How to Grow Southern Peas / Cowpeas || Black Gumbo

Is the summer heat driving you away from your garden? Try cowpeas, also known as southern peas because they love the heat. I'll show you how to grow and sow these exceptionally nutritious peas. It is so easy! Join me in my garden and see how absolutely simple it is.
Cowpeas are excellent soil builders, they are great cover crops, they taste great, they are loaded with nutrition, and they are versatile. There are literally hundreds of different varieties so growing them is really fun too.
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Black Gumbo shares our suburban, backyard, sustainable gardening efforts. We work a small-scale, typical Zone 9a garden and raised beds, the kind of gardening accessible to all. We tend to take the slice of life approach and hope you will enjoy our family, our dog, our cooking, our adventures, and occasionally some commentary and advice. We love family, joy and friendship, and we invite you to enjoy these things with us!
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[@raytubbe2586]

I'm a cowpea fan, raised on them and I am now 87 years young, healthy and doing very well. Favorites purple hulls, lady cream and black eyes.

[@bakerymama88]

Planted my whipporwill at the beginning of July. Can't wait to see how things grow from here!!

[@cd3419]

Planting my crowders today in Athens, GA!

[@amandaahlers2659]

I found some seeds at the Home Depot and now I feel completely ready to plant and harvest. Sound just about the speed I'm looking for in this heat! These are my stepdad's favorite food, served with ham hock and cornbread. Thanks for the great video...as usual!

[@tmo4330]

How did your peas do? I planted pink eye purple hull. Deer eat most of them.

[@amandaahlers2659]

@@tmo4330 BUMMER! Our yard is completely fenced in so thankful for no deer. They turned out well. I actually need to harvest the last bit and I'll keep them dried and stored for a fall dinner with some cornbread.

[@raytubbe2586]

I would like to find some 21 peas they're great producers in my area. Planted in with corn they climb the corn making it easy to harvest them.

[@kellyc2425]

I love cow peas, ham hocks, and onions. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@democratpro]

Nice mask comrade👍🏿👍🏿be sure to get your vaxx💉💉💉the party is pleased👍🏿

[@tomaitoe]

I took over some beds at a community garden and these plants started popping up everywhere. My mom convinced me not to pull them up and now I'm harvesting the pods. They look like the Clay variety you have. Good thing I listened to her.

[@NicholeLynne28]

Ahhh now I know what I need to be growing! I am transplanted from Ohio to south Georgia, and I STILL have difficulty shedding my northern gardening habits. Your channel is helping me quite a bit!

[@mindy779]

Great video brings back memories of my Aunt Ruth every New Year she would make black eyed peas and hog jaws. She would tell us to only pork on New Year day because pigs dig up luck and the black eyed peas keep the evil eye away. 😉

[@ScottHead]

My mother was from Scotland and we always had Black Eyes on New Year's Day too. :-)

[@kenbellchambers4577]

I was recently collecting bags from the local grocer for compost. Often there are still a few viable seeds, lentils, mung beans and others, left in the bottom corners of the bags. I just planted a half dozen black-eyed peas from one of these sacks, and they germinated in about three days. I am amazed. I am going to make a massive trellis and see if I can make a giant crop of dried beans out of these few beans. Then I am going to shin up the stalks and get me some doubloons. Thanks for your excellent presentation sir. Sent ethermail.

[@elijahwilson1422]

Attempting to grow the Red Rippers from Baker Creek here in Missouri.

[@CBsGreenhouseandGarden]

Awesome info Mr. Scott. Did I hear you say shuck your peas? Brother you just made my night! I always say that and Rene thinks I have lost it, Ok well I never had it to start with but anyway.. Thanks for another helpful video my friend. Hope you have a great weekend!

[@ScottHead]

Yeah I say shuck 'em even though I take flak sometimes for that. But these aren't really "shell peas" until they are really dry. But I still say shuck 'em.

[@CBsGreenhouseandGarden]

Shuck'em up buddy. We shall stick to our guns! LOL. Even if'n they call us crazy!

[@raytubbe2586]

I shuck corn but she'll peas.

[@korlimservices4180]

Thx Sir. I Will be adding this type of beans also to my list of " to be planted " .

[@teresathomley3703]

The music sounds like a mixture of bluegrass and the opening credits of a Woody Allen film- very funny and very cool. I will be growing these over here in Tuscaloosa this summer. Thank you very much.👍

[@w.m.9883]

Thanks. Only thing I’m planting in my south Florida garden this summer.

[@quito59]

We have heat index, too, as I'm sure all places do.

[@prepared2thrive101]

Just moved back to the SE and just subbed you. Great video. Thank you.

[@ambreewilliams6585]

Yeah buddy...gotta have my black eyed peas in my garden! Right now I only have one that's flowering, but as soon as more space opens up ;) I'm planting more!

[@Mina-A]

Almost the same weather conditions here in California Central Valley zone 9B. Take care. Stay hydrated. Thanks for your videos.

[@garden_geek]

Now you have me wanting to grow some cow peas! No more room left right now but maybe next year!

[@ygbbg179]

Please send some of that warmth to Chicago!

[@Menditha]

Nice!!! Something that grows in our Texas heat! I have an old packet of cowpeas to try to see if any come up, and now I'm thinking I should also order up a fresh pack. Excited! We love green beans and black-eyed peas!

[@MakingLemonadeFromLemons]

We grew up eating crowder peas but we love the purple hull pink eye peas. I am growing some in a 200 gallon grow bag this year. We'll see how that goes lol

[@m.manning9026]

Thank you for this!!

[@Green.Country.Agroforestry]

We used to sow 2 acres of these every year! Its not much cooler north of the Red river today, but that's ok … we needed some drying out.

[@bobbyplatt7654]

I mow them down after we've harvested them all and they will grow back and make again. Can't beat them.

[@cra2cra226]

You literally "mow" the plants down and they just re-seed and grow back? Holy cow, that's awesome! Am I reading that right?

[@forced4motorsports]

Compost of fodder. The greens (and peas) are great chicken, goat, pig feed. Sweet potatoes are on the hot crop easy list too and the greens are edible and make great fodder as well.

[@deewinston5651]

Thanks Scott. I’ve never planted them but I’m planting for my fall garden. I have a small little garden. They are for smaller gardens so I think they Bush. Thanks for all the good info. God bless!👩‍🌾🌻

[@jadestone8552]

104 degrees here haven’t checked heat index. Yummy Thanks for the information.

[@ceres4786]

I am envious about the weather you are having! I am in Washington, its 64 F today!

[@marcohernandez9970]

I live in TEXAS, now I know what to plant on this heat!!

[@infopimp]

They love it here

[@Jacq892]

I have to find some seeds. FL zone 9 here, we've had monsoon rains this week my squash was hit hard. What we grow in the south is important to success in this heat.

[@southernsignatures1295]

Jacqueline Go to your grocery store and purchase peas in bags. Same thing that you would buy to cook. I like black eyes and baby Lima beans. Some peas like zipper cream peas aren’t readily available that way. In this case go to your farm store.

[@mikem970]

Only complaint with Crowder peas is the dear love them! Only got one harvest this season,and it was a small mess. Never had a problem before. Love the Colossul, but haven’t been able to get then for a couple of years now!

[@rachelcarson7019]

Scott! Send Ohio some of your heat!! I’ll even take some of that humidity off your hands. We have had record rainfall this year, besides devastating tornadoes. Now we are flooding and the forecast is rain most of next week! The corn is ruined all over the state, my tomatoes are stunted, and today the high was 69 degrees (first day of summer) Good news is .... My Snap Peas and Kale are growing just fine! This is my first time for both of those. I just have a small patio with a couple containers. Sad tomatoes, happy peas and kale! (Squash got a mold of some sort. Big shock as wet as it’s been. Ugh) Next year Cow Peas!

[@ScottHead]

I would love to share the heat, we're looking at three more months of it. And so sorry about flooding, we know a little about that around here and its no fun. We had a 500 year flood event two years ago that was pretty amazing. Hoping for the best for you all.

[@ceecee-thetransplantedgardener]

Now - I am hankering. TY!

[@richardisbell8561]

I have some black cowpeas and some Gray cowpeas

[@jamielynn7674]

I'm going to make an attempt at these in the PNW. Not sure how they will do! Traditionally, we have cooler summers, but lately, it's been HOT. The past four summers we have hovered around the 90s to 100 with muggy conditions that remind me more of where I lived in Texas. Our usual crops are not doing as well as they normally do. It's just too dry and too hot when they need water the most. So... I'm trying new things!

[@raydel5732]

Thank you

[@josephconroy8531]

they only make nitrogen when u dont let them flower,for your other plants,when they flower they keep it for them selfs,please dont give false info,study it,love your channel ,first problem watch tons

[@debbiegallagher314]

I really enjoy your videos 😊

[@biglou4452]

Thanks I'll try it out👍👍

[@sharonweaver6474]

Have you ever tried Collossus Crowder peas?? The BEST!

[@ScottHead]

Never have. Are they large?

[@sharonweaver6474]

@@ScottHead Huge! Delicious broth for your cornbread when seasoned properly!!

[@ScottHead]

@@sharonweaver6474 We speak the same language.

[@sharonweaver6474]

@@ScottHead My dear old Daddy passed away last fall. Collosus was his favorite variety for size & taste. His last planting in 2019 was decimated by deer. This is my first season planting them in raised bed rather than in-ground here in upstate SC. Your video was very helpful

[@milkweed7678]

Great video and info. I'm growing them for the first time this year. What is the best way to preserve and have around for the winter? The lazy way storing them dry or harvest at a certain stage, cook and freeze? Thank you!

[@ScottHead]

I harvest smi-dry or dry pods and shell them, let the peas dry indoors. They keep forever.

[@milkweed7678]

@@ScottHead Sounds great! Thanks!

[@daybyday6263]

I just planted some purple hull peas! I’m in Tn it usually stays hot here until late October... I’m just trying to see what I get away with here lol. First time Gardner 😬

[@ScottHead]

Hey, how did those purple hulls grow?

[@democratpro]

Black gumbo lives matter

[@FeedingMyFloridaSoul]

Man I am having some troubles with cowpeas. haven't been able to find pinkeye purple hull. I found regular blackeye cowpea from the store and bought ones called tohono o'odham. I planted them maybe a week and half ago. Only have 6 plants total that came up.

[@steveroberts4549]

Every crop, as long as it's got flowers,wasps will be attractes

[@hereiknowmyself-jeaniealks377]

Love that as I’m ready to plant things and I search your videos come up! So I know it’s always valid information for my area as well as good information! I also wanted to share that I have been plagued in past years with leaf footed aka stink bugs on my tomatoes.., they suck all the yum out 😬😥. I got the cow peas not realizing they are what we’ve always called black eyed peas as I read that if you plant them 5’ away they attract the leaf footed bugs away from the tomatoes! I’m so praying that this is true!! Have you experienced that? Do they destroy the pea crop? And it’s bonus that I love a good pot of black eyed peas with some cornbread!

[@ScottHead]

I get leaf footed bugs all the time, saw a full grown one yesterday and a colony of their nymphs (little orange and black guys, hang out in groups, look similar to assassin bugs, which are good guys). They like the tomatoes and I've not noticed any benefit of having cowpeas near by. But, the cowpeas always attract aphids, tons of black aphids, but hosing them off every once in a while keeps their numbers down and the cowpeas just grow in like nothing happened.

[@ScottHead]

Oh yeah, that's the best way for any cowpea - whether they are blackeyes, purple hulls, zipper creams, or any other southern pea. Cornbread is a must. And cook the peas for a long time with a smoked ham hock and it will be supreme.

[@hereiknowmyself-jeaniealks377]

@@ScottHead awe man! I was so hoping I found a new solution to those dang leaf footed bugs and their ugly little flavor sucking nymphs!

[@hereiknowmyself-jeaniealks377]

@@ScottHead awe yeah! You’re talking my language!

[@hereiknowmyself-jeaniealks377]

@@ScottHead good to know about the aphids

[@jwreagan]

Had to give you a thumbs up to negate one of the thumbs down. I only wish I could give you another thumbs up. Thanks for the info, I am getting ready to prepare an area in the garden for some cowpeas now. :)

[@ScottHead]

I appreciate that! I have some automatic thumbs-down people. They must think it harms my channel but it actually helps.

[@theresaanne2924]

I have a huge area of 'lawn' that has zero shade all day. It is natural, coastal sandy loam that is covered is several types of weeds including sand burr. My crop of cowpeas in my small garden is doing wonderfully!! Hearing about the benefit of shade and nitrogen production gave me an idea of planting a huge crop and letting them aid in our fight against weeds and on our way to soil improvement. Feasable?

[@ScottHead]

I hate sand burs! Yes, it is feasible. And if you can find someone to loan you a flame weeder, hit the space with that first,then plop down a bunch of cowpeas. After harvest, dig that green material in for better tilth, cowpeas are a great green manure.

[@theresaanne2924]

@@ScottHead Excellent news! I thought so! My sister is a Fire Chief in Houston and loves to flame wood before building into furniture-this is right up her alley-and no chemicals!!! Happy to follow your channel!

[@malloryhuffstickler777]

Any suggestions on fertilizer or you don’t think it’s needed? We’ve got pretty typical N. LA blackish dirt. Hasn’t been supplemented with anything so far.

[@heatherreis7839]

I started growing some this year and im noticing some brown spots under some of the leaves. Best way to describe it is it looks like rust spots. Ever have that happen to yours?

[@ScottHead]

No, I haven't seen anything like that but I do get plenty of aphids.

[@davidclark8855]

I tried growing some Fava beans last year. I got them started good Inside then out side when clear of last frost , they were growing Ok but then got jumped on by black affids That were sucking the ssap out and getting all foamy Do the cow peas have any pest pressure problems.

[@ScottHead]

Cowpeas are aphid magnets, got to hose them off every now and then.

[@doraw7766]

Thanks . Do you think they will grow year round in FL? Mine are a foot high on Oct 24th.

[@VagabondAnne]

I planted some Ozark Razorbacks about 3 weeks ago and they are looking good. I'm wondering if they also do well when it's not scorching hot? I live in the SF Bay area. We are usually in the 70-80F range during the summer, with only a few scorchers. Do you think they will mature at these temperatures?

[@ScottHead]

I really don't know if they actually require heat but it wouldn't be too much of a loss to try since they are so good for the soil. :-)

[@VagabondAnne]

@@ScottHead Good point. I'm also trying Okra, and praying for some hot days!

[@funhousefibers]

I planted these for the first time this year, germinated in 3 days🙌 any recipes to share?

[@ScottHead]

I just boil them with a hunk of ham, or a smoked ham hock, or some bacon or salt pork, and boil until there is a gravy. Delicious. You can also dry them and make a meal with them and fry patties like falafel, but I have never tried that before. I plan to.

[@funhousefibers]

Scott Head - Black Gumbo - thank you! I love ham hock flavor in bean soup, I can’t wait to harvest my peas 😁

[@aaronmahr4530]

I didn't know Black eye peas and cow peas are the same.

[@ScottHead]

Black Eyes are a cultivar of cowpea. :-)

[@redsanders8754]

Apparently Baker Creek doesn't stock any of these peas any more. Did multiple searches using "southern Peas", "crowder peas", etc, nothing turned up.

[@ScottHead]

Search for cowpea and you'll turn some up. They currently only seem to have three varieties in stock: www.rareseeds.com/store/vegetables/cowpeas

[@ScottHead]

Here's a whole bunch of them. I've shopped here before: www.southernexposure.com/categories/southern-peas-cowpeas/

[@nancywebb6549]

I live in zone 7a and they plant themselves if you don’t pick all of the pods.

[@bobbiejofouts1708]

Do you have a preference as to what type/brand of inoculant to use? I've never used any but have a feeling it will help given other experienced gardeners prefer it. My pole beans start off happy but then start to turn brown at the bottoms of the plants when they're roughly half grown. I've seen information that this is commonly nitrogen deficiency, so I added blood meal. For most of them it helped. Even though I was very careful to add a very small amount, some of the beans burned up. Thanks for a response.

[@ScottHead]

I've never used inoculants unless they came with the seeds, so I can't give you a good answer. So sorry.

[@Yamigata]

Do these keep growing back each year or will the SE USA winter kill them?

[@ScottHead]

They don't grow back.

[@juliazimmerman3410]

Can you grown purple hulls around your tomato plants and other vegetables or in a bed by themselves?

[@ScottHead]

You can grow them with other veggies but if they are the vining types they can take over and climb up taller plants.

[@kayscarlett3772]

Black eye peas that is. Lol

[@ScottHead]

Any time after your last frost date but I usually plant them in June or July when I’ve taken out a spring crop

[@qweeknee4208]

Thank you! Here in Washington state it took about 14 days for the peas to pop up! Where can I buy enough to broadcast?

[@ScottHead]

I'm not sure, might try Johnny Seeds, they sell in bulk.

[@JustinR82]

Gonna plant these soon! Sounds like they'll love the Florida sun. Do they bush or vine and do you know if they partner well with anything?

[@ScottHead]

Some bush, some vine, it really depends on the variety. Mostly kind of a "spready bush" if that makes sense.

[@cherylnorise420]

Thank you for this video. I planted Cowper about a week ago. I've never grown them before. With this video you showed me how the will grow and what to expect. I didn't know it would drown out weeds. I do have one question though. What I had there previously is sweet peas. Will that hinder the growth. Since both are peas. Have an awesome day

[@ScottHead]

While both are legumes, you will probably have no troubles. Crop rotation is important in many cases but not so strict in gardening applications. I'm working on a video about crop rotation now actually. You should be OK unless you have some weird diseases in your sweet peas.

[@aaronmahr8058]

How do you get rid of ants. I use Garden Safe insect killer but they keep coming back.

[@ScottHead]

Orange oil solution does the trick. Soak the mound, kills on contact or shortly after.

[@kayscarlett3772]

When do you plant them?

[@southernsignatures1295]

I'm growing black eyes and baby limas right now. I soaked them before planting and they germinated really well in my plug trays, then I transplanted them. I tried this same method with my zippers and they went to mush. Maybe I shouldn't soak this variety? I've never grown zippers.

[@ScottHead]

I almost never soak cowpeas (which blackeyes and zippers both are) and never have germination issues. Maybe soak them for a shorter period?

[@southernsignatures1295]

Scott Head thank you!

[@danielobembe3877]

Hi Scott! Can cowpeas be grown indoors?

[@ScottHead]

I'd expect there to be not enough sun. They really thrive in hot sun.

[@reaganl.5113]

I didn't realize they were a bean for some reason...known up here in KY as black-eyed peas...I guess the name is somewhat misleading. Our summers are hot and humid here in the Ohio River valley but its rare to get over 100F. Maybe 2-3days of it in here or there. Its more typical to have mid 90s with 85% humidity, I think all the moisture in the air sometimes helps keep the temperature down. So thick sometimes its hard to breath!

[@ScottHead]

Sounds like perfect weather for cowpeas. :-)

[@reaganl.5113]

@@ScottHead Do you have a preferred seed source? They are not usually found on the seed rack around here!

[@ScottHead]

Yes, Baker Creek always has a nice selection of cowpeas. www.rareseeds.com

[@reaganl.5113]

@@ScottHead Thanks!

[@SuesSecretGarden3]

Thanks for the info I'm growing purple hurl love them . Do you soak all of your peas first

[@ScottHead]

I soak them overnight if I think about it, but usually not. Direct sow in ground, water well each day, they come up in 4-7 days, sometimes sooner.

[@ScottHead]

How did your purple hulls do?

[@psocidlover]

I live in central Texas where the soil pH is fairly high. This year I'm planting Texas Cream, but will the other varieties grow in my area?

[@ScottHead]

Probably so, they are very tolerant of a variety of soils.

[@BabylonTN]

How much sun do they need?

[@ScottHead]

Full sun is best.

[@seecesar]

How do you soak your peas?

[@ScottHead]

Just in a bowl of water overnight.

[@anusuresh6528]

Cow pease creaper or plant

[@ScottHead]

??? I think you are asking if cowpeas are creeping vines or bushy plants? Depends on the variety, they can be both.

[@veronicasmith8308]

Hi..I'm growing cowpeas and so far no pods..it's been 3months..the plants are like10 inches...how does it take for the pods to grow?

[@ScottHead]

They really prefer high heat so let them get some summer weather. Usually I plant mine in June or July and they make pods in a month, but its super hot by then.

[@keptyeti]

They attract wasps in my garden.

[@carlbailey1301]

What’s the total time from plant to harvest?

[@ScottHead]

2-3 months depending on the cultivar.

[@carlbailey1301]

Scott Head thanks Scott!

[@MJ-ti6oh]

Why do my cow peas have spots on them?

[@ScottHead]

The leaves? Or the peas? Not sure if its the leaves, I'd need more info.

[@masonhamlin3921]

When is too late for 9a?

[@ScottHead]

For southern peas? Now is the perfect time to sow them.

[@masonhamlin3921]

@@ScottHead Thank you. I started 7 separate plants in peat grow pots. (Apparently I am an underachiever here) Looks like I still have time for more. Great! First timer for peas.

[@TXJan0057]

Are gophers attracted to them? I have a terrible gopher problem.

[@ScottHead]

I'm not sure, with the clay I deal with, I've never even seen a gopher. Sorry I can't help.

[@TXJan0057]

@@ScottHead thanks for your reply. I would like to find something I can plant directly in the ground instead of containers. We have 8 acres of sandy loam.

[@Bella-oc1lz]

Do they need a trellis to grow on?

[@ScottHead]

No, they are usually bush types but they do sprawl

[@Bella-oc1lz]

Scott Head thank you! I started growing some last week and the already spouted! I’m in Arizona do we got plenty of heat!!

[@chakkanarayanarao9561]

Where can i get it and it's price

[@ScottHead]

Seed stores, prices vary.

[@rhh2313]

Scott, we're in Arkansas, so, hot.....my question is how late can you plant in 7b?

[@rhh2313]

And is there a particular variety that would be the best bet for late planting? Thanks!!

[@ScottHead]

Not really sure but it seems like there should be plenty of time to grow. Go for it, if you don't get to a full crop at least you have help[ed your soil.

[@ScottHead]

As for variety, I don't think any variety is better than another for planting later, they all seem to do well. Purple Hull Pink Eyes are the traditional souther choice, my relatives in Arkansas grew tons of those.