21 Peas cowpea
$4.00
(Vigna unguiculata)
A pole variety; give it a trellis 8’/2.6 m tall. Seeds are large for cowpeas and a beautiful dull brick-red. “21 Peas” stretches the truth only slightly; our average was closer to 17 seeds per pod, but the long pods do make for quick and easy shelling. Rather long-season for our climate, but still matures a reasonable amount of seed, and might do better if started indoors and transplanted.
This variety reached Seed Savers Exchange in 1990. It apparently came to them with a letter from Charles Kilgore of League City, Texas. Kilgore had received seed for it from a new neighbour from Mississippi, and he believed it to be the same as ‘Red Ripper’ cowpea.
40 seeds/packet.
In stock
Plant once soil is warm, over 65º F/18º C, 1-1 ½” deep, 4-6” apart, with 9” between rows for bush varieties. Trellis pole and bush-with-runner types like beans. Leaves, immature pods, and seeds are all edible. Unlike common bean, cowpea has a taproot.