Microgreens are gaining immense popularity among health enthusiasts and food connoisseurs alike. These tiny seedlings packed with intense flavor and dense nutrients are the new superfoods taking the culinary world by storm. From embellishing upscale restaurant dishes to sprucing up homemade meals, microgreens provide the perfect vehicle to add visual appeal and nutritional value with ease.

But what exactly are microgreens? Simply put, microgreens are young vegetable greens that are harvested just after the seed leaves (cotyledons) have developed, which occurs within 7 to 21 days after germination depending on the variety. Although minute in size, ranging from 1 to 3 inches, microgreens pack a nutritional wallop with up to 40 times more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than their fully mature counterparts.

With hundreds of microgreen varieties to choose from, it can get overwhelming to decide which ones to grow. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the 10 best-selling microgreens that offer great flavor, rapid growth cycles, strong market demand, and lucrative profit potential for urban farmers and greenhouse growers.

So, let’s dive in and explore what makes these microgreens so delectable and prosperous to cultivate!

Key Takeaways on the 10 Best Selling Microgreens

• Microgreens are young seedlings of vegetables and herbs that pack an intense burst of flavors, textures, and nutrients compared to their mature counterparts.
• Leading microgreens like sunflower, pea shoots, and radish offer rapid growth cycles, versatile uses, strong market demand, and high-profit potential ranging from 40% to 70% margins.
• Slower-growing specialty microgreens like wheatgrass, basil, and cilantro require more skill to cultivate but provide high value as exclusive gourmet ingredients.
• Choosing microgreens suited for your climate while aligning with market demand maximizes success and profitability. Consider regional cuisine tastes too.
• Start with 2-3 microgreen varieties to allow honing cultivation techniques before expanding selections. Testing growing conditions and keeping detailed records helps optimize yields.
• Incorporating vertical spaces via compact rack systems or tiered shelves boosts production capacity. Seeking mentorship from expert microgreen growers provides helpful insights as well.
• Pay diligence to seed sources, using sterilized commercial potting mixes, regulating humidity and airflow, precision watering, and gentle harvesting fundamentals.
• Market microgreens based on their intense and unique flavor profiles, textural diversity, visual brilliance, nutritional density, versatile uses, eco-friendly growing, and artisanal craftsmanship for maximum appeal.

Microgreens make the perfect crops for small urban farms to generate sustainable income while meeting the rising consumer demand for nutritious, flavorful, and locally-grown produce.

Why Are Microgreens So Popular?

Before highlighting the 10 top microgreens making waves in the industry, let’s first understand why they have become such coveted crops. Here are some key reasons driving the booming demand:

• Bursting With Nutrients: Microgreens contain a mega-dose of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and enzymes vital for good health. For instance, research shows that red cabbage microgreens have over 5 times more vitamin C than regular cabbage.
• Intensified Flavors: Despite their petite size, microgreens deliver an intense burst of flavors. The taste profiles range from sweet and grassy to sharp and spicy depending on the variety.
• Eye-Catching Visual Appeal: With their vibrant hues and delicate textures, microgreens make dishes pop with visual brilliance. Chefs particularly love them for garnishing upscale cuisine.
• Versatile Ingredients: Microgreens jazz up everything from salads, soups, and sandwiches to smoothies, juices, and desserts. Their versatility caters perfectly to the farm-to-table movement.
• Eco-Friendly To Grow: Requiring less water and space than conventional farming, microgreens align well with eco-conscious values. Most varieties reach harvest maturity within 14 days.
• High-Profit Potential: Thanks to all the above attributes, microgreens offer extremely lucrative profit margins, ranging from 40% to 80% returns. They are goldmines for small urban farms.

Now that you know why microgreens have stepped into the limelight, let’s look at 10 winning varieties making big waves in the culinary scene.

1. Nutty and Protein-Packed Sunflower Microgreens

Sunflower microgreens top the charts as one of the most profitable microgreens to grow with their stellar market demand. These zippy greens with vitamin-rich yellow stems and green leaves make both a nutritious and visually captivating addition to dishes.

Taste Profile: Sunflower microgreens have a lovely nutty, buttery flavor with a slight hint of bitterness. The taste resembles mild sunflower seeds. Their texture varies from tender and succulent to crisp and crunchy depending on the day of harvest.

Growing Difficulty: Moderately easy, requiring some finesse with proper moisture, drainage, and airflow. The time from planting to harvest is approximately 7 to 14 days.

Uses and Pairings: Sunflower microgreens jazz up salads, sandwiches, tacos, pizza, and noodle bowls effortlessly. Chefs also love to use them as edible garnishes. Their nutty flavor profile pairs well with vinaigrettes, pesto, or toppings like avocados and nuts.

Nutritional Benefits: These mighty microgreens are loaded with protein, fiber, vitamin E, magnesium, folate, and antioxidants. The perfect nutrient boost!

Profitability: High. Sunflower microgreens are versatile ingredients with great visual appeal, driving strong market demand. Profit margins can range from 40% to 60%.

So, if you’re looking for a profitable microgreen with wide consumer appeal, crunchy texture, and a mild nutty zing, look no further than vivacious sunflower greens!

2. Sweet and Crispy Pea Shoots

Pea shoots have emerged as microgreen darlings, captivating palates with their sweet flavor and tender crunch. Their curly tendrils and delicate textures make them favorites for embellishing salads or using as edible garnishes.

Taste Profile: Pea shoots have a fresh, sweet pea flavor with grassy green overtones. The taste resembles fresh snap peas with a milder flavor. They offer a satisfying crispness that works well in wraps, stir-fries, and sandwiches too.

Growing Difficulty: Easy to moderately easy. Time from planting to harvest ranges from 8 to 14 days depending on factors like variety, light exposure, and temperatures.

Uses and Pairings: Offering versatility, pea shoots can spruce up salads, wraps, sandwiches, pasta, and Asian stir fries seamlessly. Their sweetness complements citrusy dressings and garlic-infused oil nicely. Or simply enjoy them solo as a healthy finger food.

Nutritional Benefits: These petite greens supply a powerful nutritional punch, packed with chlorophyll, antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin K, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Profitability: High. As darling ingredients in haute cuisine, pea shoots generate strong consumer demand, translating to high profitability for microgreen growers. Profit margins typically range from 50% to 60%.

So, for a fast-growing microgreen with a sweet flavor, emerald green hue, and crunchy crispness that consumers and chefs adore, pea shoots check all the boxes!

3. Zippy and Nutrient-Dense Radish Microgreens

Radish microgreens dominate with their vigor and zest, adding spice and vibrance to dishes effortlessly. Their rapid growth cycles, hardiness, and strong market demand make them profitable picks.

Taste Profile: Radish microgreens pack some serious heat and bite, showcasing the familiar sharp spice of radishes balanced by mild green, earthy undertones. Red varieties reveal brilliant fuchsia stems too.

Growing Difficulty: Extremely easy. Rapid growers, radish microgreens take just 7 to 10 days from seeding to reach harvest size.

Uses and Pairings: Offering heat and visual appeal, radish microgreens make trendy embellishments for salads, tacos, pizza, soup garnishes, and more. Their spicy zip complements creamy dressings and avocado smash nicely.

Nutritional Benefits: These little spice packs supply a big burst of nutrients! Radish microgreens contain vitamin C, vitamin B6, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and antioxidant compounds.

Profitability: High. Quick to grow and popular ingredient accents, their market demand translates to excellent profitability. Profit margins range from 50% to 70%.

So, when you’re looking for an easy yet lively microgreen, delectable radish greens are sure to deliver with their growth, enchanting hues, and spicy crunch!

4. Pepperlicious Arugula Microgreens

Arugula microgreens tantalize taste buds with their dynamic flavors and delicate, grassy textures. These peppy greens are beloved ingredients in haute cuisine, pizza, and pasta thanks to their spicy zing.

Taste Profile: Showcasing more kick than fully grown arugula, these microgreens deliver a nice spicy punch with peppery and nutty hints. The sharp flavors mellow into pleasant herbaceous notes as well.

Growing Difficulty: Moderately easy. The time from seed to harvest size is approximately 8 to 14 days. Keep soil moist and humidity high.

Uses and Pairings: Beyond traditional salad accents, creative chefs incorporate arugula microgreens into risottos, bruschetta, sandwiches, and tacos too. Their spicy zip plays nicely with bold flavors like garlic, citrus, and nuts.

Nutritional Benefits: Rich in antioxidants, vitamin K, vitamin C, and anti-inflammatory compounds, arugula microgreens supply a power dose of nutrition in every bite!

Profitability: High. These microgreens are darlings in fine dining, driving excellent demand and profit margins of around 60% for growers.

When you desire microgreens with some serious kick and dynamic green flavors, arugula varieties like Astro and Slow Bolt are sure to bring the spice and charm!

5. Beety and Nutrient-Packed Beet Microgreens

Vibrant beet microgreens supply scarlet beauty and superfood status, making them coveted gourmet ingredients. Beyond their brilliant hues, beet greens serve up a cornucopia of nutrients with an earthy flavor.

Taste Profile: Delivering more flair than full-size beets, beet microgreens showcase mildly sweet and herbaceous flavors with mineral-rich, earthy notes. Their taste resembles leafy greens like spinach.

Growing Difficulty: Moderately easy. Soaking seeds for 8 to 12 hours speeds up germination. The time from planting to harvest is approximately 14 to 21 days.

Uses and Pairings: Demand is high for beet microgreens’ vivid red stems and deep green leaves to ornate restaurant dishes. They also enhance salads, soups, sandwiches, and smoothies. Their flavor profile jives nicely with walnuts, goat cheese, and balsamic.

Nutritional Benefits: Rich sources of iron, calcium, magnesium, and antioxidants, beet microgreens pack anti-inflammatory and detoxification advantages as well. The perfect nutrient and color boost!

Profitability: Moderate to high. Their demand as embellishments drives profitability. Profit margins range from around 40% to 50% or more for growers.

So, if you’re seeking radiant microgreens that supply both eye candy and nutritional prowess, beet varieties like Detroit Dark Red and Bull’s Blood make profitable and healthy choices!

6. Mighty Broccoli Microgreens

Broccoli microgreens dominate the superfood scene with their dense nutrient portfolio and ease of cultivation. These tiny green heroes supply a mega-dose of nourishment along with a pleasant, mild flavor.

Taste Profile: Unlike their fully grown counterparts, broccoli microgreens offer a more balanced, herbaceous taste without bitterness. Their flavor resembles leafy greens like red leaf lettuce. The tender greens work well in salads, sandwiches, and wraps too.

Growing Difficulty: Extremely easy. Rapid growing, broccoli microgreens take only 7 to 14 days from seeding to reach harvest size.

Uses and Pairings: Chefs and home cooks add these mighty greens to everything from soups, salads, and sandwiches to grain bowls and tacos for a nutritional boost. Their mildness allows broccoli microgreens to blend nicely into most dishes.

Nutritional Benefits: Ounce for ounce, broccoli microgreens supply a bigger burst of sulforaphane, vitamin C, vitamin K, and antioxidants than mature broccoli florets. Talk about superfood status!

Profitability: High. Offering beauty and brawn, broccoli microgreens drive strong market demand for their superb nutrition, taste, and growing ease. Profit margins range around 60% or higher.

When it comes to easy yet mighty microgreens, no one flexes their superfood muscles like broccoli greens! Add them to your growing regimen for true profit power.

7. Rejuvenating Wheatgrass Microgreens

Wheatgrass microgreens boldly deliver a mega-dose of dense nutrition along with chlorophyll-rich green goodness. Revered as liquid health in juiced form, wheatgrass offers rejuvenating and cleansing properties.

Taste Profile: On their own, wheatgrass microgreens supply a sweet, grassy flavor reminiscent of spinach and kale with floral backnotes. The taste becomes more potent in juice form.

Growing Difficulty: Moderately challenging due to longer growth duration and susceptibility to mold. Soil needs extra sterilization and excellent drainage. The time from seed to harvest size is approximately 14 to 21 days.

Uses and Pairings: Wheatgrass microgreens accent salads, sandwiches, and wraps for an enzyme and chlorophyll lift. But most get juiced as revitalizing wellness shots. Their grassy green goodness complements citrus and ginger nicely in juices too.

Nutritional Benefits: These curly greens burst with enzymes, chlorophyll, antioxidants, vitamin E, vitamin C, iron, and magnesium. Potent health and cleansing activity in every sip!

Profitability: Moderate to high. While slower growing, wheatgrass microgreens’ medicinal status drives consumer demand and profitability for premium quality produce. Profit margins range around 50%.

For microgreens oozing with vitality and detoxification powers, wheatgrass always delivers the green goodness! Juice them for maximum rejuvenation.

8. Colorful and Antioxidant-Rich Red Cabbage Microgreens

Red cabbage microgreens captivate with their vibrant reddish-purple hues and mild sweet flavor. Adding visual brilliance and crunch to dishes, these antioxidant-loaded greens make coveted garnishes.

Taste Profile: Delivering bolder cabbage flavor than their mature version, red cabbage microgreens offer pleasant sweetness with mild spicy backnotes. Their taste resembles a cross between red cabbage and arugula.

Growing Difficulty: Moderately easy. Time from seeding to harvest spans 8 to 14 days typically. No soak is needed but keep the soil moist.

Uses and Pairings: Red cabbage microgreens provide beautiful garnishes for upscale plates, salads, and sandwiches. Their colors and flavors also enhance wraps, noodles, and tacos nicely. Play up their sweetness with fruits and nuts.

Nutritional Benefits: Rich sources of vitamin C, vitamin K, and vitamin E along with potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients, these microgreens supply health-protective powers.

Profitability: High. Stellar demand for their beauty and nutrition makes red cabbage microgreens profitable ingredients for growers. Profit margins range from around 50% to 60% or more.

When you seek microgreens offering visual brilliance and healthy compounds abundantly, red cabbage varieties like Red Jewel reign supreme with their vibrant hues and crisp crunch!

9. Pleasantly Pungent Basil Microgreens

Basil microgreens tantalize with their signature aroma and flavor punch, enhancing everything from salads to Mediterranean cuisine. These petite greens pack pleasantly sharp herbal notes.

Taste Profile: Offering bolder basil essence than the mature herb, microgreen varieties like Genovese supply a pleasant pungency with a lingering sweetness. Their potent taste resembles a cross between basil and arugula.

Growing Difficulty: Moderately challenging due to susceptibility to fungal problems from excess moisture. Good drainage and airflow are needed. The time from seed to harvest size is 15 to 25 days.

Uses and Pairings: Beyond being darlings in Italian cooking, basil microgreens jazz up grain bowls, bruschetta, sandwiches, and dressings too. Their sharp herbal flavor complements tomatoes, mozzarella, and balsamic splendidly.

Nutritional Benefits: Delivering a mega-dose of antioxidants like rosmarinic acid, basil microgreens protect cells from damage while supplying anti-inflammatory benefits as well. Herbal power!

Profitability: High. Strong market demand for their intense flavor and fragrance makes basil microgreens lucrative crops for premium quality produce. Profit margins span 35% to 55%.

When you seek pleasantly sharp microgreens with that nostalgic aroma of basil goodness, Genovese varieties satisfy with their intense herbal notes and Italian flare!

10. Zesty and Citrus-Flavored Cilantro Microgreens

Cilantro microgreens tantalize with their bold citrusy notes and grassy oregano nuances that enhance tacos, salsas, and curries wonderfully. A quintessential ingredient in Mexican and Thai cuisine, cilantro microgreens pack more punch than the mature herb.

Taste Profile: Cilantro microgreens offer a more intense cilantro-lime flavor compared to fully grown sprigs, showcasing lemon and bitter herbal hints as well. Their sharp zest resembles a mix of citrus, parsley, and oregano.

Growing Difficulty: Moderately challenging due to a slow growth rate of around 3 weeks and susceptibility to fungus without proper airflow. Careful moisture control is key.

Uses and Pairings: Beyond tacos and salsas, creative chefs incorporate cilantro microgreens into soups. grains, sandwiches, and smoothies too. Their bright flavor complements lime, garlic, and chili peppers splendidly.

Nutritional Benefits: High levels of antioxidants like quercetin make cilantro microgreens mighty free-radical fighters. Their vitamin K content benefits bone and heart health as well.

Profitability: Moderate to high. Their specialty status for global cuisine makes cilantro microgreens profitable for patient growers. Profit margins typically range from 40% to 50%.

Seeking zesty microgreens with intense citrus flavor to spice up your Mexican and Asian dishes? Look no further than lively cilantro varieties!

Final Thoughts On The 10 Best Selling Microgreens

Beyond being darlings in fine dining, microgreens make excellent ingredients for home cooks seeking to add beauty and nutrition to everyday meals easily. And, their dense nutrients and short harvest cycles offer lucrative opportunities for small-scale farmers too.

As we explored in this guide, microgreens like sunflower, pea shoots, radish, and broccoli varieties offer rapid growth plus strong market demand, translating to excellent profit margins for urban growers. More specialty varieties like wheatgrass, basil, and cilantro microgreens require extra skills but provide high value as exclusive ingredients.

Whatever microgreens you choose to cultivate, dedicating care to dialing in proper growing conditions is key to success. Soil quality, temperature regulation, airflow, and humidity controls allow microgreens to thrive, revealing their optimum flavors beautifully.

Here’s to a future filled with vibrant, nutrient-dense, and profitable microgreens! From embellishing restaurant cuisine to beautifying homemade meals, microgreens make healthy flavor and living more accessible for all to enjoy.