Where to Grow Microgreens in the Home
You can grow microgreens almost anywhere in the home. Customers and followers of Homemicrogreens.com have sent me photos of their set ups in the following places.
- Kitchen on small rack or on the counter.
- A rack in the dining room or the corner of the living room.
- Bathroom on a small stainless steel rack.
- In a closet on a small metal rack.
- Window sills (or small tables next to windows) in the kitchen, family room, and living room.
- In the office (spare room) on a book shelf.
- Under a covered porch and in the lanai.
- In the basement and in the garage.
If the space isn’t too hot, too cold, and gets light or can accommodate a light it will work.
My Thoughts on Location Parameters
In our busy lives it is easy to forget the non-essentials. It is easy to over-look the care of microgreen. I’ve been there more often than I want to admit and I for all intents grow and write about microgreens for a living.
Therefore, it is better if you place your microgreens in a location where you see them several times a day. A quick glance will alert you that they may need some attention.
Also, tasks that are hard or places that are difficult to access or attend to increase the probability that will be ignored or worst case will be abandoned.
For those reasons, I like to keep my microgreens in a room that I’m in often and out more in the open so I can tend to them and clean up afterward easily. I know many people scoff, roll their eyes, or stick their nose up to the idea of growing microgreens in a “public” room of their home.
But I have found that I like growing microgreens as rotatable houseplants (meaning every 14-days they are harvested and replaced), and to my surprise guest love the idea I’m growing food in the house and are drawn to the shelves to look at the plants. Sometimes I’m answering their questions for 15 or 20 minutes.
People love looking at microgreens.
My Recommendations for Shelves & Lights
As shown in the video, a nice small and expensive set up that can grow crazy amounts of greens is presented below.
Shelving & Light Systems
Basic 3-Shelf Adjustable, Heavy Duty Storage Shelving Unit
Unit is 23 1/4″ L x 13 3/8″ W x 30″ H made of stainless steel
Barrina LED Grow Light Set
Contains four 24 watt, 2-foot long, T8 Super Bright, Full Spectrum LED Sunlight Plant Lights.
These fit great on the above mentioned on shelves and contain more cords and attachments than you will ever need. I use zip ties to attach the lights because it is easier. Plug-n-play. Very easy to attach and use.
Larger Microgreen System
If you plan on feeding a large family with microgreens and trays of leaf lettuce (yes, another course coming!), or maybe sell some microgreens as a side hustle, then the system below is perfect. I have used this rack and lights for over 3-years now and it is still going strong.
Muscle Rack no longer sells the rack listed below. They have a tube rack and I’m sure it is a good product. However, I like the locking system like the one shown below. I feel it is more secure. I have include a link to a similar rack from WorkPro.
WorkPro 4-foot Locking Rack
Unit is 48″ wide, 24″ deep, and 72″ tall with locking supports.
Muscle Rack Tube Rack
Unit is 48″ wide, 18″ deep, and 72″ tall with locking tube supports.
Under Cabinet Lights
I haven’t used these, but so many people want to grow microgreens on their kitchen counter that I have to include them. Personally, I never seem to have enough counter space so I don’t want anything extra on mine. But I never had a large kitchen either.
I also worry that the height of the upper cabinets is too high for good microgreen growth. But anyway, I have 100’s of people clicking this under-cabinet light set.
Stand-alone Light Stands
Below are links to stand-along light stands. I have not used any of these, instead I make my own. But they are quite popular. I’m only listing these because for experience people will ask if I don’t list choices.
To Be Clear
I recommend the products listed in the outlined boxes. I know the Amazon rack and Muscle Rack products work well. Same for the Barrina lights. Whether they are LED shop lights or grow lights, the Barrina brand may not look fancy, but they work very well.
There are more expensive lights, in fact, the sky appears to be the limit on what you can purchase. But for those starting out, I do not recommend buying expensive lights until you know you want to grow year after year.
Storage racks can always be used for some other purpose or family, friends, or neighbors have a use for them. So buying a better quality storage rack is never a bad thing.
I have no experience with the other products listed, The reviews seem okay, and people want options, these are the reasons I included those links.
