Growing Cowpeas, also Black eye peas, Southern peas

Vigna Unguiculata : Fabaceae / the pea or legume family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec

Not recommended for growing in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions

  • Easy to grow. When soil begins to warm up. After frosts finish.. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 59°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: Rows 1 Metre apart
  • Harvest in 11-14 weeks.
  • Young cow peas on plant (commons.wikimedia.org - Dinesh Valke - CC BY-SA 2.0)
  • Cow Peas (black-eyed peas) (commons.wikimedia.org - Bubba73 - CCA-SA-3.0 License)

Cowpeas are heat and dry tolerant but frost will finish them. Can be grown in cooler areas if they are started under cover and planted out after last frost. They are an ancient food source and have probably been used since Neolithic times.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Cowpeas

Young leaves can be cooked and used like spinach and are very high in protein. The young pods are edible.

Your comments and tips

21 Nov 20, Promodh Kumar (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi Maren Just wondering if you have any cowpea seeds in Blenheim. I would like to plant some seeds in November. Thanks
30 Nov 20, Shiko (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Hi, Last week I bought some cowpeas seeds form bin inn [Hamilton], and sow them and in 2-3 days it sprouted. Thanks Shady
14 Nov 20, Promodh Kumar (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Where in Manukau can I buy cowpea seeds
15 Nov 20, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
You will probably have to try an online supplier like Egmonts
14 Mar 17, Phil Gray (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Where can I purchase these peas?
15 Mar 17, Jack (Australia - temperate climate)
After a fair bit of searching I got onto Kiwi Seeds in Blenheim. I spoke to Maren and she said they didn't have them currently but could get them. They normally supply farmers but would be haappy to supply you some. talk to them on 3 578 0468. Trust this helps

Cowpeas are a staple here in the south. The town of Emerson, Arkansas has an annual purplehull pea festival & has a website with information on purplehull peas & many recipes you can try. www.purplehull.com There is even one for jelly using the hulls (spoiler alert: tastes like a mild grape). Purplehulls are a cowpea. What we have always been told was that cow peas weren't considered edible by most people. They came on the boats with slaves & that's who first were eating them. They were also given to livestock. An elderly neighbor told me never plant purplehulls until you hear the whipperwill. For us (Arkansas/Louisiana line, zone 8) that's usually mid-April. They will keep producing as long as you keep picking them. My elderly grandfather said instead of parboiling to can or freeze, just shell the peas & stick them (unwashed) in an old (but clean) pillowcase. As you want to cook them, get what you want out, wash & prepare/cook like normal. Tastes like fresh picked no matter how long its been.

- Kathy J.

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. GardenGrow is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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