Growing micro-greens for profit

In many parts of the world, micro-greens is currently one of the most profitable crops you can grow, and you don´t need to make a big investment to get started.

Naturally, it is always important to do your research first. Simply learning how to grow micro-greens is not enough; you also need to research issues such as local consumer demands, competition, and legal requirements.

In the United States, it is not unusual to see consumers pay up to $50 per pound for desirable micro-greens. Micro-greens have been touted for their nutritional value, and they also look great when added to dishes. It is not surprising that pretty much everyone – from chefs and food-bloggers to health-conscious personal trainers – are praising these wonderful little greens. To boot, many otherwise picky kids love them, especially if they get to harvest them themselves from a cute little tray.

Don´t go big – go home

You don´t need a traditional farm or even a big garden to get started growing micro-greens. Plenty of successful micro-green growers are currently raising their crops in their own basement, garage or garden shed.

Don´t quit your day job or take out second mortgage on your house. Instead, start your micro-green venture by growing micro-greens on two 10 inch x 20 inch trays. Once you are successful, you can scale it up from there.

Many successful micro-green growers started out by producing for themselves, then selling within their own network, and then moving on to a farmers market or delivering to a select few restaurants. You don´t have to be a big player delivering huge batches to supermarket chains each week to be a profitable micro-green grower.

Here are three examples of micro-greens that tend to work well even for beginners:

• Sunflower

Micro-greens grown from sunflower seeds have a nutty sweet flavour and a crunchy texture. They can last a comparatively long time in the fridge, which is a big plus for many consumers.

• Radish

Micro-greens grown from radish seeds develop an intense spicy flavour that will add a bit of sting to salads, sandwiches, smoothie bowls, and more.

• Pea

Micro-greens grown from peas have a fun look and taste very similar to young, fresh peas. There are several variants to experiment with, including speckled peas.

Year-round growing

Micro-greens grown indoors can be grown 12 months a year, provided that you are willing to provide heat and artificial lights as needed.

Short growing cycle

On a farm, many crops only give one or maybe two harvests per year, but that is not the case for micro-greens. The growing cycle is quick and your next crop will soon be ready for harvest. That also means that you have more room to experiment and learn as you go. One failing crop will not spell disaster for your economy as you can get back on the horse again so quickly. With micro-greens, you don´t have to wait for the right season to come before you can plant again.

The typical micro-greens will go from seed to harvest in less than four weeks, and some are ready in as little as one week.

You don´t need a tractor

A standard 21st century farm typically requires substantial investments in big-ticked items such as tractors and harvesters. That is not the case for micro-green production, which really lowers the threshold for anyone who is interested in giving it a try.

Maximizing vertical space

Many micro-green growers use racks to make the most out of vertical space. In a 60 square foot room, it is possible to produce 50 lbs of micro-greens in two weeks on racks. If we conservatively assume you sell those 50 lbs for $15 per lbs, you bring in $750.