How to Grow Pea Shoots
Pisum sativum
Pea shoots are tender microgreens harvested from Pisum sativum just days after sprouting. Gardeners prize them for their mild, sweet flavor and high nutrient content in salads or sandwiches. Unlike mature peas, these young leaves offer a quick harvest without waiting for pods to develop.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Pea Shoots: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Pea Shoots is not usually started indoors.
Pea shoots are grown exclusively as a microgreen crop in trays and are not transplanted outdoors; harvest occurs while still contained within the growing medium.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare your tray with sterile seed-starting mix adjusted to a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. As a cool-season crop, sow seeds indoors two to six weeks before the last expected frost date, or direct sow outdoors immediately after frost danger passes. Press seeds gently into the soil surface but do not cover them deeply; they germinate within two to three days under consistent moisture.
Keep soil consistently moist by misting two to three times daily, ensuring it is never waterlogged. While mature peas require trellising, pea shoots grow densely in trays without support. Avoid heavy mulching indoors as airflow prevents disease; instead, ensure excellent ventilation around the tray to discourage fungal issues common in humid microgreen environments.
Watch for aphids and fungus gnats, which thrive in damp indoor conditions. Prevent damping off and root rot by avoiding overwatering and using sterile media. Once seedlings emerge, thin if necessary to allow airflow. Harvest the tender shoots seven to fourteen days after sowing when they reach their peak tenderness, cutting them just above the soil line.
When to Plant Pea Shoots
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 2 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 3 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 4 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 5 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 6 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 7 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 8 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 9 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 10 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 11 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 12 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 13 | January – December | — | January – December |
Companion Plants for Pea Shoots
✓ Good companions
Deep roots complement shallow pea roots, soil aeration benefits both
Repels aphids and other soft-bodied insects that damage pea shoots
Shallow roots don't compete, provides ground cover and moisture retention
Natural pest deterrent, repels aphids and nematodes
Deters ants and aphids, but plant in containers to prevent spreading
Trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, edible flowers complement microgreens
Quick-growing, helps break up soil and deters pea root maggots
Similar growing conditions, helps maximize space efficiency in cool weather
✗ Keep away from
Produces allelopathic compounds that inhibit growth of most garden plants
Allelopathic compounds suppress legume growth and nitrogen fixation
Strong sulfur compounds can inhibit pea germination and early growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
