Skip to product information
1 of 3

EdenValleySeeds

Cowpea Seeds for Planting – Heirloom Black-Eyed Pea Garden Seeds

Cowpea Seeds for Planting – Heirloom Black-Eyed Pea Garden Seeds

No reviews yet
Regular price $16.99 USD
Regular price Sale price $16.99 USD
Sale Sold out
Size
Quantity
Free shipping on every order Order today and estimated delivery is Sep 13 – Sep 16
Ordered Aug 29
Order Ready Aug 31 – Sep 02
Delivered Sep 13 – Sep 16
✓ Secure checkout ✓ Carefully packed seeds ✓ Tracked delivery ✓ Quality-focused selection

Bundle & Save

Choose a bundle to unlock savings

Up to 20% off

Select a bundle to see your savings

View full details

Key Features

  • Heirloom black-eyed pea variety with distinctive cream-colored seeds and dark eyes
  • Warm-season legume producing vigorous, bushy or semi-vining plants
  • Ideal for vegetable gardens, raised beds, containers, and edible landscapes
  • Attractive flowers develop into slender pods filled with nutritious peas
  • Well suited to gardeners seeking a traditional cowpea for home cultivation

Growing Benefits

  • Adds a productive legume to your home vegetable garden
  • Thrives in warm conditions with plenty of sunlight
  • Suitable for beginner gardeners and seasonal planting
  • Helps diversify vegetable harvests with a classic Southern garden crop
  • Can be grown alongside other warm-season garden vegetables

Seed Specifications

  • Common Name: Cowpea, Black-Eyed Pea, Southern Pea
  • Botanical Name: Vigna unguiculata
  • Plant Type: Warm-season annual legume
  • Colors: Cream-colored seeds with characteristic dark eyes; flowers may be white, yellow, pink, or purple depending on type
  • Height: Typically about one to two feet for bush types, with some varieties growing taller or vining
  • Sunlight: Full sun
  • Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile soil
  • Water: Moderate and consistent moisture, especially during establishment and pod development
  • Germination Time: Usually about one to two weeks under suitable conditions
  • Sowing Depth: About one inch deep
  • Spacing: Allow several inches between plants, with wider spacing for vigorous or vining types
  • Growing Zones: Generally suited to warm growing regions; commonly grown in USDA Zones six through eleven
  • Flowering/Maturity: Flowers appear during warm growth, with pods developing afterward; maturity commonly takes several weeks depending on variety and conditions
  • Uses: Fresh peas, dried peas, home vegetable gardens, raised beds, edible landscaping, and traditional Southern-style dishes

Growing Tips

  • Sow directly outdoors once the soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.
  • Choose a sunny location with loose, well-drained soil for strong growth.
  • Keep soil evenly moist during germination without leaving it waterlogged.
  • Harvest pods regularly when growing for fresh peas to encourage continued production.

Seed Storage

Store unused seeds in a cool, dry, dark location away from heat and moisture. Keep them in an airtight container or sealed seed packet. Avoid storing seeds in areas with frequent temperature or humidity changes.

Unique Facts About Seeds

  • Cowpea is a member of the legume family and is closely related to beans.
  • Black-eyed peas are technically cowpeas, despite their familiar pea-like name.
  • The dark spot on the seed is known as the hilum and marks the point where the seed was attached to the pod.
  • Cowpeas are particularly well adapted to warm growing conditions and have a long history of cultivation in warm regions.

Growing Instructions

Planting Season: Plant cowpea seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and the soil is consistently warm. They perform best during warm weather.

Sowing: Direct sow the seeds into prepared garden soil. Cowpeas generally prefer direct sowing because their roots can be sensitive to unnecessary disturbance.

Depth: Sow seeds approximately one inch deep and cover lightly with soil.

Spacing: Provide several inches between plants, increasing the spacing for varieties with a spreading or vining growth habit. Leave additional room between rows for access and airflow.

Sunlight: Select a location receiving full sun for vigorous plant growth, flowering, and pod production.

Soil: Use loose, fertile, well-drained soil. Avoid poorly drained locations where water can remain around the roots.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist while seeds are germinating and seedlings are becoming established. Once established, water when the soil begins to dry, giving extra attention during flowering and pod development.

Germination: Seeds commonly germinate within about one to two weeks when provided with warm soil, adequate moisture, and suitable growing conditions.

Transplanting: Direct sowing is recommended. If transplanting is necessary, handle young plants carefully and disturb the roots as little as possible.

Fertilizing: Cowpeas generally do not require heavy feeding. Start with fertile soil and avoid excessive nitrogen, which can encourage leafy growth at the expense of pods.

Care: Keep the planting area free of competing weeds while plants are young. Provide support when growing a vining type, and maintain good spacing for airflow.

Flowering and Maturity: Plants flower during warm weather before producing pods. Harvest fresh pods when they are filled but still tender, or allow pods to mature and dry on the plant for dried peas.