What Happens When You Try to Grow Microgreens in Space?

And why we like to keep our grow trays firmly grounded (or at least spinning)

At Tiny Space Greenz, we’re no strangers to experimentation. But what if we told you we’ve been dreaming bigger lately—like, orbital grow room kind of big?

Let’s imagine: a satellite garden, spinning above Earth, where microgreens are grown under LED lights and powered by solar panels (just like here). But there’s a catch: when you're in orbit, gravity doesn't work the same way.

So what happens to seedlings when they grow in microgravity?

In space, plants can germinate and grow—sort of. Without gravity, roots don’t know which way is down, and shoots don’t know which way is up. This leads to confusion at the cellular level, with seedlings often growing in strange directions, curling around themselves, and struggling to develop properly. Studies on the International Space Station have shown that while plants can adapt, they often show signs of stress, grow slower, and don’t reach the same quality as their Earth-grown counterparts.

That’s where our orbital grow room design comes in. Ours spins! By rotating the grow chamber, we create artificial gravity using centrifugal force—enough to tell the roots to grow down, and the shoots to reach up. It’s like giving our seedlings a gentle reminder of home, so they grow just as lush and vibrant as they do here in Ashburton and Methven.

Back on Earth, we still hand-sort every tray of sunflower microgreens, carefully removing any that haven’t shed their seed hulls. Why? Because biting into a mouthful of crunchy hulls just isn’t the same as enjoying a clean, tender bite of fresh microgreens. It’s extra effort—but whether we’re on Earth or in orbit, we think our customers are worth it.

So while we might not be launching greens into space just yet, the idea reminds us how complex—and incredible—plant life really is. Even a humble tray of microgreens relies on gravity, care, and attention to thrive.

And if you're wondering what our orbital grow room might look like—we’ve mocked up a blueprint. Let your imagination blast off 🚀