Quick answer: Of BageechaBox's 24 microgreen seed varieties, 13 need soaking before sowing (4–24 hours depending on the seed) and 11 should always be sown dry. Hard-coated and larger seeds like fenugreek, peas, wheatgrass, and moringa need soaking. Fine or mucilage-forming seeds like basil, radish, and mustard should never be soaked — it creates a gel that blocks oxygen and can cause mould.
Which Microgreen Seeds Need Soaking? (All 24 Varieties)
Soaking is essential for some varieties and actively harmful for others. Here's the complete, official BageechaBox soaking and quantity guide for Indian home growers — per 10x10 inch growing tray.
Seeds That Need Soaking
| Variety | Soak Time | Seed Qty (per tray) |
| Alfalfa | 4–6 hours | 6g |
| Beetroot | 4–6 hours | 20–25g |
| Broccoli | 4–6 hours | 10g |
| Coriander | Soak (crush seeds first) | 15–20g |
| Fenugreek (Methi) | 6–8 hours | 20–25g |
| Moong Bean | 6–8 hours | 40–50g |
| Moringa | 12–24 hours | 20–25g |
| Peas (Matar) | 6–8 hours | 40–50g |
| Purple Kale | 4–6 hours | 10g |
| Spinach (Palak) | 4–6 hours | 15–20g |
| Sunflower | 6–8 hours | 30–40g |
| Swiss Chard | 4–6 hours | 20–25g |
| Wheatgrass | 6–8 hours | 50–60g |
Seeds That Must NEVER Be Soaked
These form a gel or mucilage coating when wet, or germinate fast enough on their own that soaking offers no benefit. Sow them completely dry:
| Variety | Seed Qty (per tray) |
| Amaranth | 10–15g |
| Basil | 5–8g |
| Cabbage | 10–15g |
| Clover | 10g |
| Kale | 10–15g |
| Mustard (Sarson) | 15–20g |
| Pak Choi | 10–15g |
| Radish (Mooli) | 15–20g |
| Radish China Rose | 10–12g |
| Rocket (Arugula) | 8–12g |
| Turnip (Shalgam) | 15–20g |
After Soaking — Sow Immediately
Drain soaked seeds through a colander. Rinse once with fresh water. Spread immediately on prepared cocopeat — don't let them sit more than 2 hours or they may begin to ferment. Ready to sow your seeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do broccoli microgreen seeds need soaking?
Yes — broccoli seeds should be soaked for 4–6 hours before sowing. This is different from most other brassicas like radish, mustard, and kale, which are sown dry.
Do radish seeds need soaking for microgreens?
No. Radish seeds germinate within 24 hours on their own and should always be sown dry. Soaking them serves no purpose and can encourage mould in humid Indian conditions.
What happens if you soak seeds that shouldn't be soaked?
Seeds like basil, radish, and mustard form a gel (mucilage) coating almost immediately in water. This gel clumps the seeds together, blocks oxygen from reaching the seed, and often leads to uneven or failed germination.
How long should you soak fenugreek (methi) seeds?
6–8 hours in room-temperature water, typically overnight. This softens the hard seed coat and speeds up germination by 1–2 days compared to sowing dry.
Which seed needs the longest soak time?
Moringa, at 12–24 hours — by far the longest of any BageechaBox variety, due to its hard, dense seed coat.
How much seed do I need per 10x10 inch tray?
It varies widely by seed size: fine seeds like Basil need only 5–8g, while larger seeds like Peas, Moong Bean, and Wheatgrass need 30–60g for full tray coverage. See the full table above for exact quantities per variety.
Can you soak microgreen seeds for too long?
Yes. Soaking beyond the recommended window increases the risk of the seeds starting to ferment or rot before they reach the growing tray, especially in warm Indian climates.
🌱 Shop seeds with germination rate guaranteed
Shop Seeds