Microgreens Seeding & Seed & Yield per Tray
Sows radish
Enter trays, seed rate per tray and the yield ratio to get the total seed you need, the fresh harvest in kg and the yield per tray — sow at the right density.
Plan your trays
Next: sow 30 g per tray, mist daily, and harvest in ~1–2 weeks for 6 kg; stagger sowings for a steady supply.
Seed rate and yield ratio vary by crop and tray size; soak large seeds (pea, sunflower) before sowing.
Microgreens seeding — key facts
- Total seed
- trays × seed per tray
- Fresh harvest
- seed × yield ratio
- Grow time
- 7–12 days to harvest
- Harvest at
- first true leaves
- Radish
- ≈ 30 g/tray → ~10×
- Pea
- ≈ 80 g/tray → ~6×
- Tip
- soak large seeds; stagger sowings
- Privacy
- Runs in your browser; nothing uploaded
A little seed, a fast crop, a high-value harvest
Microgreens turn a handful of seed and a shelf of trays into saleable produce in barely a week and a half. Sown dense, grown 7–12 days and cut at the first true leaves, they're one of the quickest, highest-value crops a grower can run. The catch is density: sow too thin and you waste tray space, sow too thick and you invite damping-off and mould. Getting the seed per tray right — and knowing the harvest it returns — is the whole game.
This tool gives the total seed to order, the fresh harvest in kilograms, the yield per tray and the seed per tray from your tray count, seed rate and yield ratio. Use it to buy the right amount of seed, set your sowing density per crop, and stagger batches for a steady supply. Pair it with the Succession Planting and Value Addition Profit tools to plan a continuous, profitable microgreens line.
Sow at the right density
Avoid bald patches and mould-prone overcrowding.
Order exactly enough seed
Total seed scales to your tray count.
Estimate the harvest
Fresh kilograms from the crop's yield ratio.
Plan a steady supply
Stagger sowings for a rolling harvest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are microgreens?+
Microgreens are young vegetable and herb seedlings sown densely, grown for just 7–12 days, and harvested at the first true leaves. They pack intense flavour and colour into a fast, high-value crop you can grow indoors on shelves — making them one of the quickest ways to turn a little seed and space into saleable produce.
How is the seed requirement calculated?+
Total seed = trays × seed per tray. You set the seed rate per tray for the crop you are growing, and the tool multiplies it by the number of trays you plan to sow. For example 20 trays of radish at 30 g per tray needs 600 g of seed — handy for ordering the right amount before a sowing run.
How is the fresh harvest calculated?+
Fresh harvest = total seed × yield ratio, where the yield ratio is the weight of fresh microgreens you get per unit of seed. Radish runs about 10× (a strong, vigorous crop) while pea sits nearer 6×. Multiply the seed sown by that ratio to estimate the kilograms of cut greens you can expect.
What seed rate should I use per tray?+
It varies by crop and tray size. Fast, large-seeded crops like radish are sown around 30 g per standard 10×20 tray; smaller seeds go lighter, while pea and sunflower are sown much heavier at roughly 80 g per tray. Start from a known rate, then fine-tune to avoid both bald patches and damp, mould-prone overcrowding.
What is the yield ratio and how do I find it?+
The yield ratio is fresh harvest weight divided by seed weight. It captures how productive a crop is — radish around 10×, pea around 6× — and depends on variety, light, temperature and how you grow. Track your own trays a few times and use your measured ratio for the most accurate planning.
Why soak large seeds before sowing?+
Big, hard seeds like pea, sunflower and beet germinate faster and more evenly after an 8–12 hour soak, which kick-starts the crop and shortens the cycle. Small seeds such as broccoli, radish and cabbage don't need soaking and are simply spread dry across the moist medium.
How do I keep a steady supply?+
Stagger your sowings — start a few trays every couple of days rather than all at once — so trays mature in a rolling sequence and you always have fresh greens to cut. The calculator helps size each batch; pair it with a sowing schedule so your harvest matches what you can sell or eat each day.
How long do microgreens take to grow?+
Most are ready in 7–12 days from sowing to harvest, cut at the first true leaves when flavour and colour peak. Fast crops like radish can be done in about a week; slower ones such as basil take longer. The short cycle is what makes microgreens a quick-turnaround, high-value crop.
Does this work for any tray size or crop?+
Yes — enter the seed rate per tray for your crop and tray, and the yield ratio you expect, and the tool scales to any number of trays. Whether you grow radish, pea, sunflower, broccoli or a mix, just use the right per-tray figures for each and it gives the seed and harvest.
Are the figures exact?+
They're solid planning figures. Real seed rates and yields shift with variety, seed quality, light, temperature, humidity and growing medium, so treat the outputs as a starting point. Measure a few of your own trays, refine your seed rate and yield ratio, and the estimates will track your operation closely.