You Don't Need a Yard to Grow Microgreens (Just 2 Square Feet)
- A standard 10x20 inch tray, about 2 square feet, is all the space you need.
- No yard, soil digging, or fertilizer required, just a tray, a growing medium, and light.
- Most varieties are ready to harvest in 7-21 days.
- Works the same on an apartment counter, a boat galley, or an RV table.
1. How Much Space You Actually Need
2. Setups That Work for Apartments, Boats, and RVs
It's a common assumption: growing your own food means a yard, raised beds, and a whole growing season. Microgreens skip all of that. A tray on a counter is a complete growing operation, and it fits in spaces most people would never think to garden in.
1. How Much Space You Actually Need
A standard microgreens tray is 10x20 inches, roughly 2 square feet. That's smaller than most kitchen countertops, and it's the whole growing footprint from seed to harvest, per Penn State Extension's guide to growing microgreens at home.2
2. Setups That Work for Apartments, Boats, and RVs
A tray doesn't care what kind of building or vehicle it's sitting in. As long as the surface is stable and gets some light, a windowsill, a galley counter, or an RV dinette table all work.
| Space | Works Well Because |
|---|---|
| Apartment kitchen | Windowsill or counter light is usually enough |
| Boat galley | Trays are lightweight and stay put on a flat surface |
| RV dinette | Compact footprint fits alongside daily use |
In a moving vehicle like an RV or boat, a shallow tray with a lip helps keep water and growing medium from sliding around underway.
3. Windowsill vs. Grow Light
A bright, south-facing windowsill is often enough light for most microgreens. In darker apartments or during shorter winter days, a small clip-on grow light can fill the gap without adding much to the footprint.
4. What to Expect Week by Week
Most varieties germinate within a couple of days, then spend the rest of the week filling in before harvest, typically 7 to 21 days total depending on the variety and conditions.2
Start Growing in 2 Square Feet
A complete kit sized for small counters, boats, and RVs.
Sources
- Xiao et al., 2012, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry — Assessment of Vitamin and Carotenoid Concentrations of Edible Microgreens
- Penn State Extension — A Step-By-Step Guide for Growing Microgreens at Home
Do I need a yard or garden to grow microgreens?
No, a shallow tray on a counter or windowsill is all you need.
How much space do microgreens actually need?
A standard 10x20 inch tray, about 2 square feet.
Can I grow microgreens on a boat or in an RV?
Yes, any stable, lit surface works.
Do I need grow lights?
A bright windowsill is often enough; a small grow light helps in darker spaces.
How long until harvest?
Typically 7-21 days depending on variety.
Are microgreens really more nutritious?
Research found some varieties contain 4-40x more of certain vitamins than mature plants.
What's the easiest method for beginners?
A pre-seeded kit removes most of the guesswork.
Start Growing in Any Small Space
Ready to harvest in about a week.
Shop Kits →Take the Free Masterclass →
0 comments