How to Grow and Care for Pea Shoots and Tendrils

If you are hungry for peas but don’t have the patience or the garden space to grow peas, pea shoots and tendrils are a delicious substitute. All parts of the pea plant are edible, including the immature peas that may have already formed. Pea shoots and tendrils are not the same although the terms are often used interchangeably. The new, tender growth of young pea seedlings is called pea shoots. Tendrils are the curling, clinging parts that the pea plant uses to hold onto supports. Young pea shoots and tendrils are not just tender, they are also crisp and tasty with a fresh, pea-like flavor. The best peas for pea shoots are sugar peas such as Oregon Sugar Pod.

If you are growing peas in your garden, it is possible to snip a few shoots from the plants, however, this will prolong the wait for pea pods and diminish the size of the pea harvest. It is much better to dedicate pea plants solely to harvesting pea shoots and tendrils. Use pea varieties that are specially grown for their shoots and tendrils, as they tend to shoot up faster and stay light and crisp. In seed catalogs, you might find pea shoots listed under microgreens.

How to Plant Pea Shoots and Tendrils

When to Plant

To grow pea shoots and tendrils in your garden, plant the seeds when daytime temperatures have reached 65 degrees F. The time to harvest is much shorter than for peas which means you have time to reseed another crop up to about one month before the warm weather sets in.

Indoors or in a heated greenhouse, pea shoots and tendrils can be grown at any time, even in the winter.

Selecting a Planting Site

Find a spot in full or partial sun with good soil drainage. Following crop rotation rules, do not plant peas where other members of the legume family (peas, beans) have been grown in the past two years. Pea shoots and tendrils also prosper n raised beds, containers, and window boxes.

To grow pea shoots indoors, you need a large south- or west-facing window or set up grow lights.

Spacing, Depth, and Support

Plant the seeds about ¼ to ½ inch deep. They can be packed, leaving about the size of a pea to ¼ inch between seeds. Space rows at least 7 inches apart.

Pea shoots and tendrils require no support.

Pea Shoots and Tendrils Care

Light

Select a spot with at least six hours of direct sunlight. For indoor growing, if there is not sufficient natural light, use grow lights.

Soil

Pea shoots and tendrils grow in a variety of soil types, as long as there is good drainage. Loamy soil rich in organic matter with a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH is ideal.

To grow them indoors or in containers, use a high-quality potting mix.

Water

Keep the soil evenly moist and never let it dry out. Misting works best, as the tender plants are easily knocked over by a strong flow of water.

For containers, bottom watering also works well.

Temperature and Humidity

Just like peas, pea shoots and tendrils require cool temperatures to thrive, between 60 and 70 degrees F. The plants to not have any particular humidity requirements.

Fertilizer

Fertilizing is not required.

Harvesting

There are two ways to harvest pea shoots and tendrils. For extra tender shoots, when the plants are 3 to 6 inches tall, snip them off above the soil line with sharp garden scissors. They won’t regrow after cutting so if you want a steady supply of pea shoots, wait until your pea plants reach a height of about 6 to 8 inches. Remove only the top growth including one set of leaves. This will be your first, small harvest; the pea shoots will regrow after cutting. Continue cutting off the top to encourage the plants to branch out and produce more shoots and tendrils. Harvest any shoots, leaves, and tendrils, as well as any flowers or buds that may have formed.

Eventually, you will notice the shoots are not as tender as they were earlier in the season. As the pea leaves and stems mature, they tend to get tough and stringy and the flavor will start to turn bitter. This means it's time to stop harvesting.

How to Grow Pea Shoots and Tendrils in Pots

Pea shoots and tendrils grow well in pots. Use containers that are large but shallow, about 2 to 3 inches deep is sufficient. Fill them with 1 to 1.5 inches of potting mix. Cell flats, window boxes, and even trays with drainage holes work well. Fill them with well-draining potting mix.

Keep in mind that soil in containers dry out faster than garden soil so adjust the watering accordingly.

Propagating Pea Shoots and Tendrils

Pea shoots and tendrils are grown from seed.

How to Grow Pea Shoots and Tendrils From Seed

Before planting, soak the seeds in room-temperature water for 8 hours. Follow the instructions for planting above.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Young pea plants attract aphids and pea weevils and are susceptible to fungal diseases but because the shoots and tendrils are harvested after a short time, it usually does not turn into a major problem.

In flats densely filled with peas for shoots, mold may occur. This can be prevented with bottom watering,