Three weeks ago I sowed some spare pea seeds in a basin for pea shoots. They’re now ready for picking, taste delicious and hopefully, once harvested, will re-grow to give me another helping in a few weeks time.
However, a few days after I sowed my peas, I read a post by Mark at Vertical Veg, saying he just used dried peas from the corner shop for his pea shoots. This makes it a much cheaper option, so I thought I’d give it a go. And he’s right. I soaked the peas overnight and
sowed them nice and close together in an old fruit box (also from the corner shop) filled with multi purpose compost.
I then covered the peas with their about their own depth of compost, watered them in well and waited.
Two and a half weeks later and they’re ready to eat! Hurrah! I did a quick taste comparison with neighbour Annie, and strangely, we found the shoots grown from the dried peas have a more favourable pea-like flavour. Who would have thought it! Huge thanks to Mark for such a great tip and for saving me a packet on pea seeds over summer!
p.s. When harvesting, pick the shoots just above the lowest leaf to give you maximum yield, but also allowing the plants to grow again.
Out of my shed 
I’ve been using shop bought dried peas too – much cheaper. Pea shoots have been one of my star crops this year 🙂
Hi Michelle Yes, I had a couple of batches of lettuces reduced to nothing by slugs, so pea shoots have been a very welcome salad leaf recently. I added some tomatoes and mango into the pea shoots salad last night. Very delicious!
Just about to sow some of my own, Naomi. So expensive to buy them it definitely makes sense to grow your own.
Hi WW, Yes, with Mark’s tip, will be sowing a lot more peas as I love these shoots. and I don’t know if I could even find some to buy (will check out Waitriose next time I’m there!)
This is such a great idea!
love your blog!
Ania, love your foodie blog. Yes, pea shoots make a delicious salad. Really gorgeous crunchy texture as well as a juicy pea-like taste.
thanks for a great tip
Hi Ruthell, Glad you liked the tip. Looking at your Whitsand Bay views with longing as I’m glued to my screen in London. Saw your mobile library post, which made me think of ‘Mobile Library’ by Ian Sansom. Very funny novel set in N. Ireland. Hope you’re enjoying some sunny days on the coast. Thanks for dropping by. Naomi
I had a good crop of pea shoots outside the kitchen door for three pickings. They suddenly went over helped by the largest slug imaginable. So I’ll try it with dried peas and copy your crate too. Lovely and simple and almost free for a salad crop worthy of a top restaurant.
Hi Sue, Almost free is very appealing. And you’re right. Just a bit of compost and trays that would otherwise be thrown out. You can get a good few batches from one bags of peas. Getting to be one of my favourite crops to grow this year.
Really? AMazing, I cant wait to try it after I get out of the blender with my many pesto jars – so much basil!
Love your dried peas tip. I’ll be buying and sowing tomorrow in our community garden. Nice pictures too.
Thanks Sally. Yes, dried peas are a revelation! Off to sow another batch today too.V.best Naomi
I remember Alys Fowler doing this on her Edible Garden series; I was unable to source the peas that she used but Batchelors dried Marrowfat peas work very well. Have you tried eating sunflower seedlings? They’re even more delicious!
Hi Caro-think mine were marrowfat peas-only ones available at the shop. Sunflower seedlings sound intriguing. Still time to grow them now?
I was just wondering what to do with an old fruit box, now I know. I take it you don’t cover them with any soil after sowing? (There’s always one daft question!)
Sorry Helen, bad pictures-yes, you do cover them with quarter to half inch of soil and then water in well. Thanks for the prompt-will add another pic above! V.best Naomi
Another picture added!
No need to apologise, they are very good pictures, I’m “a bear of very little brain” and I’m easily confused when it comes to what needs covered with what. 🙂
[…] as yet, so this a great indoor way to supplement bought lettuces for a really tasty salad. (Here’s a quick ‘how to’ so pea shoots if you haven’t had a go […]