–10 days
Kale	Kale Lacinato	Earthy, mild bitter	8–10 days
Sunflower	Dorit F1 Sunflower	Nutty, crunchy	8–12 days
Beet	Beet Bulls Blood	Earthy, sweet	10–14 days
Cilantro	Coriander / Cilantro	Bright, citrusy	12–18 days

What Makes a Good Greenhouse Microgreen?

Not all microgreens are equally suited to greenhouse production. The best greenhouse microgreen crops share several characteristics:

• Fast, uniform germination — consistent stands , fast production
• Predictable days-to-harvest — allows scheduling and continuous production
• Tolerance for controlled environment conditions — stable temperature, humidity, and light levels
• Strong market demand — flavor, color, and visual appeal and with luck premium pricing
• Disease resistance or low disease susceptibility — dense seeding creates high humidity conditions that favor damping-off and mold

Top Microgreen Crops for Greenhouse Production

Sunflower

One of the most popular and profitable microgreens. Sunflower microgreens are thick, crunchy, and nutty-flavored — a favorite in foodservice and retail. Key production notes:

• Days to harvest: 8–12 days
• Seeding rate: 150–200g per 10" x 20" tray
• Requires soaking (8–12 hours) before seeding to improve germination uniformity
• Blackout period: 3–4 days until cotyledons expand
• Harvest at cotyledon stage before first true leaf emerges
• High yield per tray; strong shelf life compared to more delicate microgreens

Radish

Fast, reliable, and spicy — radish microgreens are one of the easiest crops to produce and one of the most consistent sellers. Multiple color varieties (red, purple, daikon) add visual variety to mixes.

• Days to harvest: 6–8 days
• Seeding rate: 30–40g per tray
• No soaking required
• Very forgiving of temperature variation
• Excellent for high-turnover production; fastest cycle of any major microgreen crop
• Prone to damping-off under poor airflow — maintain horizontal airflow in the greenhouse

Brassicas (Broccoli, Kale, Cabbage, Kohlrabi, Mustard)

The brassica family produces some of the most nutritionally dense microgreens and is highly valued in health-focused retail and foodservice markets. Each species has a slightly different flavor profile:

• Broccoli — mild, slightly sweet; highest in sulforaphane; strong health positioning
• Kale — earthy and slightly bitter; popular in blends
• Red cabbage — vibrant purple color; mild flavor; excellent for visual mixes
• Kohlrabi — mild and sweet; purple or green varieties available
• Mustard — spicy and peppery; adds heat to blends; fast-growing

Production notes for brassicas:

• Days to harvest: 7–10 days
• Seeding rate: 15–25g per tray depending on species
• No soaking required; small seed size requires even distribution
• Susceptible to damping-off — airflow and low humidity during germination are critical
• Harvest at cotyledon stage for best flavor and shelf life

Basil

Aromatic, flavorful.  More challenging to produce than brassicas or radish, but command significantly higher prices.

• Days to harvest: 12–16 days (slower than most microgreens)
• Seeding rate: 10–15g per tray
• Requires warm germination temperatures (70–75°F) — well suited to heated greenhouse environments
• Do not soak — basil seed forms a mucilaginous coating when wet that interferes with germination
• Sensitive to cold and overwatering; bottom watering recommended
  

Cilantro/Coriander

Cilantro microgreens deliver the distinctive flavor of mature cilantro in a concentrated, visually appealing form. Popular in Latin, Asian, and fusion cuisine markets.

• Days to harvest: 12–18 days (one of the slower microgreens)
• Seeding rate: 30–40g per tray
• Also available ac "Split seed" - higher seed count , better germination
• Soak 8–12 hours before seeding
• Uneven germination is common — plan for longer blackout periods

Greenhouse Setup for Microgreens Production

Microgreens can be integrated into an existing greenhouse or produced in a dedicated space. Key setup considerations:

Benching and Racking

Standard 10" x 20" propagation trays are the industry standard. Wire or mesh bench surfaces promote airflow under trays and reduce damping-off risk. Vertical racking systems maximize production per square foot and are well suited to greenhouse bench space.

Lighting

Microgreens require moderate light levels — typically 20–30 mol/m²/day DLI for most crops. Greenhouse natural light supplemented with LED grow lights is ideal. Avoid excessive light intensity, which can cause tip burn and bleaching in sensitive crops like basil and amaranth.

Temperature and Humidity

Most microgreens germinate best at 65–75°F and grow well at 60–70°F. Maintain relative humidity below 70% during the growth phase to reduce damping-off pressure. Horizontal airflow fans are essential — stagnant air in dense microgreen trays is the primary driver of mold and disease.

Irrigation

Bottom watering is preferred for most microgreen crops — it keeps foliage dry and reduces disease pressure significantly. Top watering during germination (before blackout removal) is acceptable, but transition to bottom watering as soon as trays are moved to light.

Growing Media

A fine-textured, well-drained germination mix or dedicated microgreens substrate is recommended. Avoid heavy potting mixes that retain excess moisture. Coco coir-based media are popular for their consistency, water retention, and disease suppression properties.

Building a Profitable Microgreens Program

The economics of microgreens production are compelling when managed well:

• High value per square foot — microgreens typically generate $20–$50+ per tray at wholesale, with retail pricing significantly higher
• Fast turnover — 6–16 day cycles allow multiple crops per month from the same bench space
• Low input costs — seed, substrate, and trays are the primary inputs; labor is the main variable cost
• Year-round production — greenhouse environment allows consistent production regardless of season
• Diverse market channels — restaurants, farmers markets, CSA boxes, grocery retail, and direct-to-consumer all represent viable outlets

Start with 3–5 proven crops (sunflower, radish, a brassica blend, and one specialty crop) before expanding your variety range. Consistency and reliability are more valuable to buyers than variety breadth.

Browse our Greenhouse Seed catalog for microgreen-suitable varieties, or contact the Paramount Seeds team for variety recommendations tailored to your market and production system.

Summary

Microgreens are one of the most accessible high-value crops a greenhouse can add. With short cycles, low capital requirements, and strong market demand, they offer a compelling complement to tomato, cucumber, lettuce, and pepper production — filling bench space, generating cash flow between main crop cycles, and opening new market channels.

Ready to start a microgreens program? Contact Paramount Seeds — we can help you select the right varieties and build a production plan that fits your greenhouse and your market.