Southern Peas
Vigna unguiculata
About it
- Kind
- Vegetables · Annual
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 4 in apart
- Soil depth in a pot
- At least 8 in
- Water
- About every 7 days
ⓘ We don't know this plant's soil pH, feeding needs and mature size yet.
When to plant
- Sow outdoors
- Sow around the last frost
- Soil temperature
- Germinates from 65°F
- Ready
- About 55 days from sowing
- Sow again
- Every 21 days for a steady supply
Based on your last frost date. Outside the US, check local advice.
Planting partners
What has been claimed about growing Southern Peas near other plants, grouped by how well it has been tested. Most companion planting advice has never been tested; the notes say which is which.
Tested in field trials
- With Sweet Corn Cowpeas interplanted with sweet corn increased parasitism of corn earworm eggs in field trials. UMN Extension ↗Europe PMC ↗
Safety for pets and children
- Cats No information in our sources
- Dogs No information in our sources
- Horses No information in our sources
- Children No information in our sources
"No information" means our sources do not say, not that the plant is harmless. A non-toxic listing is not a reason to let anyone eat a plant.
Pests and diseases
No pest or disease notes for Southern Peas yet.
Check the label and your local extension service before using any product.
Where this comes from
Source: NC State Extension ↗
- category NC State Extension ↗ Listed in Table 16-4, "Garden Planting Calendar for Annual Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs"
- climate requirement NC State Extension ↗ Toolbox: "It is intolerant of frost". No zones: an annual has no winter to survive (see the header)
- days to maturity NC State Extension ↗ Table 16-4: Peas, field/southern 55-65; low end
- direct sow weeks rel last frost Texas A&M AgriLife ↗ TAMU AgriLife: Establishment Methods, "Optimum Time: Soil temperature > 65°F and danger of frost is over"; no number given, so 0 with no window
- family npgsweb.ars-grin.gov ↗ GRIN page: Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.
- life cycle NC State Extension ↗ Also called cowpeas or field peas; the Toolbox page is written about the long bean form of the same species
- life cycle NC State Extension ↗ Also called cowpeas or field peas; the Toolbox page is written about the long bean form of the same species
- maturity counted from Texas A&M AgriLife ↗ Establishment Methods: "Planting Method: Direct seeded"
- min soil depth in NC State Extension ↗ Not in Table 18-1; 8 in as beans (8-10), low end. Derived. A group figure, as every ch. 18 depth is
- min soil temp f Texas A&M AgriLife ↗ Same row, the minimum stated
- space requirement NC State Extension ↗ Table 16-4 distance between plants: 4 in. The table publishes no row distance, so rows equal plants -- the square spacing of an intensive bed
- species NC State Extension ↗
- succession interval days max growhoss.com ↗
- succession interval days min growhoss.com ↗ HOSS: "Because they mature quickly (60-90 days), plant successions every 3 weeks through mid-summer"
- sunlight NC State Extension ↗ Toolbox Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- water frequency days NC State Extension ↗ NC State Gardener Handbook ch. 16, "Watering": "On average, vegetable gardens need 1 inch of water per week; provide only what is not supplied by rain." This is the handbook's general guidance for a vegetable garden, not a figure published for this crop.