Microgreens You Can Grow in 7 Days with Zero Effort (Smart Setup)

Growing microgreens is one of the most rewarding and simplest ways to get fresh, nutritious produce at home. These tiny greens are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and they are perfect for adding a burst of flavor and color to salads, sandwiches, smoothies, and more. The best part? You can grow them in just 7 days!

But what if you could automate the process and make growing microgreens zero-effort? With the help of smart gardening systems, you can create an automated microgreen setup that requires minimal intervention, leaving you to simply enjoy the harvest. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to grow microgreens in 7 days with little effort using a smart setup.

Why Grow Microgreens?

Microgreens are not only healthy but also incredibly easy to grow. They are essentially young seedlings harvested at an early stage before they develop their first true leaves. Common microgreens include arugula, radish, mustard, sunflower, and pea shoots.

Here are some reasons to grow microgreens:

  • Fast growth: Microgreens take around 7-10 days to grow, making them ideal for quick harvests.
  • Nutrient-packed: They are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, providing a healthy boost.
  • Space-saving: Microgreens can be grown in small spaces, like kitchen windowsills, making them perfect for apartment dwellers.
  • Low-maintenance: Once set up, they require minimal care, especially if you automate the process.

Setting Up a Smart Microgreen System

A smart microgreen setup uses automation to simplify the growing process. With a smart watering system, automated lighting, and environmental monitoring through sensors, you can create a setup that requires very little intervention once everything is in place.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up an automated microgreen growing system.

1. Choose the Right Containers

For growing microgreens, you’ll need shallow containers with drainage holes. This allows the roots to spread out, and excess water can drain away, preventing rot. You can use anything from plastic trays to recycled containers. Just ensure they are deep enough for the roots but shallow enough to allow airflow.

2. Select Your Microgreen Seeds

Some of the best microgreens to grow in 7 days include:

  • Radish: Known for their peppery taste, they are one of the fastest-growing microgreens, typically ready in 5-7 days.
  • Mustard: These greens add a spicy kick to your dishes and grow quickly, usually in 7 days.
  • Pea shoots: Sweet and crisp, pea shoots can grow in about 7 days.
  • Sunflower: These microgreens take a bit longer but are packed with flavor and nutrients.
  • Broccoli: With a mild taste, broccoli microgreens grow fast and are rich in antioxidants.

3. Automated Watering System

A self-watering system ensures that your microgreens receive the right amount of water without over-watering or drying out. Here’s how you can automate the watering:

Components for Automated Watering System:

  • Soil moisture sensor: To monitor the soil moisture and trigger watering when needed.
  • Water pump: For delivering water to your microgreens.
  • Relay module: To control the water pump.
  • Arduino or Raspberry Pi: For setting up automation and controlling the system.
  • Tubing and water reservoir: To carry water from the reservoir to the plants.

Simple Wiring for the Watering System:

  • Soil Moisture Sensor → A0 pin (Arduino)
  • Water Pump → Relay Module Common Pin
  • Relay VCC → 5V (Arduino)
  • Relay IN Pin → Pin 8 (Arduino)
  • Water Pump Power Supply → Relay Normally Open (NO) Pin
  • Water Reservoir → Water Pump

4. Automated LED Lighting System

Microgreens require light for photosynthesis, but you can automate this process to ensure they receive adequate light each day. LED grow lights are ideal because they provide the necessary spectrum for plant growth without generating excessive heat.

Components for Automated Lighting:

  • LED Grow Lights: Low-energy lights that mimic natural sunlight.
  • Timer/Relay Module: To automate the on/off schedule of the lights.
  • Arduino or Smart Plug: For controlling the timer and ensuring lights turn on and off at the right times.

Example Setup:

  • Relay Module → Pin 7 (Arduino)
  • LED Lights → Relay Common Pin
  • LED Power Supply → Relay Normally Open (NO) Pin
  • Relay VCC → 5V (Arduino)

You can use a simple Arduino script to set the grow lights to turn on for 12 hours and off for 12 hours to simulate day and night cycles. A smart plug connected to a mobile app like Blynk or Home Assistant can also automate the lights remotely.

5. Environmental Monitoring

Using sensors to monitor the temperature, humidity, and light levels is a great way to ensure that your microgreens are growing under optimal conditions. The ideal temperature for microgreens is between 60°F to 75°F (15°C to 24°C), and humidity levels should be around 50-60%.

Components for Environmental Monitoring:

  • DHT22 Temperature and Humidity Sensor: For monitoring environmental conditions.
  • Light Sensor: To ensure the plants receive enough light.
  • Arduino or Raspberry Pi: For gathering and processing sensor data.

The data can be displayed on an LCD screen, or you can use IoT platforms like ThingSpeak to track the data remotely.

Full Smart Microgreen Setup Example

Now, let’s look at a simple full setup that automates watering, lighting, and environmental monitoring for a zero-effort microgreen garden.

Required Components:

  • Arduino Uno or Raspberry Pi
  • Soil moisture sensor
  • LED grow lights
  • Water pump
  • Relay modules
  • Temperature and humidity sensor (DHT22)
  • LCD screen or IoT platform (optional)

Setup Instructions:

  1. Place the soil moisture sensor in your container to monitor the water level.
  2. Connect the water pump to the relay module, allowing it to turn on when moisture levels are low.
  3. Install the LED grow lights above the microgreens, connected to the relay module for automated control.
  4. Place the DHT22 sensor in the environment to monitor temperature and humidity.
  5. Use the Arduino or Raspberry Pi to control the system by reading the data from sensors and activating the watering and lighting systems.

Code Example:

Here’s a simple Arduino code that can be used to control the watering system and lighting schedule:

cppCopyEdit// Pin Definitions
#define MOISTURE_SENSOR_PIN A0
#define WATER_PUMP_PIN 8
#define LED_PIN 7
#define DHT_PIN 2

// Include Libraries
#include <DHT.h>
DHT dht(DHT_PIN, DHT22);

// Set Thresholds
int moistureThreshold = 500;
int humidityThreshold = 60;

void setup() {
  pinMode(WATER_PUMP_PIN, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(LED_PIN, OUTPUT);
  
  Serial.begin(9600);
  dht.begin();
}

void loop() {
  int moistureLevel = analogRead(MOISTURE_SENSOR_PIN);
  float humidity = dht.readHumidity();
  float temperature = dht.readTemperature();

  if (moistureLevel < moistureThreshold) {
    digitalWrite(WATER_PUMP_PIN, HIGH);  // Start watering
  } else {
    digitalWrite(WATER_PUMP_PIN, LOW);   // Stop watering
  }

  // Automatic LED light control (12 hours on, 12 hours off)
  int currentHour = hour();
  if (currentHour >= 6 && currentHour < 18) {
    digitalWrite(LED_PIN, HIGH);  // Turn on lights
  } else {
    digitalWrite(LED_PIN, LOW);   // Turn off lights
  }

  // Print readings to Serial Monitor
  Serial.print("Moisture Level: ");
  Serial.println(moistureLevel);
  Serial.print("Humidity: ");
  Serial.println(humidity);
  Serial.print("Temperature: ");
  Serial.println(temperature);

  delay(2000);  // Delay before next reading
}

This code will automatically water the plants when the moisture level drops below the set threshold and will turn on the LED lights from 6 AM to 6 PM. It also monitors temperature and humidity.

Conclusion

With a smart setup like this, growing microgreens becomes a virtually zero-effort task. All you need to do is plant the seeds, set up your automated system, and wait for your microgreens to grow. In just 7 days, you’ll have fresh, nutritious greens ready to harvest!

By automating the watering, lighting, and environmental monitoring, you not only save time but also create an ideal growing environment for your microgreens. Whether you’re growing them for your kitchen or for a larger-scale operation, this smart microgreen setup will make gardening easier than ever.

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