How to grow Cowpea?
- Latin Family: Fabaceae
- Latin Genus: Vigna
- Ease of Growing: Moderate
- Growing Type: Annual
Cowpea, an annual legume, is also commonly referred to as southern pea, blackeye pea, crowder pea, lubia, niebe, coupe or frijole. By whatever name you call them, they're an old favorite in the South and can be grown where both days and nights are warm for a period of 60-90 days. It originated in Africa, and is now widely grown in Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia and in the southern United States. It is chiefly used as a grain crop, for animal fodder, or as a vegetable.
Cowpea can be used at all stages of growth as a vegetable crop. The tender green leaves are an important food source in Africa and are prepared as a pot herb, like spinach. Immature snapped pods are used in the same way as snap beans, often being mixed with other foods. Green Cowpea seeds are boiled as a fresh vegetable, or may be canned or frozen. Dry mature seeds are also suitable for boiling and canning.
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Cowpea History
The history of the Cowpea dates to ancient West African cereal farming, 5 or 6 thousand years ago, where it was closely associated with the cultivation of sorghum and pearl millet.
Soil Preference
- PH (min/max): 5.0 - 7.0
- PH Ideal (min/max): 5.5 - 6.5
Cowpea performs well on a wide variety of soils and soil conditions, but performs best on well-drained sandy loams or sandy soils where soil pH is in the range of 5.5 to 6.5.
How to care for Cowpea?
Cowpeas are fairly easy to grow, as long as you provide them with sun and space needed to grow.
Water
Cowpeas are grown under both irrigated and non-irrigated regimes. The crop responds positively to irrigation but will also produce well under dryland conditions.
Cowpea is more drought resistant than the common bean. Drought resistance is one reason that the Cowpea is such an important crop in many underdeveloped parts of the world. If irrigation is used, more vegetative growth and some delay in maturity may result. Application rates should insure that the crop is not over-watered, especially in Northern latitudes, as this will suppress growth by lowering soil temperatures. The most critical moisture requiring period is just prior to and during bloom.
Fertilizer
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.
Cowpea, like all legumes, forms a symbiotic relationship with a specific soil bacterium (Rhizobium spp.). Rhizobium makes atmospheric nitrogen available to the plant by a process called [nitrogen fixation]. Fixation occurs in root nodules of the plant and the bacteria utilize sugars produced by the plant. Although cowpea Rhizobium is normally widespread, seed inoculation with Rhizobium specific to the Cowpea would be beneficial in areas where it is not present. Always use Rhizobium of the Cowpea type.
Seeds
Seed Viability: 4 - 7 years
Cowpeas are generally self-pollinating so you don’t have to worry too much about cross-pollination. They are treated like other beans and allowed to fully dry on the vine. Isolate from southern peas and asparagus beans by a minimum of 50' for home use. For pure seed isolate a minimum of 150'.
Light
Sun: min. 6 hours daily
Full sun.
Conditions:Warm, Hot
Season:Short Season, Long Season
Storage
Allow the pods to dry on the plant, without getting rained on. Once dry, remove seeds from pods and store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place (like the pantry). Stored beans will last up to 3 years in storage.
Storage Req: Drying
Storage Temp: 55-70°F
Storage Length: 1-360 days
Freshly harvested Cowpeas spoil easily and should be kept in a cool, dark place (even on their way to the refrigerator!). Cowpeas are best when freshly plucked from the vine, although they'll keep for almost a week in the fridge (but not without sacrificing flavor).
Storage Req: Refrigerator
Storage Temp: 40-45°F
Storage Length: 1-5 days
Problems
Deer
Deer love them. Fence off crops or cover plants with row cover when pods emerge.
Weevils
Weevils sometimes infest dried seed. To kill weevils, freeze thoroughly-dried seed in sealed containers for 48 hours.
Cowpea Types
- Southern Pea
Southern Peas, or "Cowpeas" as they are commonly known by the Yankees, are thought to have originated in Africa. They were brought to the United States in early Colonial times during the slave trade. They became a staple food in the Southeastern U.S. where they are eaten as green shelled peas or left to dry on the vine for later use.
Pests
- Aphids
- European Corn Borer
- Nematodes
- Stink Bug
- Spider Mites
- Birds
- Deer
- Bean Weevil
- Rabbits
Diseases
- Mosaic Virus (Several species)
- Fusarium Wilt
- Damping Off
- Root Rot
