How to Grow Pea Shoot Microgreens at Home

Pea shoots are one of the most rewarding microgreens you can grow at home. They're big, beautiful, sweet-tasting, and incredibly satisfying to harvest. Whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned grower, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know.

Why Grow Pea Shoot Microgreens?

Pea shoots are a kitchen favourite for good reason:

• Flavour: Sweet, fresh, and tender — like spring peas straight from the garden
• Nutrition: Rich in vitamins A and C, folate, protein, and fibre
• Versatility: Perfect in salads, stir-fries, sandwiches, and as a garnish
• Yield: Large, substantial greens that fill a plate
• Double harvest: Cut once and they'll regrow for a second, smaller harvest

What You'll Need

• Pea shoot seeds — about 70g per standard 10×20" tray (available in our store)
• A growing tray with drainage holes
• Growing medium — coconut coir or quality potting mix
• A weight or cover tray — to encourage strong, thick stems
• Spray bottle for misting

Step-by-Step Growing Guide

Step 1: Soak Your Seeds (8–12 Hours)

Pea seeds have a tough outer shell that benefits from an overnight soak. Place your seeds in a bowl of room-temperature water and leave them for 8–12 hours, or overnight. You'll notice them swell up significantly — this kickstarts germination.

Step 2: Prepare Your Tray

Fill your growing tray with about 2–3cm of moistened coconut coir or potting mix. Make sure it's evenly damp but not waterlogged. Level the surface gently with your hand.

Step 3: Spread Seeds Densely

Drain your soaked seeds and spread them evenly across the tray surface. Don't be shy — pea shoots like to be planted densely. Aim for a single layer with seeds touching but not piled on top of each other.

Step 4: Add Weight and Blackout (3–4 Days)

This is the secret to thick, strong pea shoot stems. Place another tray on top with a small weight (a book or a bag of rice works well). This forces the shoots to push upward against resistance, developing thicker stems. Keep in a dark spot or cover completely.

Step 5: Uncover and Expose to Light

After 3–4 days, your pea shoots will have pushed up against the weight and be 3–5cm tall. Remove the weight tray and move to a spot with good indirect light. They'll be pale yellow at this stage — don't worry, they'll green up within 24–48 hours.

Step 6: Water and Wait

Mist your pea shoots twice daily, or water from below by adding water to a bottom tray. They'll grow rapidly now — usually reaching harvest height within 8–14 days from planting.

Step 7: Harvest

Harvest when your pea shoots are 10–15cm tall, just as the tendrils start to curl. Cut with clean scissors about 2cm above the growing medium. If you leave the base intact, you'll get a second (smaller) harvest in 5–7 days.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Skipping the soak: Unsoaked pea seeds germinate unevenly and more slowly
• Not using weight: Without weight, stems will be spindly and weak
• Overwatering: Damp is good, soggy is not — too much water invites mould
• Harvesting too late: Once true leaves develop, the flavour becomes less sweet

How to Use Your Pea Shoots

Fresh pea shoots are incredibly versatile:

• Toss into salads for a sweet, crunchy addition
• Add to stir-fries in the last 30 seconds of cooking
• Layer into sandwiches and wraps
• Use as a beautiful garnish on soups and main dishes
• Blend into smoothies for a mild, nutritious boost

Ready to get started? Grab a pack of our premium pea shoot seeds — available in 100g, 250g, and 1kg packs, or try one of our complete growing kits that includes everything you need.