When should I plant black-eyed peas?

Originating in subtropical Asia, black eyed peas need long warm summers, 60 to 100 frost free days, to grow to maturity. Plant them directly in the ground well after any chance of frost, when soil temperatures are above 60 degrees.

How many days does it take for black-eyed peas to grow?

Information that comes with seeds of black-eyed peas will indicate how many days until maturity, typically 60 to 90 days after planting. Harvest for several days to a few weeks, depending on the variety you have planted. Harvest the black-eyed peas plant before maturity, for young, tender snaps.

What is the best fertilizer for black-eyed peas?

Apply a low-nitrogen fertilizer to the soil 10 days before planting seeds. A fertilizer labeled 5-10-10 is the best choice because the legumes fix nitrogen in the soil. Work the fertilizer into the soil rather than applying it only to the top. This makes the nutrients more available as the plant produces roots.

How do you grow and harvest black-eyed peas?

How to Harvest Black-Eyed Peas

Wait until the pods are 2 to 3 inches long.
Refrigerate the pods for up to two weeks.
Shell the black-eyed peas by pulling the pods open.
Wait 90 days after planting for the beans to dry on the plant.
Pull the dried bean pods off the plant by pulling them gently free.

Should you soak black-eyed peas before planting?

Most of them have hard coats, and all benefit from soaking before planting. Soak them overnight in warm water. This will expedite the germination process. Each pea variety is in its own plastic container filled half full with water, so the peas are well covered.

How often should I water black-eyed peas?

Black-eyed peas only require moderate amounts of water, but they enjoy full sunlight. Give the plants 1 inch of water per week and more if you are experiencing hot temperatures. Mulching the soil near the plants will conserve moisture, keep the soil cool and reduce the amount of weeds.

What do black-eyed peas look like when ready to pick?

You can begin picking black eyed peas for snap beans when the pods are 3-4 inches (7.5-10 cm.) in length. If you want to harvest for shelling beans or dry beans, leave the pods on the vines to dry completely. Wait to harvest until the pods are dry, brown, and you can see the beans almost bursting through the pods.

Should you soak Black Eyed Peas before planting?

What do Black Eyed Peas look like when ready to pick?

Is it too late to plant black-eyed peas?

Black-eyed peas can only be grown in warm soil, with no risk of frost or cold, generally in the late spring and throughout the summer.

How often should I water Black Eyed Peas?

How often do you plant Black Eyed Peas?

When growing black-eyed peas in the garden, you should rotate the crop to a different area every three to five years for best production of the black-eyed peas plant.

What can you do with Black Eyed Peas?

The black-eyed peas plant (Vigna unguiculata unguiculata) is a popular crop in the summer garden, producing a protein-rich legume that can be used as a food source at any stage of development. Growing black-eyed peas in the garden is an easy and rewarding task, simple enough for the beginning gardener.

Why are my Black Eyed Peas not growing?

Damp, heavy soils will tend to cause your seeds to rot before they can germinate, and black-eyed pea plants won’t flourish when they have “wet feet.” That’s the downside of their famous ability to tolerate drought. That ability to cope with minimal water is because of their taproots, which can be as much as 8 feet deep.

What kind of fertilizer do Black Eyed Peas need?

They will grow equally well in dry and humid climates, providing they receive adequate watering. Your black-eyed peas shouldn’t need supplemental fertilizer unless your soil is really poor. If the leaves are unusually pale, feed with a nitrogen fertilizer, such as fish emulsion or blood meal.

When is the best time to plant Black Eyed Peas?

Planting black-eyed peas should be done when soil temperatures have warmed to a consistent 65 degrees F. Growing black-eyed peas in the garden requires a full sun location, at least eight hours daily. Seeds of the black-eyed peas plant can be purchased at your local feed and seed or garden store.

How big does a black eyed pea plant need to be?

Planting of black-eyed peas is usually done in rows that are 2 ½ to 3 feet (76 to 91 cm.) apart, with seeds planted 1 to 1 ½ inches (2.5 to 3.8 cm.) deep and placed 2 to 4 inches a (5 to 10 cm.) apart in the row, depending on whether the plant is a bush or a vine. Soil should be moist when planting black-eyed peas.

Do you need fertilizer for Black Eyed Peas?

A layer of straw mulch will help retain soil moisture as temperatures get hot. Black eyed peas are not a “hungry” crop, so fertilizer is not needed. In fact, this crop, along with other peas and beans, is a wonderful soil builder for new garden beds or otherwise marginal soil. Harvest can begin with young leaves.