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
      P P              

(Best months for growing Cowpeas in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • 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.

Your comments and tips

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for USA | for all countries
07 Dec 15, Ray S (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Rather belated reply but cowpeas come in both bush and climbing forms, just like common beans. They make an excellent green manure during the warmer months in my climate zone and I'd expect they'd do well any time in the subtropics. Some are adapted to the wet tropics and others to the dry tropics. I grow them with minimal watering. Some I grow for the dry seeds to use in winter stews and others I grow as a green manure crop.
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 21 - 21 of 21 comments
See comments for all plants

I would like to grow black eye beans (cowpeas) for family use as we like them fresh as well as dry , would I be able to purchase seeds . [Gardenate: we don't sell any seeds or plants]

- Donna Georgiou

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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. Gardenate 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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.