Vigna unguiculata

Black-eyed pea

Common names: Cowpea, Black-eyed bean

Photo: HeraldDesa at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

This description was machine-translated.

Description

The black-eyed pea (Vigna unguiculata) is native to Africa and prefers warm climates more than any other common bean. It produces long, slender pods with seeds that feature a distinctive dark eye, giving the plant its name. The plant tolerates dry, hot summer weeks well, making it suitable for sunny, sheltered beds or containers on a terrace. In the DACH region it thrives best in warm locations or after a pre‑sowing period indoors, as it dislikes early spring frosts and cool nights. Both young, green pods and mature dry seeds can be harvested for fresh use or storage.

Care instructions

Sow after the last frost, around mid‑May (week 20), directly in a warm bed or start indoors at the end of April. The plant needs a sunny, wind‑protected spot with loose, well‑drained soil. Water regularly but moderately: it dislikes standing water and can tolerate longer dry periods better than most other beans. Vining varieties such as ‘California Blackeye’ benefit from a trellis; bush types do not require support. Harvest pods young for cooking or allow them to mature on the plant if you wish to dry the seeds for storage.

Soil & site

Soil pH

4.0pH 5.5–78.0

Soil type

well-drained, humus-rich, nutrient-rich, sandy

LightFull sun

HardinessFrost-sensitive

Crop rotationLegumes

Water needMedium

Feeding

Light feeder

Companion planting

Good neighbors

cabbage family (Brassicaceae)

particularly well established

Leguminous plants collect nitrogen in the soil, from which Brassicaceae benefit as heavy feeders.

For example White cabbageKohlrabiRadishKalebroccolicauliflower and 34 more species in the catalogue

Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)

carrot family (Apiaceae)

Peas and beans provide carrot and celery with nitrogen and grow as shallow-rooted plants without competition next to each other.

For example Carrotcelery rootDillParsleyCarrot fennelCoriander and 19 more species in the catalogue

Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)

gourd family (Cucurbitaceae)

Beans and peas enrich the soil with nitrogen, which cucurbits, as heavy feeders, can make good use of.

For example CucumberPumpkinCourgettepickling cucumberButternutHokkaido and 14 more species in the catalogue

Source: classic companion planting (DACH-Gartenpraxis)

Rather not

amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae)

particularly well established

Allium species inhibit the nitrogen‑fixing rhizobia of legumes through their root exudates, which slows their growth.

For example GarlicOnionLeekChivesDaffodilRocambole and 12 more species in the catalogue

Source: basic crop‑rotation rule

Companion planting is partly traditional gardening lore. Where the reason is known, it is given.

Some of these explanations were machine-translated.

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