Do Microgreens Regrow After Harvest?

Reading time: 9 minutes

🌿 Introduction

Microgreens have become a culinary darling because they condense the flavor and nutrition of mature vegetables into tiny, tender shoots. These young seedlings—typically harvested when they are just 7–21 days old—add color and nutrient density to salads, sandwiches, and entrées. Because microgreens are cut so early in their growth cycle, many gardeners wonder whether they will regrow after harvest.

The answer depends on the species, harvest method, and how much of the plant remains intact after cutting. Let’s examine the science, horticulture, and practical reality behind microgreen regrowth.

🌱 What Microgreens Are (and Aren’t)

Microgreens are not sprouts or baby greens. They are grown in soil or a substrate and harvested above the roots, unlike sprouts, which are germinated in water and eaten whole with the seed and root attached. Baby greens, by contrast, are harvested at a later stage when the plant has several true leaves.

Because microgreens are harvested just as cotyledons (seed leaves) unfurl, the remaining plant tissue often lacks the energy reserves necessary for regeneration.

🧬 Why Most Microgreens Don’t Regrow

The main biological reason microgreens rarely regrow is that they are harvested before the plants have developed true leaves or sufficient photosynthetic capacity. At this stage, most of the plant’s energy resides in the seed endosperm or cotyledons. When those parts are removed, the remaining stem and root system cannot photosynthesize or store energy for regeneration.

As Berba & Uchanski (2012) noted in their study Post-Harvest Physiology of Microgreens, cutting the hypocotyl severs the plant’s vascular system and halts further growth. The cotyledons soon desiccate, leaving no viable tissue for regrowth.

🌾 Exceptions: Peas, Wheatgrass, and a Few Herbs

Some microgreens—especially peas, fava beans, wheatgrass, and certain herbs—can regrow once or twice under favorable conditions. These species store more carbohydrates in their seeds and stems, allowing residual buds to push out secondary shoots.

However, successive harvests yield thinner, paler, and slower-growing shoots. Ettammal et al. (2020) observed that chickpea microgreens produced a weak second flush, but biomass and nutrient content declined sharply with each cutting.

Commercial growers rarely rely on regrowth because uniformity, food safety, and shelf life are compromised.

💧 Energy Reserves and Plant Physiology

Regrowth potential is tied directly to how much energy the seedling still has when cut. If photosynthetic leaves remain, regrowth is theoretically possible—but microgreens are harvested before those leaves mature.

According to the Kyriacou et al. (2016) review Micro-Scale Vegetable Production and the Rise of Microgreens, harvesting at the base of the hypocotyl completely removes the photosynthetic organs needed to restart growth.

Roots left in the tray may stay moist and appear alive, but without above-ground tissue, they cannot regenerate new shoots.

🌞 Environmental and Substrate Factors

Even for regrowable species like peas, regrowth depends on:

Factor	Ideal for First Harvest	Effect on Regrowth
Light	12–16 hours/day	Insufficient light weakens new shoots
Moisture	Even but not soggy	Dried roots won’t resprout
Substrate	Loose coco coir or soil	Depleted substrate reduces vigor
Temperature	68–72 °F (20–22 °C)	Cooler temps slow regrowth

After one harvest, nutrient depletion and microbial buildup make the growing medium unsuitable for reuse. Most experts recommend starting fresh with new seeds and substrate.

🍽️ The Practical Approach for Home Growers

Home gardeners can experiment with regrowing peas or wheatgrass by cutting above the lowest node instead of directly at the soil surface. Keep the roots watered and under light for a week; you may get a modest second crop.

However, for most species such as radish, broccoli, mustard, or basil, it is faster and cleaner to start anew. Re-sowing ensures even germination, better flavor, and higher nutrient content.

🧠 Common Myths About Regrowing Microgreens

1. “They’ll grow back like herbs.” Herbs regrow because harvests leave intact nodes and leaves that photosynthesize. Microgreens lack these structures.

2. “The roots will send up new shoots.” Once the hypocotyl is cut, no active meristem tissue remains to generate shoots.

3. “Leaving more stem helps.” Cutting higher only delays spoilage but doesn’t restore photosynthetic ability.

Educational sources such as the Oregon State University Extension and Kentucky Hort News confirm that while regrowth might occur in rare cases, yields are negligible and inconsistent.

🌍 Sustainability and Resource Considerations

Although reusing trays and media seems sustainable, decaying roots can harbor mold and bacteria, risking contamination. Sustainable practice instead involves composting spent media and using sterilized trays for each new sowing.

Commercial farms and research trials show that nutrient efficiency is maximized when each crop cycle begins with new seed and growing medium.

🌸 Purslane Microgreens Note

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) follows the same rule. While its succulent stems can regrow in mature plants, microgreen cuttings lack the nodal structure and stored energy to regenerate. For best results, re-seed every cycle to maintain high omega-3 and antioxidant content.

🌾 Conclusion

In short, microgreens generally do not regrow after harvest because they are harvested too early to retain regenerative tissues or energy stores. Peas, wheatgrass, and a few legumes are exceptions, capable of one weaker regrowth.

For consistent quality, food safety, and nutrition, most growers choose to re-seed after each harvest rather than wait for regrowth. The result: cleaner crops, predictable yields, and a fresh start every cycle.

📚 Sources

Berba, K. J., & Uchanski, M. E. (2012). “Post-Harvest Physiology of Microgreens.” Journal of Young Investigators, 24(1), 5. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5443d7c7e4b06e8b47de9a55/t/59b7f1e403596e7daebfe48b/1505227238283/JYI-Volume-24-Issue-1-Berba-Kenneth-_Post-harvest-physiology-of-microgreens-2.pdf

Ettammal, S., et al. (2020). “Preliminary Report on Multiple Harvests of Microgreens from Chickpea (Cicer arietinum) Seeds.” ResearchGate Preprint. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344238460_Preliminary_report_on_multiple_harvests_of_microgreens

Kyriacou, M. C., Riga, P., & Santamaria, P. (2016). “Micro-Scale Vegetable Production and the Rise of Microgreens.” Scientia Horticulturae, 211, 117–124. https://www.iris.unina.it/retrieve/e268a732-ba08-4c8f-e053-1705fe0a812c/1-s2.0-S0924224416302369-main.pdf

MP Seeds. (2024). “Will Microgreens Regrow After Cutting?” MP Seeds. https://mpseeds.eu/will-microgreens-regrow

GroCycle. (2023). “Do Microgreens Regrow After Cutting? Everything You Need to Know.” GroCycle. https://grocycle.com/do-microgreens-regrow-after-cutting

Microgreens World. (2024). “Maximizing Microgreen Harvest: The Ultimate Guide to Timing, Techniques, and Flavor.” Microgreens World. https://microgreensworld.com/when-should-microgreens-be-harvested

Oregon State University Extension Service. (2023). “Microgreens Add Big Flavor from a Small Footprint.” https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/microgreens-add-big-flavor-small-footprint

Kentucky Hort News. (2020). “Growing Microgreens.” https://kentuckyhortnews.com/2020/12/08/growing-microgreens

Johnny’s Selected Seeds. (2024). “Growing Microgreens Year-Round for Profit.” https://www.johnnyseeds.com/growers-library/vegetables/microgreens/year-round-micro-greens-production.html

Wildly Bountiful Garden. (2023). “Will Microgreens Regrow? How to Get a Second Harvest (and Why It’s Not Always Possible).” https://wildlybountifulgarden.co.uk/indoors/will-microgreens-regrow