Short answer: soak 200 to 275 g of speckled peas for 6 to 12 hours. Sow them in one layer on a 10 × 20 inch tray of moist soil and cover with a weighted tray for 2 to 3 days. Uncover, give bright light and water from below. Cut at 8 to 10 days, when the shoots are 3 to 5 inches tall.
What are speckled pea shoots?
Speckled peas are a field pea (Pisum sativum) with mottled seeds. Grown on soil, they make tall, leafy, sweet shoots. Sprouting.com gives them 8 to 10 days and a yield of 4 to 5 cups of shoots from ½ cup of seed.1 That makes them one of the best-value microgreens.
How to grow speckled pea shoots
- Day0
Soak
Soak the peas in plenty of water for 6 to 12 hours. Drain and rinse.
- Day0
Sow
Spread them in one layer over 1 inch of moist potting mix.
- Day0–3
Weighted blackout
Cover with a tray and a light weight. Mist daily.
- Day3
Light
Uncover when the shoots push up. Give bright light.
- Day3–9
Water
Water through the solid bottom tray once or twice a day.
- Day8–10
Harvest
Cut above the lowest leaf at 3 to 5 inches tall.
Problems and fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Mold in the seed layer | Too dense, wet, still air | One layer, bottom water, fan |
| Uneven height | Uneven soak or sowing | Soak in plenty of water, spread evenly |
| Tough shoots | Cut too late | Harvest at 3 to 5 inches |
Tips for growing speckled pea shoots
- Soak in plenty of water. Peas absorb a lot as they swell.
- Sow one layer. Seeds should touch but not pile up.
- Weight the blackout with a tray and a light weight for 2 to 3 days.
- Water generously. Pea shoots drink more than small microgreens, often twice a day.
- Try a second cut. Cut above the lowest leaf node and some shoots may regrow for a smaller harvest.
Speckled peas vs other pea varieties
Green peas make classic, sweet shoots. Dwarf grey sugar peas give broad leaves and lots of tendrils. Speckled peas are the high-yield choice, which is why many growers use them for pea shoots.
Storing
Dry pea shoots keep 7 to 10 days in a lined container in the fridge, one of the longest shelf lives of any microgreen.
How to eat speckled pea shoots
- Raw in salads and sandwiches
- Stir-fried with garlic: see pea shoots recipe
- In pesto: see microgreen pesto
- On soups and noodle bowls
For the full growing guide, see pea shoot microgreens.
Safety
Pea shoots are microgreens, which are a lower-risk raw choice than sprouts. Use clean trays and seed sold for sprouting or microgreens.
Speckled peas FAQ
Why use speckled peas for pea shoots?
They're vigorous and give a big yield, about 4 to 5 cups of shoots from ½ cup of seed, according to Sprouting.com.
How tall should pea shoots be when harvested?
Cut them at 3 to 5 inches, usually 8 to 10 days after sowing. Taller shoots get tougher and stringier.
Can I sprout speckled peas in a jar?
They're mainly sold for shoots. For jar sprouts, green or yellow peas are the usual choice.
Do speckled pea shoots regrow?
Sometimes. If you cut above the lowest leaf node, some shoots grow back for a smaller second cut.
Written by Michael
A passionate sprouting professional sharing practical tips for growing sprouts and microgreens at home. More about Michael
Sources
- Sprouting.com (Mumm's Sprouting Seeds). Product pages: days to sprout, soak time and yield for each seed. Link
