Growing Microgreens Starter Guide

Pea - Agnostic - Microgreens Seeds

Growing Pea Microgreen Seeds

Pour all the seeds you wish to use into a bowl with at least 3x the volume as the seeds take up. Fill the bowl with water ensuring that they are all covered by at least .25 inch of water. Soak the seeds in this water for at least 6 hours, but 18-20 hours encourages more even germination rates. The pea seeds should expand to double their original size. Keep covering the peas with water if they expand above the water level. After soaking, drain the seeds and rinse well. You will need three trays for this growing process; one with holes and two without. Fill the tray with drainages holes with an even layer of growing medium or soil 75 percent of the way up.

Lightly press down the soil and evenly spread the seeds out across the surface so that none of them are overlapping. Cover them with a thin layer of soil and mist heavily with a spray bottle of water. Cover the seeds with one of the trays without holes and place a small weight of about 5lbs on top (to encourage plumpness and healthy roots). After 3-4 days of darkness, peak at the seedlings. Mist them with water. Check the growing medium regularly and whenever it is dry, fill the 3rd tray with water and place the seedling tray inside for 10-15 minutes until it is saturated again; then, remove any excess water remaining.

Once the seedlings are about 1-1.5 inch tall, remove the covering and place in a very sunny spot or under a grow light. They need at least 12 hours of light per day. Anytime between 3 and 14 days after sprouting, the pea shoots are good to eat, and it is up to you when to harvest. They should be at least 3 inches tall. For multiple harvests, just cut off the top portion, leaving a few leaves behind, and they will re-grow!

Benefits of Pea Microgreens

They have been shown to help with cardiovasular health, reducing inflammation, improving gut health and promoting weightloss. Pea microgreens are a sweet and crunchy way to add chlorophyll filled greens with numerous benefits into any dish!

Culinary Tips

Harvest the pea shoots with a sharp knife or scissors, being sure to stay clear of the soil. Avoid washing the greens until just before consumption; this greatly extends their shelf life. Dry them off before storing them; keep them in an airtight container with a dry paper towel. They should last in the refrigerator for about one week.

Pea shoots are a delicacy in some asian cuisines and are delightful when added to salads, stir fries, and more. Use them in sandwiches or as a garnish for a variety of dishes! If cooking with them, always add them at the very end as they cook quickly and will wilt if overcooked.

Tips From Our Gardeners

"I recommend making a salad by mixing some pea microgreens in with mustard microgreens. The result is this exciting sweet and spicy yet refreshingly crunchy salad. Top with an asian sesame ginger dressing and your favorite fruit and protein to take it to an even higher level."

- Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer

Other Microgreen Resources:

Microgreen How to Videos

Microgreen FAQ

Seeds per Package:

• 1 oz - Approximately 180 seeds
• 4 oz - Approximately 720 seeds
• 1 lb - Approximately 2,880 seeds
• 5 lb - Approximately 14,400 seeds
• 25 lb - Approximately 72,000 seeds