Alfalfa Microgreens
Alfalfa Microgreens is a heirloom microgreen. Germination takes 2-4 days and fruit ripens from about day 6-10. Skin runs to pale green to white stems with small green leaves. Water need is low — drought tolerant. Suits zones 2-9. It will crop in a container.

Sowing
Soak seeds 4-8 hours for better germination. Rinse and spread evenly on moist growing medium. Cover for 2-3 days until germination.
Cultivation
- Sun
- Bright indirect light or grow lights for 12-14 hours
- Water
- Low — drought tolerant
- Soil
- Soilless mix, coco coir, or hydroponic growing mats
- Soil pH
- 6.5-7.5
- Spacing
- Light to medium seeding - 1/2 oz per 10x20 tray
- Height
- 2 feet
- Season
- Warm season annual
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Pale green to white stems with small green leaves
- Size
- 1-2 inches tall, very delicate structure
- Shape
- Thread-like stems with tiny trifoliate leaves
- Flavour
- Mild, slightly nutty, fresh and clean taste
In the kitchen
Salads, sandwiches, wraps, garnishes, smoothies, health food preparations
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Aphids, thrips in greenhouse conditions
- Diseases
- Damping off from overwatering, bacterial soft rot
- Resistance
- Generally good disease resistance
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | January – December | — | — | January – December |
| 2 | January – December | — | — | January – December |
| 3 | January – December | — | — | January – December |
| 4 | January – December | — | — | January – December |
| 5 | January – December | — | — | January – December |
| 6 | January – December | — | — | January – December |
| 7 | January – December | — | — | January – December |
| 8 | January – December | — | — | January – December |
| 9 | January – December | — | — | January – December |
| 10 | January – December | — | — | January – December |
| 11 | January – December | — | — | January – December |
| 12 | January – December | — | — | January – December |
| 13 | January – December | — | — | January – December |
Companion planting
8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 4 to avoid.
Avoid
Nutrition (per 100 g)
- Calories (per 100 g)
- 69
- Protein (g)
- 1.5
- Fat (g)
- 0.1
- Carbohydrate (g)
- 17.6
- Fibre (g)
- 5.3
- Sugars (g)
- 8.55
- Vitamin A (µg)
- 5
- Vitamin C (mg)
- 54.1
- Calcium (mg)
- 8
- Iron (mg)
- 1.61
- Magnesium (mg)
- 24
- Phosphorus (mg)
- 47
- Potassium (mg)
- 304
- Zinc (mg)
- 0.31
Where to buy seed and equipment
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Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown Alfalfa Microgreens?
Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.
Similar varieties
Other microgreens with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Alfalfa Microgreens suits these too.
- Purple Radish Microgreens 6 days
- Mustard Microgreens 6 days
- Mung Bean Microgreens 6 days
- Mizuna Microgreens 7 days
- Broccoli Microgreens 7 days
- Fenugreek Microgreens 7 days