Legumes · Easy
Pea shoots
Pisum sativum
Seeds soaked overnight, tray in the dark then in the light, first cut at around ten days, all year round.
- EC (mS/cm)
- n/a
- pH
- n/a
- Cycle
- very short
- Difficulty
- Easy
Sound origin
Pisum sativum
The pea (Pisum sativum) has been grown for about 8000 years in the Fertile Crescent, alongside the first cereals. Its young shoots and tendrils are eaten raw, like a crunchy salad that tastes of fresh peas.
Source: Wikipedia
What it provides nutrients
No reference nutritional values have been published for this plant in the Ciqual table (ANSES) or in USDA data: we'd rather not make anything up.
Key steps
- Soak the seeds for 8 to 12 hours, then rinse them several times before sowing densely on a tray (Penn State).
- A few days in the dark for germination, kept moist with a spray bottle, then in full light (Penn State).
- Harvest from about ten days: 9 days for peas in Penn State's trials; with clean scissors, above the seeds.
- Cutting above the first node often allows a second cut; after that, sow again.
- All year under LEDs or in front of a bright window: no system to build, a perforated tray and a tray of water are enough.
- Rinse with drinking water before eating (Penn State); the shoots keep a few days in the fridge.
In which system?
| Tower | NFT | Growing medium | Kratky |
|---|---|---|---|
Approximate calendar
| Sowing | Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May, June, July, Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec. |
| Plants | none |
| Harvest | Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May, June, July, Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec. |
Garden, patio, balcony: Belgian and northern French climate, earlier farther south. Estimates to adjust with your own dates.
Frequently asked questions
Pea shoots in hydroponics: what pH?
No specific range is published for this crop in the Oklahoma State table: we do not force an unverified figure. Start from the common range of 5.5–7.0 and write down your results.
Pea shoots in hydroponics: what EC?
Oklahoma State has published no value for this crop. Start low, watch the growth and record your measurements in a log.
Pea shoots: which hydroponic system?
Best suited: growing medium (Dutch bucket). Seeds soaked overnight, tray in the dark then in light, first cut around ten days, all year round.
Pea shoots: when to sow in Belgium?
Indicative window for a garden, patio or balcony in Belgium or northern France: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December. Adjust with your own dates.