California Blackeye Cowpea Seeds

Do not put California Blackeye Cowpea seeds directly in cold soil since Cowpeas do not germinate when the soil temperature is below 65°F. It will just die without growing. The soil should be warm to have a consistent temperature of 65-95°F, and this can normally happen after two weeks from the last frost date. Plant Cowpea seeds in soil half an inch deep and three inches apart, in rows spaced 3 feet wide. This is important because crowded plants fight for ventilation, while diseases spread very quickly in humid weather.

California Blackeye Cowpea vegetables require eight or more hours of sunlight per day. Well-draining soil is essential, since while Cowpeas thrive in dry conditions, wet roots cause rot very fast. Water at the base, not overhead — wet foliage is open to fungal problems, especially once pods start forming. Once plants are established and flowering, they're genuinely drought-tolerant, which makes them useful in containers and raised beds where soil dries faster.

Skip the heavy nitrogen fertilizer for this vegetable, as the plant itself produces nitrogen into the soil.  The tall variety may not need to be staked; however, if the area is windy, it's better to stretch a wire to keep the rows tidy. Aphids may form clumps on young shoots, so spray water on them before populations build. You may harvest young pods like snap beans, or leave them on the vine to dry into the classic blackeyed peas used in Southerners' stews.