Grow Your Own Radish Sprouts at Home

I had been trying to garden for a couple seasons and was just coming off another disappointing season for my tomato plants when my husband gave me an unexpected gift for Christmas. I unwrapped it and said, "Honey, what is this weird coffee cup?”

"It's a sprout starter," he said.

This sprout starter introduced me to my most successful garden crop yet, and I grew them in just five days right on my kitchen countertop—radish sprouts.

I had been too busy trying (and sometimes failing) to grow large fruiting plants to try something as simple as sprouts or microgreens. Now, I recommend all beginner gardeners start here with these simple indoor gardening projects. Growing sprouts is something all of us can do, no matter our situation, no matter how much space or time or gardening experience we have. No green thumb required. 

Growing radish sprouts is simply adding a small habit to your everyday schedule, and you only need a couple supplies to get started. 

The Benefits of Radish Sprouts

Radish sprouts, along with sprouts for leafy greens, are the ideal sprout for beginners to grow at home. Radish sprouts germinate quickly and have excellent rates of germination. Here are some other benefits of radish sprouts:

• Radish sprouts contain all the nutrition of a full-grown radish, including vitamins A, B, C, E, and K, calcium, iron, potassium, and zinc. They're also rich in essential amino acids and fiber. Eating a handful of radish sprouts is even better than taking your daily vitamin.
• Radish sprouts can be grown indoors 365 days a year.
• Radish sprouts require little setup or tending.
• Radish sprouts can often be enjoyed within 7 days of being started.

 If you love fresh radishes, you've gotta try radish sprouts. They have all the spiciness of their mature counterpart!

Supplies to Grow Radish Sprouts

As I've said, one of the main benefits of growing sprouts is the simple setup, and by that, I mean you don't really need much—just some radish seeds, a sprouting jar or sprouting container, and some fresh water.

Head's up: This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which just means I earn a small profit at no extra cost to you if you click on the link and purchase the product.

Sprouting Jar

This doesn't have to be anything fancy. You can start with objects you have around your house, and then upgrade your setup however much you’d like if you find you really enjoy tossing sprouts on your sandwiches and tacos.

If you're repurposing household items, you'll need a container that does not drain, such as a glass jar, a big bowl, or a tray (like a Pyrex dish). Then, you need something that does drain, such as a strainer (the type you’d use to drain water from cooked noodles). Small holes in the bottom should allow water to drip through. This draining container will be set inside the non-draining container. 

If you'd like a designated container for growing sprouts, there are many inexpensive options on Amazon. Try these sprouting jars that come with a drip tray or a sprouting tower, which allows you to start multiple batches of sprouts at once or over the course of the week. My personal favorite is this stainless steel sprouting tower because I think it looks the best sitting out on my kitchen counter (I'm constantly starting sprouts, so it never really gets put away.) You can find other suggested supplies here.

Radish Seeds

I really like the sprout seeds from Rainbow Heirloom Seed Co. Their radish seeds mix contains three different types of radishes: red arrow radish, purple triton radish, and white daikon radish. If you're shopping around, look for non-GMO seeds from reputable growers, and be sure to buy in bulk (like a 1-pound bag). A little package of radish seeds is way more expensive per ounce and will only produce about a week or two of radish sprouts.

(If you’re concerned about sprouts being contaminated with E. coli or salmonella, look for sprout packages certifying that a sample of each seed lottery has been tested by an independent laboratory for safety.)

Water

Once you’ve gotten your seeds and come up with a setup for rinsing your sprouts, you only need one more thing to grow sprouts: H₂O. Water is the thing that tells your seeds to wake up from their nap. It swells inside each seed coat until the seed literally bursts open and starts to grow. I use room-temp water straight from the faucet, but you can also use a pitcher filled with fresh water.

What You Don't Need to Grow Sprouts

You don't need a lot of time or any garden space at all. You're gardening right inside your kitchen. Did you notice something else missing from our supply list?

Light.

You don’t need light to grow sprouts. That’s right. Your seeds do not require any kind of light source, not even ambient light, to turn into sprouts. That's because we're catching plants at their very initial stage of growth. You'll notice, in fact, that the cute little heart-shaped leaves are more of a yellow-green, and that's because the plants aren't using chlorophyl to capture sunlight yet.

Soak Radish Seeds Overnight

Take a handful of radish seeds and soak them in water overnight inside your non-draining container. You only need to fill your non-draining container with enough water to submerge all seeds, though some will try to float on the surface.

Cover your non-draining container with a cheesecloth, napkin, or washcloth and leave overnight. 

Drain the Water from Your Sprouts Container

In the morning, strain the seeds through your draining container. If you're making the act of growing sprouts a habit, this is a great thing to do as you're drinking your morning coffee or tea.

Use your hand to spread the radish seeds out over your draining container after draining them. Try to evenly distribute the seeds so that they’re not overlapping to prevent mildew. 

Rinse Your Radish Sprouts

Every time you come to your kitchen sink throughout the day, run the faucet over the radish seeds in the strainer, spread them back out, cover them, and then let them sit. I find that leaving the seeds next to the sink is the best reminder to give them some water. 

Before you go to bed, give your seeds a final rinse for the day and disperse them evenly over the container after. Cover for the night. 

Repeat

Start the process of rinsing and draining your seeds again the next day. After those first 12 or so hours of soaking your radish sprout seeds, make sure you’re rinsing them at least twice a day, for the next five to seven days.  

These steps are so simple, right? No lights, no soil, no special tools required. And yet, you’re gardening.

Within three to four days, you’ll start to see the seeds swell a little bit before a tiny white tail emerges. That tail is the radical, the very first root of the radish plant. If it was growing in soil, the radical would search for nutrients, light, and water, but since we’re just growing these plants as sprouts, it will be content for now with water. 

Harvest Your Radish Sprouts

Your radish sprouts will likely be ready to harvest in just five or six days. You’ll know it’s time when you see your sprouts forming their first tiny sets of leaves. Harvest your sprouts within one or two days of seeing the first green leaves. 

Harvesting sprouts simply means removing them from their tray. You can rinse and remove any remaining spent seed coats if you’d like. 

There is a very small risk of consuming bad bacteria like salmonella along with your sprouts. You can reduce your chances of getting sick by washing your sprouts thoroughly before eating them, storing sprouts in the fridge once they're ready, and checking that sprouts are still fresh before enjoying them (no musty smell or slimy appearance).

I typically eat radish sprouts raw, but if you're worried about food-borne pathogens, you can always toss them onto dishes near the end of the cooking process to reduce your risk.

My Favorite Recipes with Radish Sprouts

I like adding radish sprouts to wraps, sandwiches, salads, and tacos. In the deep winter when nothing outside is green and I’m craving garden-fresh flavors, I make crunchy and incredibly nutritious salads from nothing more than sprouts and microgreens (pictured above). I also love radish sprouts on a toasted bagel with some eggs.

My favorite way, though, to enjoy radish sprouts is on a sandwich—not as an afterthought but as the central ingredient. Here's what to do:

• Nearly burn some toast.
• Smother your toast with loads of cream cheese.
• Pack your sandwich with sprouts.
• Sprinkle on some salt and pepper and drizzle with a little apple cider vinegar.
• Close up your sandwich and open wide!

Note: If you're tossing radish sprouts in a stir fry or a cooked dish, make sure to add them last minute. Sprouts will wilt after more than 20 seconds or so of cooking.

It's Sprouts Time!

Growing radish sprouts will open your eyes to the magic of the garden, and you’ll get fresh, delicious, nutritious food right beside your kitchen sink within just a week of rinsing your first seeds.

If you're new or new-ish to gardening, growing sprouts is a great way to start building your plant knowledge and skills. In my new book, Leaves, Roots, and Fruit, I teach you how to master growing simple things like sprouts, microgreens, and herbs, before moving on to roots and then, finally, fruiting plants like tomatoes and cucumbers. If you're interested, you can order it here.

You can find my recommendations for supplies to grow your sprouts here.

My goal this year is to start at least one tray of sprouts every week for the entirety of the year. I hope you'll join me!