Gardyn Microgreens Growing Kit Review

With their intense flavor profiles, microgreens pack a big punch in the culinary world and have become increasingly popular among consumers. However, it can be daunting to figure out how to grow your own microgreens from scratch. Luckily, the Gardyn Microgreens Growing Kit solves this issue with an all-in-one kit (and it’s under $100!). 

What is the Gardyn Microgreens Growing Kit?

Urban gardeners and apartment dwellers will love the Gardyn Microgreens Complete Growing Kits, which include everything you need to harvest your microgreens. This kit comes with a food-grade plastic white hydroponic nursery that accommodates ten plants. And for those wondering, the nursery is a five-inch by 12-inch trough that holds water to feed the plants. It comes with a vented humidity dome and ten grow plates. Additionally, the kit includes 20 seed pads to start that come in four varieties.

Depending on the variety, microgreens typically grow fast and are ready for harvest in 10 to 15 days. All it takes is water and light!

Set-up is simple. Simply fill the container with water, place the wicks on each grow plate to absorb the water, put a seed pad on top, and, within three days, you’ll start to see sprouts. By the tenth day, you can add flavor to your favorite sandwich, salad or pizza.

Sheri Kaz for Family Handyman

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Benefits of Microgreens

The nutritional value of microgreens isn’t just hype. Just like their highly concentrated flavor, microgreens also have a highly concentrated level of nutrients.

According to Science Direct, “Microgreens are rich in vitamins (e.g., vitamin C), minerals (e.g., copper and zinc), and phytochemicals, including carotenoids and phenolic compounds, which act as antioxidants in human body.”

“While studies of long-term health outcomes are limited, practitioners are certainly paying attention to microgreens and sprouts as a road to better health,” the abstract continues. “Both in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that microgreens have anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, and anti-hyperglycemia properties, making it a new functional food beneficial to human health.”

Gardyn Microgreens Growing Kit Product Features

This all-in-one kit is a complete system with 20 seed pads in four flavors: Purple kohlrabi, red sango radish, arugula and red acre cabbage microgreens. 

The Gardyn is a low-tech hydroponic system, so users don’t need to worry about soil, bugs or fertilizers. And because the growing time is so short, users don’t need to change the water or clean the system. It’s a very low-maintenance, quick process.

How I Tested It

As a gardener, I’ve been starting seeds indoors for many years but have shockingly never tried cultivating microgreens. However, I was pleased to discover that the Gardyn Microgreen Kit is a low-tech way to grow them, perfect for a newbie. I’ve used Aerogarden to start seeds and love the soil-less hydroponic methods. 

With the Gardyn, I didn’t need to worry about having a convenient wall outlet or tons of space: You don’t need to plug it in and it’s a compact size. Although I don’t have a south-facing window, I set the kit up on my dining room table where it could get the best light, and I could watch it grow. Since the process happens so quickly, I hoped I wouldn’t need to use a grow light, and luckily, I didn’t have to.

As promised, sprouts emerged three days later, and I removed the paper covers on the seed pads. 

By the fourth day, I noticed something furry on one of the pads, so I took it outside to soak up some sun and get some airflow. Yikes! Is this mold?

Upon further investigation, I discovered that it was root hair and a natural part of the process. After a morning in the sun, the hair was no longer visible. So I decided to let it grow and see what happened. This only happened to one of the eight plants (that I noticed). Everything happens quickly with the Gardyn Microgreen Kit, and I was happy it was in full view instead of in the basement.

Some seed pads sprouted a day or two later, but by the twelfth day, I harvested everything. 

There is no circulation of the water, so I was still a bit paranoid about the potential for mold or e-coli. However, I took a chance and enjoyed sampling the powerhouse of flavor. My favorite was the arugula.

Be prepared to use them when they are ready because microgreens have a short shelf life. By the seventeenth day, you’ll need to start over.

Pros

• Makes fresh microgreens
• Easy to use
• Packaged as a complete kit
• Offers a variety of flavors
• Hydroponic (no soil)
• Requires only water and light
• Space-saving design
• Reusable nursery

Cons

• Short shelf life

Final Verdict

I loved how simple it was to set up and grow fresh microgreens with the Gardyn Microgreens Kit. The little plants are adorable and very tasty. I wish they had a longer shelf life, but that’s the nature of microgreens and why they can be pricey or hard to find in stores.

In the future, I’ll be staggering the plantings to have a steady supply. On the flip side, nothing in my garden grows this fast, so if you’re looking for immediate results, growing microgreens is very satisfying.

If you love spicy greens as I do, you’ll get years of use out of it and can order new seed pads whenever you like. 

The convenience of an all-in-one kit (plus 20 seed pads) makes it a user-friendly way to grow microgreens without soil. The space-saving design is perfect for the kitchen counter and adds a colorful dimension to your home.

Where to Buy Gardyn Microgreens Growing Kit

Sheri Kaz for Family Handyman

Grow your own super foods in less than two weeks with the Gardyn Microgreens Complete Kit. This all-in-one kit is available on Amazon and Gardyn.  Add zest, flavor and color to your next meal with microgreens!

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