Pea Shoots are easy and fun to grow.  They are a good source of fibre, vitamins A, C and E, and potassium.  They can be used raw in a salad, stir fried, or in a smoothie. You need a pack of dried peas from a supermarket – we have found Morrisons are best – kitchen paper, a plastic tray (old mushroom or ice-cream containers are ideal), and a small amount of compost..  Poke a few drainage holes in the bottom of the container, if there are none already.

1: Preparing Dried Peas

First, fold a piece of damp kitchen paper into the bottom of a shallow container,, a saucer or small plate,  Cover the paper with dried peas,  Add a second layer of kitchen paper and dampen.. Leave it somewhere cool and dry.

2: Peas Rooting

Check on the peas every day, and keep them moist, but not standing in water  After about three days, they start sending out a root, as shown in the photo.  At this stage, fill a mushroom container or similar with about 5cm (two inches) of compost.  Tip the peas on to the surface, spaced out fairly evenly. Cover with another 2cm (one inch) of compost.  Water lightly and keep moist.

3: Pea Shoots emerging

The pea shoots will start to emerge a few days later.

4: Four days later

After four days, you should see them growing well.

5: Another four days

You can start to see the difference after another four days.  Keep the compost moist, but not too wet.

6: Pea shoots ready to harvest four weeks from the start

This picture shows the pea shoots ready for harvesting, just four weeks after the dried peas were started off.

7: Harvesting the pea shoots

Cut the tops off a handful of pea shoots, or as much as you need for the meal. as shown in the photo,  Leave the rest of the plant, and it will regrow.  Eat the shoots raw in a salad, or stir fry for a short time.  Enjoy!