Photo: "Black-eyed Pea Plants" by Sheila Brown
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Vegetable · Cowpea
Black-Eyed Pea
Fabaceae
Actually a BEAN (Vigna), not a pea. HEAT-LOVING, drought-tolerant. Thrives where other legumes struggle. Triple harvest: young snap pods, green shell, or dry beans. Bush (determinate) or vining (indeterminate) types. California Blackeye: bush. Purple Hull: popular. Requires cowpea-specific Rhizobium.
At a Glance
Days to Maturity
65–70 days
Sun
6+ hours
Container
Yes
3+ gallon pot
Zone Planting Guide
Growing Guide
Germination
Germination Time
7–14 days
Optimal Temp
80°F
Seed Depth
1"
Watering
Needs
Low-moderate
Soil
pH Range
6–7
Resilience
Heat: High
Cold: Low
Drought: High
Nutrition
Feeding Intensity
Light feeder
Harvest
Storage
Harvest for fresh shelling when pods are filled; allow pods to dry for dry beans.
Companion Planting
Good Companions
Silver queen sweet corn
Classic companion; beans can benefit from corn as a living trellis in mixed plantings.
Avoid Planting Near
Green onion scallion
Alliums are commonly listed as poor companions for beans.
Softneck garlic
Alliums are commonly listed as poor companions for beans.
Sources
university
Texas A&M AgriLife — Cowpea
university
UF/IFAS — Southern Pea
university
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension — Southern Pea (Cowpea)
university
University of Arkansas Extension — Southern Peas (FSA-6020)
university
Virginia Cooperative Extension — Companion Planting in Gardening (SPES-620)
university
UC Master Gardener Program (UC Davis) — Companion Planting Chart
More Vegetables
Black-Eyed Pea Planting Dates by Zone
Planting dates for Black-Eyed Pea vary by USDA hardiness zone. Select your zone below for frost dates, start-indoors timing, and a full monthly planting calendar.
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