- Cowpeas love heat and cannot tolerate cold.
- Soak seeds overnight and direct sow in a warm, sunny location when soil has warmed to at least 65 degrees.
- Ideal germination temperature is 75-95 F.
- Plant seeds ½ to 1 inch deep.
- Seeds should be thinned to 4-6 inches apart. .
How to grow cowpeas from seeds?
The only way to propagate cowpeas is by seeds, and to get these, all you have to do is pop a few peas in an airtight container before cooking the rest. You can harvest seeds that you plan to eat anytime they are ripe enough, but seeds for growing should remain in the pod until it has dried out on the plant.
When is the best time to plant cowpeas?
In Northern regions, it may be necessary to wait until June to sow seeds, and since the first frost can come as early as October, the growing season probably isn't long enough to accommodate multiple plantings. Cowpeas have a remarkable ability to grow in any type of soil, but they prefer sandy or loamy soil that drains well.
How deep do you plant cowpeas?
The seed should be planted at 3 to 4 cm deep in the soil. The early-sown Cowpeas have an elongated internode, are less erect, more vegetative, and lower yielding than those sown at the optimum time. The date of planting can be manipulated by farmers due to many reasons.
What is the best soil for cowpeas?
This plant species can do well in what for other species would be poor soil conditions. Cowpeas are more drought-resistant than most warm-season plants. Soil on the acidic side tends to be more ideal. Well-drained is another key factor to look for. It also tolerates shade — which is good for most kill plot situations.
See more
What month do you plant cowpeas?
Cowpeas can be planted in most of the country from May to August. Later plantings can provide succulent growth to attract deer for an early bow shot. Cowpeas can tolerate a wide range of soil types but do best when planted in well-drained soils that are slightly acidic.
Are cowpeas easy to grow?
Cowpeas are relatively easy to grow, and they are tolerant of poor soils and drought conditions. These are some of the most drought-resistant plants around and they are also suitable for long term storage.
How far apart do you plant cowpeas?
Water seeds well to speed up germination. Spacing Requirements: Plant the cowpea seeds 2-3 inches apart, ½ inch deep directly into warm soil.
Do cowpeas need fertilizer?
As a legume fixes its own nitrogen, cowpeas do not need nitrogen fertilizer. However, applying nitrogen at a rate of 25 pounds per acre may give a boost to early growth, and increase the height of the pod set to facilitate harvest.
Do you soak cowpeas before planting?
Most of them have hard coats, and all benefit from soaking before planting. Soak them overnight in warm water. This will expedite the germination process.
How long do cowpeas take to grow?
Cowpeas take 80 days or more to become ready for harvest. If growing on a vine, they will need some support like a pole or fence during their growth.
Are cowpeas pole or Bush?
Different varieties of cowpeas have different growing habits. Some cowpeas climb like pole beans while others form compact plants like bush beans.
Do deer eat cowpeas?
Cowpeas are relatively inexpensive, easy to establish and manage, grow well under just about any condition, produce a tremendous amount of protein-packed and digestible forage, and deer are extremely attracted to them.
Will cowpeas reseed?
Cowpea has the potential to reseed from previous plantings. Cowpea can be planted in mixtures with buckwheat or sorghum-sudangrass to maximize its potential to suppress weeds. It is often interseeded into corn for weed suppression (Clark, 2007).
Do cowpeas add nitrogen to soil?
Legumes (peas, vetches, clovers, beans and others) grow in a symbiotic relationship with soil-dwelling bacteria. The bacteria take gaseous nitrogen from the air in the soil and feed this nitrogen to the legumes; in exchange the plant provides carbohydrates to the bacteria.
Are cowpeas good for soil?
Cowpeas' roots also access phosphorus that may be limited in the soil. And, their quick growth and rapid ground cover prevent soil erosion. Squeezing in this extra crop also benefits farming families.
How do you take care of cowpeas?
Basic requirements Cowpea is a warm season crop and thrives in hot, moist conditions. Cowpeas have similar growth requirements to soybeans and should not be planted until until after the last frost and only when the soil temperature has reached 18.3°C (65°F) to prevent seeds rotting in the ground.
Are cowpeas Bush or pole?
Different varieties of cowpeas have different growing habits. Some cowpeas climb like pole beans while others form compact plants like bush beans.
Do cowpeas need a trellis?
apart. Vining varieties are very vigorous and drought resistant, but they should be given extra room, or trellised, or planted so they can climb stalks of dent corn.
How do you take care of cowpeas?
Basic requirements Cowpea is a warm season crop and thrives in hot, moist conditions. Cowpeas have similar growth requirements to soybeans and should not be planted until until after the last frost and only when the soil temperature has reached 18.3°C (65°F) to prevent seeds rotting in the ground.
Will cowpeas reseed?
Cowpea has the potential to reseed from previous plantings. Cowpea can be planted in mixtures with buckwheat or sorghum-sudangrass to maximize its potential to suppress weeds. It is often interseeded into corn for weed suppression (Clark, 2007).
How to grow cowpeas from seed?
In heavy soil, it's a good idea to create a raised bed or row for the seeds to allow water to run off and to prevent damping off or root rot, which are two diseases that commonly affect cowpea plants. When planting a bush variety, sow seeds 2 inches apart in rows separated by 3 feet, and when the seedlings emerge in about 10 to 12 days, thin them to increase the separation to 4 inches. When planting vines, increase the spacing to 10 to 12 inches.
How much sun does a cowpea plant need?
Advertisement. Locate the cowpea plant in a part of the garden that receives full sun because it needs six to eight hours of direct sunlight a day.
Why are cowpeas edible?
Because the peas and leaves are both edible and nutritious, cowpeas can be part of an edible landscape . Besides being tasty, the leaves are lush and green, and the snapdragon-like flowers add their own charm and color to the garden.
Why do cowpeas grow on trellis?
Creeping up a trellis, the vines offer shade to low-growing plants that need it, which is a useful function in the subtropical climates that cowpeas prefer. Because it grows reliably in almost any type of soil, is drought tolerant and is so full of nutrients, the cowpea has historically been a mainstay fodder crop.
How long does it take for cowpeas to grow?
Growers in Northern regions need a growing season of at least 60 to 100 days, and the soil temperature must be consistently above 65 degrees Fahrenheit with no danger of frost.
Why are cowpeas called Southern peas?
From Jamaica, domestication in the New World followed the slave migration to Mexico, South America and the American South, and because the plant grows only in warm climates, those in the South have been the main beneficiaries, which is why cowpeas are also known as Southern peas. Advertisement.
What are some good crops to grow with cowpeas?
Best Uses for Cowpeas. Like beans and other legumes, cowpeas metabolize nitrogen from the atmosphere and fix it into the soil through their roots, so cowpeas are a good rotation crop for tomatoes, okra, muskmelons, squash and other vegetables that need extra nitrogen. The cowpea plant continues fixing nitrogen in the soil right up ...
How much rain does a cowpea plant need?
The plants need roughly one inch of rain each week during the growing season.
How deep should I mulch cowpeas?
Apply mulch about two or three inches deep and keep reapplying as needed during the growing season.
What is a cowpea?
Cowpeas are divine tasting, with long, slender pods that are filled with lots of seeds. When I first decided that I was going to plant them, I had to choose the perfect type for my garden. I went with the Shanty and Risina Del Transiorfino varieties.
What pests are eating cowpeas?
Some of the other pests that tend to go after cowpeas include aphids, cutworms, and leafhoppers. Leafhoppers in particular can be devastating, since they not only cause injury and stunt the growth of your plants, but they can also spread diseases. You may need to use insecticidal soaps to get rid of them.
Why are black eyed peas called black eyed peas?
I chose cowpeas, also referred to sometimes as black-eyed peas, mainly because they were right for my planting zone.
How to keep plants moist?
You can use a rain gauge to monitor water levels, but the best way to keep your plants consistently moist is to use a drip system or soaker hoses that will deliver water right at the soil level. Watering with sprinklers is fine, too, and is the preferred method for many gardeners.
How to grow a sage plant?
Seeds have the potential to rot in colder, wetter soils. Stick the seeds straight into the dirt, planting about 1 in. deep and 4-6 inches apart, in rows 18 in. apart. Tamp the soil down firmly.
Where do cowpeas grow?
The Cowpea is believed to have originated from West Africa and is cultivated by wild and cultivated species. It is grown widely in East and Central Africa, India, Asia, South, and Central America.
How much rain does cowpea grow?
It can be grown as a rain-fed crop under rainfall, ranging from 400 to 700 mm per annum. Cowpeas plants can even tolerate water logging. Well-distributed rainfall is important for the normal growth and development of Cowpeas. The frequency and unreliability of rainfall can create problems in the growth of pods.
What is the testa of cowpeas?
The testa (outer cover) may be smooth or wrinkled; white, green, buff, red, brown, black, speckled, blotched, eyed (hilum white, surrounded by a dark ring), or mottled in color. Fruit: pods of Cowpeas vary in size, shape, colors, and texture. They may be erect, crescent-shaped, or coiled.
How big are cowpea leaves?
The leaves of the plants will be dark green in color. The size of the leaves is 6 to 16 x 4 to 11 cm and have many shapes that vary from linear, lanceolate to ovate.
How to control annual grasses and broadleaf weeds?
Annual grasses and some broadleaf weeds can be controlled by a pre-sowing application of herbicide.
How long does it take for a plant to flower after sowing?
Temperature requirement is based on varieties and their response to day length, some varieties are insensitive and flowering within 30 days after sowing when grown at a temperature around 30°C. The time of flowering depends on the time and the location of sowing and maybe more than 100 days.
Do cowpeas need drought tolerant soil?
Cowpeas are much less tolerant to cold soils which have a poor tolerance to waterlogging. Cowpeas thrive in well-drained soil and less on heavy soils.
How to keep cowpeas from spreading?
To prevent the spread of fungal and bacterial diseases among plants, avoid working in your bean patch when the foliage is wet. The best way to get rid of beetles and bugs that might eat the leaves of your plants is to pick them off and toss them into a jar of soapy water. Promptly cut down and compost plants that are past their prime to interrupt the life cycles of pests and diseases.
How to get rid of beetles on plants?
The best way to get rid of beetles and bugs that might eat the leaves of your plants is to pick them off and toss them into a jar of soapy water. Promptly cut down and compost plants that are past their prime to interrupt the life cycles of pests and diseases.
Is cowpea a plant?
Although cowpea is a well known garden plant in the South, this crop deserves more attention across the country. Its long, slender pods are filled with a prolific number of seeds.
How to grow Southern Peas?
How to Grow: Sow seed 1 in. deep, 2 in. apart in rows 3-6 ft. apart, thinning to 4 in. apart. Vining varieties are very vigorous and drought resistant, but they should be given extra room, or trellised, or planted so they can climb stalks of dent corn. Southern peas have cultural requirements similar to beans. They need warmer soil, so wait until 3-4 weeks after last frost to plant. Need full sun and a warm growing season. For best results provide a well-drained soil, with pH in the range of 5.5-6.5. Do not apply nitrogen, which will result in poor yield and lush foliage. The ability of southern peas to grow in poor soil is quite remarkable–many varieties are also used as cover crops–and they are relatively free of insects and disease in the Mid-Atlantic.
Why do Southern Pea seedlings look similar to Asparagus bean seedlings?
Southern Pea seedlings look extremely similar to these Asparagus Bean seedlings because the two crops are in the same species.
Can you use dried seeds for coffee?
Cooking: Can be boiled, frozen, canned, or dried. Green seeds can be roasted like peanuts. Scorched seeds can be used as a coffee substitute.
How long does it take for cowpeas to ripen?
Now, depending on the temperature, fresh cowpea (green ripe) are 16 to 17 days after flowering, that is, 60 to 90 days after planting. The harvest date of green snap pods is usually specified by the processor. Mechanical harvesting requires the use of a pea or green peas harvester.
When to harvest cowpeas in 2021?
How To Harvest Cowpeas Step By Step. By Idris on Wednesday, July 21, 2021. Cowpea seed is a nutritious component in human diet and also a kind of nutrient-rich feed for livestock. The protein in cowpea seeds is richer in amino acids, lysine and tryptophan than cereals; however, compared with animal protein, it lacks methionine and cystine.
Why do green cowpeas deteriorate?
The harvested green cowpea will deteriorate due to heat unless it is kept cool. After harvest, provide shade and adequate ventilation on the way to the cooler. Cowpeas cooled below 45 degrees Fahrenheit may suffer from chilling damage.
How long does cowpea harvest last?
Most domestic cowpea production uses mechanical harvesting, however, the hand-harvested cowpea is less damaged and the harvest season may last 1 to 3 weeks.
What is the protein in cowpea seeds?
The protein in cowpea seeds is richer in amino acids, lysine and tryptophan than cereals; however, compared with animal protein, it lacks methionine and cystine.
When do cowpeas turn yellow?
You know, when the pods start to turn yellow, the cowpea is fully ripe and ready to be harvested. Keeping the plants in the field until they dry out requires great care so as not to let the pods fall apart. You can harvest the pods individually or uproot the whole plant from the bottom and then spread it out to dry.
Why are cowpeas bad for you?
Common Pests and Diseases. Infections are a very big disadvantage to cowpeas. This is because they are easily prone to diseases. Sometimes these diseases can stay in the soil for years, therefore, it is advisable to plant cowpea in different areas of your garden every year.
