How to Grow Cowpeas in a Container

Cowpeas (Black Eyed Peas) are a great vegetable to grow in a container. They develop a fairly small root system compared to the plant size and the roots tend to run shallow. Here is a step-by-step guide to growing cowpeas in a container.

Fill a medium container (3-5 gallons) to near the top with a high quality potting mix and water the mix until it is uniformly damp.

Sow 2-3 seeds per container about 4-6” apart planting each seed 1” deep. Maintain soil mosture until the seeds germinate.

After germination thin seedlings to 1 per container. Choose the largest and strongest looking seedling and remove all others.

Fertilize with a high quality 10-20-10 fertilizer after thinning seedlings and once again once the plant begins to set fruit.

Harvest cowpeas once they have reached the desired maturity then remove the plant and compost it.

More information Container Size The size of the container can be important. If the container is too small the plants growth will be stunted. 3-5 gallon size containers are normally adequate. Both of these cowpeas were planted the same day in the same potting mix and get watered the same amount on the same day. There is an obvious difference in plant size, health and production

Potting Mix There are many high quality potting mixes available commercially, but if a home made one is desired use 1/3 compost, 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 vermiculite.

Plant Spacing Cowpeas can stand a little bit of crowding but for each plant to produce the optimal amount of fruit it is best to have only one per container.

Fertilizer Cowpeas take nitrogen from the air and fix it to the soil to be used latter in development of flowers and fruit. High nitrogen fertilizers should not be used. A good quality 10-20-10 should be fine!

Harvest Cowpeas can be harvested at 3 different times. Immature pods are used in the same way a green bean would be used. Mature pods are picked, shelled and used fresh in dishes Dried pods are used the same way a dry black eyed pea would be used in any recipe.

Related posts:

1. How to Grow Cowpeas (Black Eyed Peas)
2. How to Grow Pole Green Beans in a Container
3. Growing Lettuce in a Container
4. Cowpeas in Central Florida (zone 9)
5. Growing Mixed Herbs in a Container

2 Responses to “How to Grow Cowpeas in a Container”

1. ProudTexan says:

   July 16, 2009 at 1:48 am

   Another great how-to! Cowpeas have been a staple for my family for years!

   Reply

   Reply
2. Jessie from Build A Gazebo! says:

   February 16, 2011 at 7:06 pm

   Thanks that’s a great tutorial! I love gardening and I just started the slow carb diet. I’ll do this and grow my own peas, yum!

   Reply

   Reply