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Cowpeas (Black-Eyed Peas) — Vigna unguiculata

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Cowpeas (Black-Eyed Peas) — Vigna unguiculata

layout: base.njk title: Cowpeas description: Growing Cowpeas in West Virginia (Zone 6b/7a) category: warm-season

Quick Reference: See detailed growing information below
Cowpea pods on plant

Type: Annual
Family: Fabaceae (Legume)
Sun: Full sun (6-8+ hours)
Water: Low to Moderate (drought-tolerant once established)
Soil pH: 6.0-6.5
Hardiness: Annual (frost-tender, heat-loving)

🌱 Expected Yield

  • Per plant: 0.5-1 lb (fresh shell beans)
  • Per 10' row: 5-10 lbs
  • Notes: Extremely heat and drought-tolerant. Produces when other beans fail. Harvest young for best quality. Vining types more productive than bush. Excellent for poor soils.

🏺 Heirloom Varieties

'Black-Eyed Susan' (California Blackeye)

  • Source: Baker Creek (rareseeds.com), Southern Exposure (southernexposure.com)
  • Days: 70 days
  • Notes: Classic black-eyed pea. Cream beans with black eye. Bush type. Traditional Southern variety. Good fresh or dried.

'Mississippi Silver'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 75 days
  • Notes: Pinkish-silver beans with dark eye. Vining type. Heat-tolerant. Traditional Southern heirloom. Good for shell beans.

'Red Ripper'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange (seedsavers.org)
  • Days: 80 days
  • Notes: Reddish-pink beans. Vining, vigorous. Heat and drought-tolerant. Good for cover cropping and food. Southern heritage.

'Pink Eye Purple Hull'

  • Source: Southern Exposure, Baker Creek
  • Days: 68 days
  • Notes: Purple pods, pink eye on beans. Bush type. Early maturing. Excellent flavor. Popular in South.

'Texas Purple Hull'

  • Source: Southern Exposure, Baker Creek
  • Days: 70 days
  • Notes: Purple pods. Pinkish beans with darker eye. Bush type. Good yield. Traditional Texas variety.

'White Cream'

  • Source: Southern Exposure, Baker Creek
  • Days: 70 days
  • Notes: Cream-white beans, no eye. Bush type. Mild flavor. Good for those who dislike black-eyed pea appearance.

'Crowder'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 75 days
  • Notes: Beans crowded in pod (hence name). Cream with pink blush. Bush type. Traditional Southern variety. Good flavor.

'Zipper Cream'

  • Source: Southern Exposure, Baker Creek
  • Days: 70 days
  • Notes: Named for easy shelling (pods "zipper" open). Cream beans. Bush type. Excellent flavor. Prized heirloom.

'Speckled Calhoun'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 72 days
  • Notes: Speckled pink and cream beans. Bush type. Alabama heirloom. Beautiful beans. Good flavor.

'Georgia Southern'

  • Source: Southern Exposure, Baker Creek
  • Days: 72 days
  • Notes: Light brown beans with darker eye. Bush type. Heat-tolerant. Traditional Georgia variety. Reliable.

'Hopper'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange
  • Days: 75 days
  • Notes: Named for John Hopper who preserved it. Purple pods. Pink beans. Vining type. Rare Appalachian heirloom.

'African Queen'

  • Source: Baker Creek, specialty seed companies
  • Days: 75 days
  • Notes: Large beans, pink with dark markings. African heritage. Vining. Heat-loving. Unique variety.

🌾 Seed Saving

Method: Same as common beans—allow pods to dry on plant, shell, winnow, dry thoroughly, store in cool dry place.

Isolation Distance: 150-500 feet (cross-pollination occurs via bees).

Viability: 3-5 years.

Special Notes: Freeze harvested beans 48 hours to kill cowpea weevil eggs before storage.

Added to WV Planting Guide 26155 — The Loop Farmstead