What it is
Southern Pea (Cowpea) (Vigna unguiculata) is in the Fabaceae (Legume) family. Blackeye, crowder, cream — the South's hot-weather protein that fixes nitrogen and feeds the soil too.
How to grow it
It wants full sun, water it low — very drought-tough, and give it poor to average; tolerant soil. Target a soil pH around 5.5–7.0. Space plants about 4 in apart. Expect roughly 60–90. Warm-season annual.
How it's used
Southern Pea (Cowpea) is used: fresh shelled, dried, as 'peas'.
🔎 How to identify it
- Three-leaflet leaves
- Pale flowers
- Long slender pods, peas with a dark 'eye'
Edibility
PartsSeeds; young pods; leaves cooked
UsesFresh shelled, dried, as 'peas'
CautionNone.
🌤 Before you plant: check the live 7-day garden weather to time it right for frost and heat.
Part of the free Texas Roots plant database, compiled by Jordan Polasek from his greenhouse in El Campo, Texas. Free to read and share. If it helped, the best thanks is to grow something.