How to grow Pea Shoots
Updated October 2026
Pea shoots are the tender young stems, leaves and tendrils of pea plants, cut at a few inches tall for a sweet, fresh pea flavor in salads, sandwiches and stir-fries. They grow indoors on a windowsill in any season, need no garden at all, and are ready in about two weeks.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Pea Shoots
Not to be confused with: Pea shoots are young plants of ordinary garden peas, harvested before they flower. Other microgreens, such as sunflower and radish, are grown the same way.
Where to plant
Pea shoots are grown like other microgreens, indoors in a tray on a bright windowsill. A south-facing window is best; turn the tray daily so the shoots grow evenly. They can be grown at any time of year and in any region.
Peas are a cool-weather crop, so pea shoots grow best in a cool to moderate room rather than a hot one.
Choosing a variety
Use untreated pea seed sold for sprouting, shoots or microgreens, or untreated garden pea seed. Never use seed coated with fungicide or other treatments.
How to plant
- Soak the peas in water for 8 to 12 hours.
- Fill a clean, food-safe tray or container 2 to 3 1/2 inches deep with moist, loose, soilless germinating mix.
- Spread the soaked peas thickly over the surface, about 6 to 8 per square inch, press them in gently and cover lightly with mix or fine vermiculite.
- Mist, cover the tray and keep it in a dark place for 4 to 5 days, misting twice a day, until the seeds sprout.
- The day after leaves appear, uncover the tray and move it to a bright window.
Watering and feeding
Keep the mix evenly moist but never waterlogged; water from below or mist gently. Good air movement helps prevent mold. Shoots need no fertilizer over their short life.
Harvesting
Cut the shoots with scissors just above the mix when they are a few inches tall with a pair or two of leaves and tendrils, usually 10 to 14 days after sowing. Morning or evening is the best time to cut. You may get a smaller second cut, but the first is best.
Rinse and use fresh, or store in a container with air holes in the refrigerator for about 5 to 6 days. Add the used mix and roots to the compost.
Pests and diseases
Damping off and mold from overwatering, poor air flow or overcrowding are the main problems.
Pea Shoots is rarely troubled by pests.
Diseases to watch for
- Damping off Shoots collapse at the base, or fuzzy mold spreads across the tray; use clean containers and fresh mix, avoid soggy mix and give good air flow.
Common questions
How long do pea shoots take to grow?
Usually about 10 to 14 days from sowing, depending on temperature.
Do I need to soak pea seeds?
Yes. UF/IFAS suggests soaking pea seed for 8 to 12 hours before sowing for microgreens.
Can I use seed peas from the garden center?
Only if the seed is untreated. Never eat shoots grown from seed coated with fungicide.
Will pea shoots regrow after cutting?
Sometimes a smaller second harvest grows, but the first cut is the best. For a steady supply, sow a new tray every week or so.
Why are my pea shoots moldy?
The mix is too wet, the tray too crowded, or the air too still. Use clean trays and fresh mix, water less, and improve air movement.
Sources we checked: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Microgreens.
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