Microgreen Seeds: Where We Buy Ours and How Much to Sow

We get asked where to buy seed more than almost anything else, so this page is our short answer. These are the suppliers we use for microgreens and sprouts: True Leaf Market by default, Johnny's Selected Seeds as our backup and for edible flowers, and Amazon at times. We do not sell seed, so every link here is a recommendation.

The True Leaf Market link and both Amazon links are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The Johnny's link is not an affiliate link. You can read more in our Disclaimer and Affiliate Disclosure.

Below you will find where we buy, how microgreen seed differs from sprouting seed, the crops we have written guides for, germination help, and the seed density calculator in Microgreen Tracker. If you are starting your first tray, begin with the supplier links and the free seeding guide. If you have been growing a while, the germination and crop guides are where the detail lives.

True Leaf Market

Our default seed source. True Leaf Market carries microgreen seed, sprouting seed, and garden seed in one place, which is why we link it first. Affiliate link.

Johnny's Selected Seeds

Our backup source, and where we go for edible flowers. When we want a different supplier for a grow, this is usually the one.

Amazon: Microgreen Seeds

Microgreen seed we buy here at times, handy when you are ordering other grow gear in the same cart. Affiliate link.

Amazon: Sprouting Seeds

Sprouting seed for the jar method. Our Sprouting Supplies list also holds the jars and salad spinner we recommend. Affiliate links.

True Leaf Market vs. Johnny's vs. Amazon

True Leaf Market is the one we buy from most, Johnny's Selected Seeds is the one we reach for as a backup or for edible flowers, and Amazon is the one we use when we want seed and gear in a single order. When one of our posts covers a grow that used a different supplier, we name that supplier in the post.

Microgreen Seed vs. Sprouting Seed

Microgreens grow on a medium such as soil, coco coir, or a reusable silicone grow medium, and we harvest only the stems and leaves. True sprouts grow in water with no medium, and the whole seed, root, and shoot are eaten. For sprouting, buy seed specifically labeled and tested for sprouting. Never use garden seed, bulk seed not labeled for sprouting, or untested seed, because sprouts are eaten raw and grown in warm, humid conditions.

Seed Quality

What to look for when choosing seed, and why it matters for food safety. Garden seed packets can also carry coatings that are not meant for food, so check the label before you use any seed for eating.

Free Microgreen Seeding Guide, 43 Varieties

A downloadable PDF with general seeding rates by variety. Pair it with the Free Tray-Specific Microgreen Seeding Guide for rates by tray type, and Peas on Various Trays for seed amounts and average harvest weights.

Microgreen Tracker

Our grow management web app includes an automatic seed density calculator. Pick a crop and tray size, and it gives you the amount of seed to use, so you are not guessing. You can adjust the amounts to fit the way you grow. It runs in your browser, installs to your home screen, and comes with a 7 day free trial. Try Microgreen Tracker Free.

Types of Microgreens

How many crops and varieties exist and which ones to start with. Our companion post, Types of Microgreens: A Complete Guide to Popular Varieties, sorts them by flavor, category, and beginner suitability, including varieties to avoid.

Crop Guides by Seed

Each guide below was written from our own trays. Grow times are the ranges we see in our grows and shift with temperature, light, and variety.

Radish: our fastest, most forgiving beginner crop, 6 to 10 days
Pea shoots: sweet large seed, 8 to 14 days, 8 to 12 hour soak, can regrow for a second harvest
Sunflower: heavy yielding large seed, no soak in our method, 8 to 10 days
Broccoli: the sulforaphane crop
Red cabbage: beginner friendly purple brassica, 8 to 12 days
Cilantro: grows on soil or coco coir, and splitting the seed helps germination
Swiss chard: Ruby Red stems, ready around day 12 to 14, no soak, and grown on coco coir or soil with a pressed top layer to strip the hard seed hulls
Celosia: soil method, with a reusable silicone method covered too
Red pak choi: mini Kratky tray setup

Germination Help

Germination is the stage where most new growers lose a tray. Soaking depends on the seed, so check the crop guide first. Weight during germination is part of our routine for many crops, and the 4 tray weight experiment shows why. Microgreens Weight vs Blackout explains when to switch. For seeds that fail to come up, see Microgreens and Mold and What Is Damping Off? Watering also affects germination, so our complete watering guide is worth a read.

Seeds for Reusable Grow Mediums

Which seeds work on a reusable silicone grow medium. The 1.7mm large hole silicone grow medium is sized for large seeds such as peas and sunflower. We are still testing cilantro on silicone, because the seed can stain white silicone. Swiss chard and beets do not work on silicone, because the hard seed hulls stay attached without a top layer to push through.

Buying Seed in Bulk

Cost savings, storage, and what we actually buy. Written for serious and commercial growers, from our 8th year of growing.

Microgreen Masterclass

Our full course, from seed density to harvest, in 11 modules. If you want a complete system rather than piecing it together, start here. The Becoming a Microgreen Master book is the print companion.

Seeds FAQ

Do you sell microgreen seeds?

No. On The Grow does not sell seed. We link to the suppliers we use: True Leaf Market, Johnny's Selected Seeds, and Amazon.

Where do you buy your microgreen seeds?

True Leaf Market is our default source. Johnny's Selected Seeds is our backup and where we buy edible flowers. We also buy from Amazon at times.

Are your seed links affiliate links?

The True Leaf Market link and both Amazon links are affiliate links, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The Johnny's Selected Seeds link is not an affiliate link.

Can I use garden seeds for microgreens?

We recommend seed sold for microgreens or sprouting. Garden seed packets can carry coatings that are not meant for food, so check the label and the supplier's guidance before you use any seed for food.

Can I use microgreen seed for sprouting?

Use seed labeled and tested for sprouting. Sprouts are eaten raw and grown in warm, wet conditions, so seed that is not tested for sprouting is not the right choice.

How much seed should I use per tray?

It depends on the crop and tray size. Our free seeding guides list rates by variety and tray type, and the Microgreen Tracker seed density calculator works out the amount for you and lets you adjust it.

Do I need to soak microgreen seeds?

It depends on the crop. In our method, peas get an 8 to 12 hour soak and sunflower seed does not get soaked. Each crop guide states the soak step for that seed.

How long do microgreens take to grow?

In our grows, radish takes 6 to 10 days, sunflower 8 to 10 days, red cabbage 8 to 12 days, and pea 8 to 14 days. Temperature, light, and variety change those ranges.

Which seeds work on a reusable silicone grow medium?

Many small and large seeds do. Our compatible seeds guide lists them, and the 1.7mm large hole silicone grow medium is sized for large seeds such as peas and sunflower. We are still testing cilantro on silicone, because the seed can stain white silicone. Swiss chard and beets do not work on silicone, because the hard seed hulls stay attached without a top layer to push through.

Does Microgreen Tracker have a free trial?

Yes, Microgreen Tracker has a 7 day free trial. It includes the automatic seed density calculator, which gives the seed amount for each crop and tray size and can be adjusted to your own amounts.

Not sure where to begin? Start with True Leaf Market for seed and the Free Microgreen Seeding Guide for how much to sow. The Microgreen Masterclass is there when you want the full walkthrough.

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Affiliate disclosure: the True Leaf Market link and the Amazon links on this page are affiliate links, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend suppliers we use ourselves. Read our full Disclaimer and Affiliate Disclosure.

Food safety note: sprouts are eaten raw and are not recommended for young children, older adults, pregnant women, or people with weakened immune systems. Always buy seed labeled for the way you plan to grow it, and follow the supplier's instructions. The growing information on this page comes from our own experience and results may vary.

Happy growing!