You don't need a backyard, a greenhouse, or even a south-facing window to grow your own food and plants. Indoor growing has never been more accessible — and microgreens are the perfect starting point. They're fast, forgiving, nutritionally dense, and endlessly satisfying to harvest.
Whether you're growing microgreens on a kitchen counter or setting up a full indoor garden under grow lights, this guide will walk you through everything you need to get started and get results.
Why Grow Indoors?
Indoor growing gives you complete control over your environment — light, temperature, humidity, and nutrients — year-round. That means:
- No seasonal limitations. Grow in January or July.
- No pests from the garden. Cleaner, more predictable grows.
- Faster cycles. Microgreens are ready in 7–14 days. Many herbs and leafy greens in 3–4 weeks.
- Higher nutrient density. Freshly harvested greens retain more vitamins and minerals than store-bought produce that's been in transit for days.
Starting with Microgreens: The Fastest Win in Indoor Growing
Microgreens are seedlings harvested at the first true leaf stage — typically 7–14 days after germination. They're packed with flavour and nutrition, and they require almost no equipment to get started.
What you need:
- A shallow tray (1020 trays work perfectly)
- A growing medium — coco coir, peat-based mix, or a dedicated microgreen mat
- Quality seeds (sunflower, pea shoots, radish, broccoli, and wheatgrass are great starters)
- A light source — a sunny windowsill works for some varieties; a basic LED grow light works for all of them
- A light nutrient solution for the second week of growth
Basic microgreen process:
- Pre-soak larger seeds (sunflower, peas) for 8–12 hours.
- Fill your tray with 1–1.5 inches of growing medium. Moisten thoroughly.
- Spread seeds densely and evenly. Cover with a second tray and weight it down for 2–3 days (the blackout/germination phase).
- Uncover once seeds have sprouted and move to light.
- Water from the bottom (bottom-watering prevents damping off and keeps foliage dry).
- Harvest with scissors just above the medium when the first true leaves appear.
Nutrients for Indoor Plants & Microgreens
Microgreens grown in a rich medium often don't need supplemental nutrients — they're harvested before the seedling exhausts the seed's stored energy. However, for a second cut or for varieties grown in inert media like coco or rockwool, a light nutrient solution in the final 3–5 days makes a noticeable difference in size and colour.
For larger indoor plants — herbs, leafy greens, tomatoes, peppers, or flowering plants — a complete nutrient program is essential from the start. Our Leafy Green Grow is formulated specifically for the vegetative and leafy growth stage, delivering a complete macro and micronutrient profile in a single, easy-to-use formula. No complicated multi-part mixing required.
For plants that flower and fruit indoors — tomatoes, peppers, cannabis, and flowering ornamentals — transition to Beefy Bud Bloom once you see the first flower sites. The Veg To Harvest Pack bundles both formulas together — the simplest way to cover your full indoor grow from seedling to harvest.
Lighting for Indoor Growing
Light is the single most important variable in indoor growing. Here's a quick guide to matching your light to your goals:
- Microgreens: 12–16 hours of light per day. A basic T5 fluorescent or low-wattage LED panel is sufficient. Keep lights 5–10 cm above the canopy.
- Leafy greens and herbs: 14–16 hours. A mid-range LED grow light (100–200W for a 60x60 cm space) will produce excellent results.
- Fruiting and flowering plants: 18 hours for veg, 12 hours for flower. A quality full-spectrum LED in the 200–600W range depending on your space.
Common Beginner Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
- Overwatering: The most common killer of indoor plants. Let the top inch of medium dry out before watering again. For microgreens, bottom-water only.
- Underfeeding: Plants in containers exhaust available nutrients faster than you'd expect. Start a light nutrient program by week 2–3 for most plants.
- Ignoring pH: Nutrient lockout is almost always a pH problem. Aim for 6.0–6.5 in soil, 5.8–6.2 in coco or hydro. A basic pH meter is a worthwhile investment.
- Poor airflow: Stagnant air encourages mould and weakens stems. A small oscillating fan running a few hours a day makes a significant difference.
Ready to Start Your Indoor Garden?
Indoor growing is one of the most rewarding hobbies you can pick up — and the learning curve is shorter than most people expect. Start with microgreens to build confidence, then scale up to herbs, leafy greens, and beyond.
Our Veg To Harvest Pack is the easiest way to get your nutrient program dialled in from day one — no guesswork, no complicated mixing, just healthy plants and consistent results.
