Growing Pea Shoots Indoors – How To Grow Pea Shoots At Home

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Growing Pea Shoots Indoors - How To Grow Pea Shoots At Home

If you’re looking for a fun and easy way to grow your own vegetables, you should try growing pea shoots indoors.

Pea Shoots Key Takeaways:

  • Growing Pea Shoots indoors is an easy, rewarding endeavor requiring minimal equipment.
  • With a shallow container, soil or coco coir, pea seeds, and a sunny spot or a grow light, you’re all set.
  • Sow the seeds on moist soil, cover to retain humidity, place in a well-lit area, and ensure soil remains moist.
  • Within 1-2 weeks, sprouts emerge, and by 30 days, they reach 6-8 inches, ready for harvest.
  • This simple setup allows for a nutritious, fresh garnish right from your indoor garden.


Pea shoots are the young leaves and stems of peas that are harvested before they flower.

These baby greens are a great source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as folate, thiamin, and niacin. Plus, not only do they taste delicious, but they are also very easy to grow.

They are a great way to get started with gardening. In this blog post, we will teach you how to grow pea shoots indoors, so keep reading for more information.

Pea Sprouts Vs Pea Shoots

The terms pea sprouts and pea shoots are often used interchangeably, but they actually refer to two different things.

Pea sprouts are simply the germinated seeds of peas, which can be eaten raw or cooked.

Pea shoots, on the other hand, are the tender young leaves and stems of the pea plant, which are typically consumed raw in salads or sandwiches.

Both pea sprouts and pea shoots are excellent sources of vitamins and minerals, but pea shoots have a slightly more intense flavor.

When deciding whether to use pea sprouts or pea shoots in a recipe, it’s important to consider both the flavor and texture of the dish.

pea shoot seedlings

Why are Pea Shoots Good For You?

Pea shoots are the young leaves and stems of peas, harvested before they flower. They are a great source of vitamins. Plus, they taste delicious!

Pea shoots are a great choice for those looking to add more fresh vegetables to their diet.

What are the benefits of eating pea shoots?

Pea shoots are a great source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, K, B-6, and folate.

They also contain healthy amounts of fiber, protein, and iron. Eating pea shoots may help to boost your immune system, reduce inflammation, and may even help prevent certain types of cancer.

Pea micro greens have the same nutritional values and may be a bit more tender and have a bit more flavor than pea greens.

Additionally, their mild flavor makes them easy to add to salads or as a garnish for soups or other dishes. So go ahead and enjoy the health benefits that come with adding pea shoots to your diet!

What You Need To Start Growing Pea Shoots Indoors

Here's What You Need To Start Growing Pea Shoots Indoors

Burpee Mammoth Melting Sugar Organic Pea Seeds 300 seeds You don’t need to buy a lot of equipment to start growing peas indoors but you will need to buy seeds.

If you are an urban gardener you also don’t need a lot of space to grow them.

• You will need some soil or better yet coco coir.

• You need a shallow container or seed trays.

• And some pea seeds.

• You’ll want to provide your plants with 6-8 hours of sunlight.

You may need to use a grow light during the winter months. In summer months a south or west-facing windowsill may be enough.

Best Pea Seed Varieties To Grow

Most pea seed varieties will work for growing shoots. You can probably even use dried peas from the supermarket shelf although you won’t know what variety they are.

Generally, sugar and snap pea seeds are preferred because they are sweeter.

Looking for the best pea varieties to grow for pea shoots? Here are a few of our favorites:

• Sugar Snap Peas – These peas are sweet and crunchy, making them perfect for snacking on raw or adding to salads.

• Snow Peas – Snow peas have a delicate flavor that is delicious in stir-fries or other Asian-inspired dishes. Some say they are the best peas for pea shoots.

• English Peas – English peas are the classic fresh peas for pea soup or boiled peas served with butter.

Don’t confuse garden peas with sweet peas which is a common flowering plant. They are toxic so don’t try to eat them.

Regardless of which variety you choose, growing pea shoots is easy and rewarding. All you need is a sunny spot in your home, and a small space to plant peas and watch them germinate and grow.

How To Grow Pea Shoots At Home

How To Grow Pea Shoots At Home - my pea shoots at 3 days

Pea Shoots at 3 Days

Three days ago I started to grow pea shoot microgreens. I plan on growing these a bit longer than most microgreens so maybe baby pea shoots are a better thing to call them. Here they are up and reaching for the light 3 days later.

Here’s the 3 day pea shoots video:

Pea Shoot Harvest At 10 Days

These pea shoots are about 5 inches tall and just starting to grow pea tendrils.

Growing Pea Shoots At Home Step By Step

Containers:

To grow pea shoots you will need to have containers. If you are on a budget you can use clamshell containers or other recycled containers as long as they are clean. Even if this is your first time if

A better option is to use 1020 seedling trays. These are about 10 x 20 inches inside and a couple of inches tall. You have probably seen them at local garden centers.

Get one tray with drainage holes and one without. This will let you bottom water your young plants.

10 Plant Growing Trays (No Drain Holes) - 20" x 10" - Perfect Garden Seed Starter Grow Trays: for Seedlings, Indoor Gardening, Growing Microgreens, Wheatgrass & More - Soil or Hydroponic

They are inexpensive and much easier to manage than a bunch of different-sized containers that can make watering more difficult and time-consuming. They also don’t leak and can hold a nice-sized crop.

Soil:

You need soil that is light so you can get good germination rates for your pea seedlings. You can use a potting soil mix but I recommend coco coir instead.

Coco Coir is lightweight and easy to water but it also allows better soil aeration than other mixes. It is also an environmentally friendly and renewable grow medium while peat-based potting mix is not.

canna coco bricks great growing medium for baby greens

I think Canna Coco is the best brand. Coco bricks are easy to store and easy to rehydrate. They are the same as loose bag coco once they are hydrated.

Watering:

You want to bottom water your tray at first. This is a good way to make sure your seeds don’t get exposed or washed away by top watering.

Make sure you drain off any excess water. Then use a spray bottle to mist your peas.

Light:

Pea shoots need plenty of sunlight, so make sure to place them in an area that gets 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day.

If they are on a windowsill make sure to turn the tray every few days. In the summer a sunny windowsill will work fine.

But during the winter days are short and often cloudy. You will need a grow light at this time of year and want to give your plants about 16 hours of light.

You can use fluorescent lighting but a LED grow light will be cheaper to run and do a better job. Put your light on a timer so you don’t forget to turn it on or off.

Here’s a good LED light for growing microgreens:

Active Grow Propagation 4FT LED Strip Light - 2X Integrated LED Lamp - Plant Grow Lights for Indoor Plants, Propagation & Microgreens - 38W - Sun White Full Spectrum High CRI 95 - Linkable - 120-277V

How To Plant Pea Seeds

First, fill your container or tray with soil or coco coir and make sure it is evenly spread out.

Some people like to soak their seeds overnight before planting. Personally, I find it easier to spread the seeds out evenly when they are dry.

You want to sow your seeds evenly but on the heavy side. They should almost be touching each other while on top of the soil. That way the tray will be full of shoots.

Sow your pea seeds on the soil surface and push them down about 1/4 inch deep into the soil. Water the soil until it is moist but not soggy.

Cover the container with a lid or paper towel to help keep the air moist. Take off the cover as soon as they sprout usually this can take a week but sometimes more.

How To Take Care Of Your Pea Greens?

Once the pea seeds start to sprout give plenty of sunlight or you can use supplemental lighting.

Water them when the soil feels dry, and you can fertilize them with a light fertilizer mix.

How Long Does It Take For Pea Shoots To Grow?

How Long Does It Take For Pea Shoots To Grow? These took 10 days.

Depending on how well you take care of them, your seeds should start sprouting within 1-2 weeks after planting.

If you want greens fast you can grow microgreens faster than shoots. They can be done in about 2 weeks but they won’t be able to grow back.

By about 30 days they will have grown to 6-8 inches in height you can start to harvest the shoots. Just be sure to leave a few leaves behind so that the plant can continue to grow.

Because you harvest your plants as shoots you will not be harvesting pea pods. Your plants will be harvested long before they can produce pods.

Growing pea shoots indoors is a fun and rewarding gardening project. With the right supplies and some patience, you will soon have delicious fresh vegetables to add to your dishes.

How To Harvest Pea Shoots

For those who enjoy gardening, planting pea shoot seed and harvesting pea shoots is a rewarding experience.

They can be harvested as early as two weeks after planting as pea microgreens when they start to show true leaves or they can continue to be grown for several weeks after that as pea shoots.

To harvest a pea, snip off the plant’s stem with scissors. Be sure to leave enough of the plant so that it can continue to grow.

If you leave a lower leaf or two most pea plants can regrow and give you a second harvest.

Pea shoots are a delicious addition to salads or soups, and they can also be used as a garnish for other dishes.

With a little care, indoor gardeners can enjoy fresh pea shoots all year round.

How to use pea shoots

Pea shoots are the young leaves and tendrils of the pea plant, and they have a delicate, sweet flavor that is similar to that of peas.

How To Eat Pea Shoots

Pea shoots can be enjoyed raw in salads, and stir fry dishes, or they can be cooked in a variety of dishes or even pea shoot pesto sauce.

When cooking pea shoots, it is best to blanch them briefly in boiling water to soften their texture.

From there, they can be added to stir-fries, omelets, pasta dishes, soups, and more. Pea shoots are a versatile ingredient that can add a pop of color and flavor to any dish.

Growing Pea Shoots Indoors – My Grow

Today I will be starting to grow pea shoot microgreens. I plan on growing these a bit longer than most microgreens so maybe baby pea shoots is a better thing to call them. I will be growing them on coco grow mats inside 1020 trays.

Sowing The Pea Seeds Day 1

Do Pea Shoots Grow Back After Cutting?

Yes, pea shoots will grow back after cutting. It only took 5 days for mine to regrow and be ready for harvest again.

When I cut them I tried to leave a lower node on them. This probably won’t work if you cut them off at the soil line.

Pea Shoots FAQs:

Pea Shoots are a delightful addition to the home garden, offering not just a green thumb exercise but a nutritional boost to your meals.

They are quite simple to grow and nurture indoors, making them a favorite among urban gardeners.

Now, let’s delve into some frequently asked questions that might pop up as you embark on your pea shoot growing journey.

Q. What’s the difference between pea sprouts and pea shoots?

A. Pea sprouts refer to germinated pea seeds, whereas pea shoots are the young leaves and stems of the pea plant, harvested before they flower, offering a more intense flavor compared to sprouts.

Q. Are pea shoots nutritious?

A. Absolutely! Pea shoots are rich in vitamins A, C, K, B-6, and folate, along with healthy amounts of fiber, protein, and iron which can help boost the immune system, reduce inflammation, and potentially help prevent certain types of cancer.

Q. What kind of pea seeds are best for growing pea shoots?

A. Generally, sugar and snap pea seeds are preferred due to their sweeter flavor. Other varieties like Snow Peas and English Peas are also good choices. Avoid using sweet peas as they are toxic.

Q. How do you harvest pea shoots?

A. Harvesting is simple, snip off the stems of the pea shoots with scissors, leaving a lower leaf or two to enable regrowth for a second harvest. They can be harvested as early as two weeks after planting as microgreens or grown longer for larger shoots.

Summary: Growing Pea Shoots Indoors In 8 Easy Steps

Pea shoots are a delicious and nutritious addition to any meal, and they’re easy to grow at home. All you need is a pot, some soil, and some pea seeds. Here’s how to do it:

1. Fill a pot or tray with soil and moisten it with water.

2. Sow the pea seeds on the surface of the soil.

3. Cover the pot or tray with a lid to create a humid environment.

4. Place the pot in a sunny spot.

5. Keep the soil moist but not wet.

6. When the seedlings are about four inches tall, you can start to thin them out so that only the healthiest plants remain.

7. Harvest the shoots when they’re six to eight inches tall, cutting them just above the soil line.

8. Enjoy!