Microgreens

Microgreen Seeding Rates: Logic, Not a Table From the Internet

3 min read March 5, 2026

Why One Seeding Rate Does Not Work for All Crops

Seeds vary enormously in weight — radish and sunflower differ by a factor of 10–15. Measuring in grams per area (g/m²) produces a reproducible result, unlike sowing "by feel."

How to Find Your Working Seeding Rate

The starting point is the seeding rate reference table on the site. For different tray sizes, calculate proportionally. Adjust the rate based on the germination rate of the seed lot and growing light conditions.

Practical approach: test three variants — minus 20%, standard, and plus 20% from the table — and observe results.

Too Dense vs Too Sparse: What Happens

Too dense: seedlings stretch, the lower layer suffocates, mould and clumping appear. Quality drops.

Too sparse: bare patches with exposed substrate, uneven moisture, lower yield per tray.

Three Mistakes That Cost the Most

  • Using the same seeding rate for different seed lots
  • Sowing without weighing — going by feel
  • Increasing the seeding rate instead of fixing the lighting

How to Know the Seeding Rate Is Correct

By day 3–4: an even carpet with no visible gaps, seedlings upright without overlapping. Yield varies no more than 10–15% between batches.