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Soul Food for Gray Days

Growing Crunchy Pea Greens on a Windowsill

You don't have to wait for higher temperatures for pea greens, they can be grown on the windowsill all year round
You don't have to wait for higher temperatures for pea greens, they can be grown on the windowsill all year round Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto/Erbsengrün

January 29, 2025, 4:41 pm | Read time: 4 minutes

Pea greens are still relatively unknown, yet they have so much to offer. They can be grown on the windowsill in just a few days. The tender shoots taste mildly of peas and enrich salads, smoothies, and more.

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Now, in January, when the garden is still in hibernation, many people are longing for fresh greenery. Pea greens offer an easy way to beat winter and conjure spring on the windowsill. The young shoots of pea plants are edible and are harvested at an early stage of growth. They taste mild and are reminiscent of fresh peas. They are also rich in vitamins and minerals. While peas can only be sown outdoors from the beginning of March, the shoots can be grown on the windowsill all year round.

Growing Pea Greens: What Do You Need?

Growing pea greens is uncomplicated. All you need is germinable peas, a suitable growing container, and, if possible, peat-free growing soil. Seeds that are specially designed for growing pea greens can be purchased in stores. Alternatively, you can also use normal organic pea seeds or germinable, dried organic peas from the supermarket.

Growing Pea Greens: Step-by-Step Instructions

A bright spot on the windowsill is ideal for pea greens to thrive. As the thin layer of soil dries out quickly, a full sun location should be avoided.

  1. Soak the peas: Soak the peas in water for about 12 hours to activate the germination process.
  2. Prepare the container: Fill a shallow sowing tray with a thin layer of potting compost. You don’t need a lot of soil; a layer a good two centimeters thick is sufficient.
  3. Sowing: The soaked peas are not spread too densely over the soil and are lightly pressed down. It is not necessary to cover the seeds with soil.
  4. Keep an eye on moisture: You should now check daily whether the soil is still moist enough. If necessary, the tray can initially be covered with a plastic bag or cling film to retain the moisture. But be careful: too much moisture encourages the growth of mold. Airing is essential.
  5. The first shoots: The first shoots appear after two to three days. As soon as they are visible, the cover can be removed.

Harvesting Tips

The shoots can be harvested when they have reached a height of around ten to 15 centimeters after ten to 14 days. At this stage, they are still tender and have optimum flavor. If the small plants are cut off about half a centimeter above the seed, the plants usually sprout again and allow a second harvest. But that’s the end of it. The soil is then replaced, and the next round of new peas can begin.

Pea sprouts: A Quick Alternative

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Green peas produce a quick harvest. If you’re in even more of a hurry, you could try pea shoots. Pea sprouts are the early stage of pea greens. They are grown in a similar way to pea greens but do not require soil and are eaten just three to four days after sowing. After a soaking time of ten to twelve hours, the peas are placed in a sprouting jar or sprouting device instead of soil and rinsed several times a day. Brief blanching before consumption is sometimes recommended for pea sprouts, as small amounts of hydrocyanic acid can be produced during germination. However, these quickly decompose so that fully developed pea greens can be eaten without blanching.

More on the topic

Pea Greens in the Kitchen

Pea greens not only score points for their special taste but also for their attractive appearance. The shoots provide a crunchy contrast in salads, bowls, or soups. They are also ideal as a topping on bread, for smoothies, and as an edible decoration for starters and main courses.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of MYHOMEBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@myhomebook.de.

Topics Sustainable living Vegetables
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