Microgreens Seed Buying in the UK
Using great quality seeds for your microgreens production should be your number one priority in your farm.
The majority of growing issues occur when sub-standard seed is used. So it’s important you’re using the good stuff. I speak with so many people every week who are asking what they’re doing wrong when they get rubbish grows (love seeing all your pics!).
First we establish all the following is happening:
Your grow room environment is well ventilated, with lots of air flow.
Your grow room is at optimum temperature? (20C - 23C) and humidity (50 - 60%).
Your growing and watering trays are properly clean?
You’re using fresh, good quality grow medium.
And if all these are being done correctly, then the chances are it’s their seed that’s the problem, not their technique!
We’re so lucky now in the UK that we have a number of great seed companies that are supplying excellent quality microgreens seeds.
Firstly, this is what I mean when I say ‘excellent quality’ seed? Seed that:
Is very close to having a 100% even germination rate, consistently.
Shows no mould growth during germination.
Sunflower (left) Coriander (right) - Perfect examples of great quality seed! Almost 100% germination rate, no mould.
My absolute favourite microgreens seed supplier in the UK right now is Grow Sow Greener. They’re a small seed and other microgreens equipment supplier based in Devon. They’re microgreens growers themselves, so fully understand the importance of top quality seed and great customer service. Most importantly, their seed is excellent! It’s what I use at my own farm week in week out.
Other microgreens seed suppliers I recommend in the UK:
Aconbury Sprouts
Premier Seeds Direct
Moles Seeds
CN Seeds
All these companies specialise in supplying microgreens-specific seed. Always go for varieties that are named ‘microgreen’ or ‘sprouting’. These are the varieties that are best suited to microgreens production and will have specifically been tested for pathogens.
Not all seed batches are the same!
I learnt this the hard way. Just because you’ve had an amazing load of pea seed in from a particular company, doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll get identical quality next time you order from them. Honestly it took me years to realise this when I started out and had no-one to talk to about it. It was definitely a tear-your-hair-out situation and I just thought I was rubbish at growing!
Anyway, I don’t want that for you, so here goes.
When a new load of seed arrives from a farm to a seed supplier it has a specific batch code. That batch code relates to the particular seed crop that came off the field at the same time (this usually happens annually). Hence there can be variations in quality. Most seed suppliers check this quality (which they definitely should), before selling it onto us, but some just get through.
The seed varieties I’ve experienced most variation with are - peas, sunflower, coriander and nasturtium. Others are usually fine, so don’t panic too much!
When you get to the stage of scaling up your farm and you’re wanting to buy seed in bulk sizes to get the best prices, then I highly recommend firstly emailing the supplier and asking if they currently have a good batch of ‘whatever’ in. And even if they say yes, it’s always worth buying a small amount in first to trial before shelling out on a huge amount. Also, make sure you do these trials in plenty of time before your current batch runs out. You don’t want to have to rely on it for supplying deadlines your end.
Soaking Overnight
It’s worth mentioning in this post that larger seed hugely benefit from an overnight soak in water. To activate germination, seeds need to be able to absorb enough water. For smaller seeds this can be done by just spraying them well with water before covering and putting into germination. Seeds such as pea, sunflower and nasturtium massively benefit from soaking in fresh water over-night. They can then absorb enough water and will germinate faster and more evenly for you. Definitely do this with these varieties, especially if you’re experiencing below par germination rates.
Storing Your Seed
So when you do get your top notch seed in, it’s important you store it properly. Especially if you’re buying in bulk and might not be using some of it for 6 months, or even a year, ahead. Ideally, you’ll keep them somewhere cool, dark and air tight. I keep mine in my outdoor shed, in the packaging they came in, in plastic airtight storage boxes. I then decant smaller amounts into plastic storage buckets in my grow room every few weeks to make sowing more efficient.
The airtight storage boxes have two functions:
1. They protect the seed from humidity and potentially spoiling.
2. They keep out pests! I used to store my plastic seed sacks out on racking in my shed until a mouse got in one year, nibbled through the bag and gorged on my premium seed!
Just ask!
If you’re wondering which is the best current seed batch of a particular variety, then the absolute best way of finding out bang up to date info is to ask in our amazing Farm Microgreens UK Facebook group. Our friendly and experienced lot in there will be able to recommend which batches from which suppliers are currently working best for them. There are almost 2000 of us in there now, all fully obsessed with microgreens growing and eager to help each other out :)
Overall, remember
Healthy seed = Top quality microgreens (usually!).
If you’re keen to learn how to get your own microgreens business up and running right now, then here’s my
FREE UK Microgreens Business Starter Guide
Download now to get it sent straight to your inbox!
In your guide, you’ll get:
5 great reasons for starting a microgreens business in the UK right now
A basic equipment list
A step-by-step guide to growing and harvesting radish shoots and pea shoots, including UK pricing suggestions, seed supplier recommendations and profit margins.
A how-to guide to selling your microgreens to your local community.