Microgreens can be expensive plants to grow. This is because harvesting cycles are very short and new soil and grow kits are needed with each new harvest.
Also, all kits must be sterilized with each new harvest. For this reason, microgreens are very expensive plants to grow in comparison to others that may utilize the same soil for a year or more.
Does Growing Microgreens Mean Less Profit?
The fact that the growth time of microgreens is shorter than other plant species makes up for the extra expense in terms of profit.
Many microgreen growers harvest their crops in an average of 2-3 weeks and immediately plant new ones. This is reflected as an additional cost to the producers.
What Are Microgreens?
Microgreens are small plants that are older than an average sprout but younger than a mature plant.
Microgreens are harvested after they start to leaf out and an average microgreen takes around 2-3 weeks to mature.
They can be produced from many plant varieties such as salad beet radish, baby spinach and baby kale. The production of microgreens is very practical and simple.
In addition, you do not need a large amount of capital to start this business. With a small area and a small capital, you can plant and harvest microgreens in a short time.
Is it Cheaper to Grow Your Own Microgreens?
Growing your own microgreens is the cheapest and easiest method if you plan to consume them regularly and sell them. You can buy seeds at very low prices and procure your own grow kits.
Besides, you can control what kind of soil they are grown in and your soil should be of good quality. At first, you can plant in a small area and as you increase your harvest cycles, you can increase your land area.
The amount of profit you will get in the beginning will increase exponentially in the following periods. This will return you higher profit margins in the future.
Are Microgreens Worth it?
Microgreen farming is a business model that is definitely worth doing. Especially with a low-capital budget, you can start this business and make a profit in a short time with repeated short-term harvesting cycles.
In addition, you do not need a large planting area to start this business. Some new breeders can grow microgreens in their backyard or windowsill.
Harvest times of microgreens are shorter than other plants. This period varies between 2-3 weeks on average.
Since the short harvesting cycle allows you to harvest more in a shorter time, it is much easier to make money in a short time. But starting a new harvest has its own set of difficulties and financial costs.
The Cost of Planting Microgreens
A new harvest requires new seeds and grow kits. If you are going to use the same kits as before, they also have sterilization costs.
However, when these expenses are compared with the profit obtained, you will not suffer much financial damage.
Many microgreen growers start planting in small areas at first and then move on to larger areas as their profits increase.
If you are doing this job professionally and you have the necessary capital, you can rent a small farm and do your planting there.
Since growing microgreens is very practical and fast, it is a very attractive business model for beginners. This business model is definitely worth every penny you spend if you do it correctly and calculate the costs upfront.
What Is The Cheapest Way to Grow Microgreens?
The cheapest way to grow microgreens is to first purchase high-quality seeds and soil. For this, you need to do in-depth market research and find out where you can get the best quality and cheapest seed.
While doing this, you can send offers to companies that sell seeds or follow some existing campaigns.
Today, you can browse the sites of quality companies that sell seeds over the internet and evaluate the most suitable offer for you.
Instead of buying expensive equipment and grow kits at the beginning, you should buy equipment in good condition from second-hand markets.
Growth lamps are sold at high prices. You can use sunlight instead, or you can install a grow light bulb that you already have.
The more you minimize the basic costs, the higher the initial profit will be. With correct budget planning, you can avoid unnecessary expenses keeping the cost even lower.
Do I Need a License to Sell Microgreens?
If you’re growing small amounts of microgreens in pots or trays, you don’t need any licensing.
This is because home cultivators are not considered professional producers, so they are not subject to any legal restrictions.
If you are a producer on a large scale such as a farm in relation to other microgreen producers, you have to fulfil some legal obligations.
Large scale producers must have a manufacturer’s license, which is given by the state on the condition that certain criteria are met.
This license distinguishes professional producers from other hobby cultivators, and also allows producers to trade internationally.
Is it Profitable to Sell Microgreens?
Microgreen farming is a very profitable business model if done correctly. You can make big profits within a small area without requiring much capital upfront.
One of the best things about this business model is that the harvest cycles of microgreens are very short.
It takes an average of 2-3 weeks for a microgreen to reach maturity so you can see profits within a month or less if you find a good market for selling your microgreens quickly.
This short period also ensures that there are no long waits between harvest times, and in this way, you can quickly profit from each harvest and grow your business further.
You can sell the microgreens you produce for $50 per pound or more. In addition, with good market research, you can sell the microgreens you produce in bulk and get an even faster turnover.
Are Microgreens in High Demand?
The demand for microgreens is very high. In recent years, many restaurants and hotel kitchens from all over the world have been ordering and using these little green plants as accompaniments to main dishes or sides.
In addition, these plants, which are very practical and easy to produce for growers, can be easily grown with a small budget.
The demand for these plants is increasing day by day and new growers have a chance to gain a share in the market.
Hi, I’m John Stephens, chief editor and writer for Totalgardener.com. I’ve been gardening and raising animals for over 15 years starting with a small backyard plot in Northern Virginia where I grew corn, potatoes, squash, and using a high mulch technique called the Ruth Stout Method. I also raised ducks and small mammals for meat and eggs in a movable pen similar to the ones used by Joel Salatin. I later moved to Colorado where I experimented with growing greens using aquaponics inside. I eventually added a microgreens setup and home sprouting operation. I’m excited to share everything I’ve learned plus more from the other local gardening and animal raising experts I know.
