Will Microgreens Regrow After Harvesting?

It's one of the most common questions we receive: "Will my microgreens regrow after I harvest them?" The short answer? For most varieties, no. But understanding why reveals fascinating insights into plant biology—and helps you make smarter growing decisions.

The Biology Behind Single-Harvest Crops

Most microgreen varieties are considered single-harvest crops. Once you cut your tray, those plants typically won't regrow. This isn't a limitation of your growing method—it's how these plants are designed to function at this early stage of development.

Microgreens undergo a rapid growth cycle, typically harvested just after the cotyledon leaves fully develop and before the first true leaves emerge. To understand why regrowth is so rare, we need to look at two key plant structures: cotyledons and the apical meristem.

Cotyledons: The Plant's Energy Bank

Cotyledons—often called "seed leaves"—are the first leaves that emerge from a germinating seed. Unlike the true leaves that develop later, cotyledons have a specific job: to store and provide energy reserves for the seedling's initial growth.

According to plant biology research, until the cotyledons open and become green, the seedling lives off the energy reserves stored in the seed Wikipedia. These reserves include starches, proteins, and oils that fuel the plant's early development before it can photosynthesize efficiently.

When you harvest microgreens at the cotyledon stage—which is standard practice—the plant's seed usually only contains enough energy to get the first set of leaves up, so after the first round of microgreens, all of the energy stored in the seed is spent with none left to try and regrow from.

The Apical Meristem: The Growing Point

The second critical factor is the shoot apical meristem (SAM). This is the growing tip of the plant that contains stem cells capable of continuous division and growth. The apical meristem is located at the very top of the seedling, right where you make your harvest cut.

Research on plant development shows that apical meristems give rise to the primary plant body and are responsible for the extension of the roots and shoots through unlimited division of meristematic cells Encyclopedia Britannica.

When you harvest microgreens by cutting above the soil line—standard practice whether you're growing on soil, coco coir, or reusable grow mediums—you remove this apical meristem. Without it, most plants simply cannot generate new growth.

The Pea Exception: Why Some Varieties Can Regrow

While most microgreens follow the single-harvest rule, pea shoots stand out as a notable exception.

Pea microgreens can send up new shoots after cutting because they have two advantages: larger seeds with more stored energy, and the ability to produce lateral (side) shoots from nodes along the stem. If you cut peas carefully above the lowest growth node, they can sometimes produce a second flush of growth.

But here's the reality: even with peas, regrowth is slower, yields are smaller, flavor quality declines, and you increase the risk of mold and disease issues.

Other varieties that growers occasionally report limited regrowth from include:

• Lettuce microgreens (sometimes 2-3 harvests with declining quality)
• Celery microgreens (slow but possible)
• Some herbs like basil and cilantro (inconsistent results)

However, across all varieties that can regrow, the consensus from experienced growers is clear: it is impossible to regrow microgreens after cutting with the same rate, and there is also a difference observed in their flavor and taste.

Real-World Testing: Pea Microgreen Regrowth Experiment

We've tested regrowth ourselves using pea microgreens in three different growing setups. Here's what we found:

First Harvest (Day 9):

• Kratky tray: ~500g
• Standard 10x20 shallow tray: ~512g
• Large sprouting tray: ~430g

We allowed those same trays to regrow under identical conditions for another 9 days.

Second Harvest (Day 18):

• Kratky tray: ~116g (77% decrease)
• Standard 10x20 shallow tray: ~145g (72% decrease)
• Large sprouting tray: ~96g (78% decrease)

The second harvest wasn't just smaller—the microgreens were more fibrous, less vibrant, and showed signs of stress. This dramatic drop in both yield and quality illustrates why regrowth isn't commercially viable.

Why Starting Fresh Makes More Sense

Beyond the biology, there are several practical reasons why starting a new tray beats attempting regrowth:

Speed: It's much faster to plant new seeds and get a fresh supply of microgreens instead of waiting for those cut microgreens to recover and grow again. Most microgreens are ready to harvest in 7-14 days from seeding. Waiting for regrowth often takes just as long or longer.

Quality: First-harvest microgreens consistently deliver:

• Better flavor and texture
• More vibrant colors
• Higher nutrient density
• Uniform growth patterns

Food Safety: The longer plants sit in growing medium, the higher the risk of mold, fungal growth, and bacterial contamination. Fresh starts mean cleaner, safer harvests.

Resource Efficiency: While it might seem wasteful to start fresh each time, consider that:

• Depleted growing medium provides minimal nutrition for regrowth
• You'd need to add fertilizer for any meaningful second harvest
• Time and space could be better used growing fresh, high-quality crops
• Used soil or coco coir can be composted, while reusable grow mediums can be cleaned and reused indefinitely

The Exception for Home Growers

If you're growing microgreens at home purely for experimentation or education, trying for a second harvest can be a fun learning experience. Just understand that commercially it is not recommended to regrow microgreens as it produces lower yield and can affect taste quality, plus you're waiting too much time for a second yield when it's better to sow new batches.

For home growers wanting to experiment with regrowth:

• Cut peas, lettuce, or celery about 1 inch above the soil or medium line
• Leave at least the cotyledons intact (or first true leaves for herbs)
• Continue watering carefully—avoid overwatering which promotes mold
• Provide good air circulation
• Consider adding diluted fertilizer like Ocean Solution™ 2-0-3
• Expect diminished returns

What Happens If You Let Them Keep Growing?

Some growers ask: "What if I don't harvest at all—what happens then?"

If you leave microgreens beyond their typical harvest window, they'll simply continue their normal life cycle. They'll develop more true leaves, stronger stems, and eventually grow into baby greens or full-sized vegetable plants—assuming they have enough space, which is unlikely given typical microgreen seeding densities.

However, at high seeding densities used for microgreens, normal plants need bigger stems, roots, and everything else, which means they need more space MP Seeds. Overcrowded plants become weak, leggy, and prone to disease.

The Bottom Line

For most microgreen growers—whether using traditional soil, modern hydroponics setups, or sustainable reusable grow mediums—starting fresh after each harvest is the best practice.

You'll get:

• ✅ Faster turnaround times
• ✅ Better flavor and texture
• ✅ Higher yields per square foot
• ✅ Consistent quality
• ✅ Reduced food safety risks
• ✅ More predictable growing schedules

While it's true that a few varieties like peas can technically regrow, the diminished quality and yields make it rarely worthwhile. The beauty of microgreens is their rapid growth cycle—why compromise on quality when you can have a fresh, healthy tray ready in just 1-2 weeks?

Want to learn more about growing microgreens efficiently? Check out our Microgreen Masterclass for comprehensive growing techniques, or explore our complete selection of growing supplies designed for consistent, high-quality harvests. And if you are Looking for the Best Microgreen Growing Advice? Start with On The Grow

Have you experimented with regrowing microgreens? We'd love to hear about your results in the comments!

SOURCES CITED:

This blog references peer-reviewed plant biology research and practical growing experience including:

• Plant developmental biology studies on cotyledons and seed energy reserves
• Shoot apical meristem (SAM) research from botanical publications
• Practical microgreen growing data from experienced commercial growers
• Food safety considerations for microgreen production