Cowpea
vegetable
Also called Southern pea, field pea, or black-eyed pea. Thrives in summer heat and drought. Excellent nitrogen fixer. Harvest young for shell peas or dry for storage.
At a glance
- USDA Zones
- 5–11
- Sun
- Full sun (6+ hrs)
- Water
- Low — drought-tolerant once established
- Soil
- Loam, sandy
- pH
- Neutral
- Spacing
- 6 in. between plants
- Per square foot
- 4 plants per square
- Days to maturity
- About 65 days
Planting & harvest windows
Northern Hemisphere timing. Adjust ±4–6 weeks based on your last/first frost dates.
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Harvest |
Plant Harvest
Good companions
Keep apart from
Recommended varieties
- California Blackeye No. 565 daysseed
The classic black-eyed pea — disease-resistant and reliable.
- Pinkeye Purple Hull65 daysseed
Popular Southern variety with striking purple-hulled pods.
- Mississippi Silver65 daysseed
Cream-podded crowder pea — excellent fresh or canned.
Add Cowpea to your raised bed — the planner handles spacing and companion warnings automatically.
Open the planner →