Southern Pea (Cowpea) Frank J. Dainello, Extension Horticulturist Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University
VARIETIES Pink Eye - Texas Pinkeye, Purple Hull, Pinkeye Purple Hull BVR, Pinkeye Purple Hull Blackeye - Ark #1, Blackeye #5, Blackeye #46 Crowder - Brown Sugar Crowder Cream - Texas Cream 40
SOIL PREFERENCE Fine Sandy Loam to light sandy clays, with pH 6.0 - 7.5; highly calcareous soils can cause chlorosis which can result in yield reduction
OPTIMUM GROWING CONDITIONS Warm to hot days (85 - 95oF) and warm nights (60 - 65oF), with mean temperatrue 70 - 80oF.
ESTABLISHMENT METHOD Direct seeded Optimum time= Soil temperature > 65oF and frost danger over. Seeding rate lbs/A= 12 - 40 Seeding depth= 0.75 - 1.0" Seed/oz= 200 - 250 Seedling spacing= 2 - 6" on 36 - 42" beds, depending on variety grown
FERTILITY/FERTILIZATION Rates presented as actual lbs/A N2, P2O5, and K2O base actual application rates on soil test results. Generalized rate lbs/A: 35-60-70 N- 20 - 60, pre-plant applied. P- 60 - 80, band approximately 3" below seed at planting. K- 40 - 100, pre-plant applied with the nitrogen. Lime 0.5 - 1.0 ton/ A fall applied (East Texas and other areas with pH < 6.0 only).
* Note- many soils iin Texas do not require or require very little supplemental fertilizer to successfully produce peas.
WATER/IRRIGATION 10 to 20", critical demand period is bloom; maintain uniform moisture throughout fruit set and pod development. Do not water log soils
PEST MANAGEMENT Major Diseases Control Viruses Resistant varieties, sanitation Powdery mildew/Rust Sulfur Fusarium wilt Resistance Nematode Telone, Telone C17, Vorlex Major Insects Control Cowpea curculio Methoxychlor, weevil free seed Wireworm Diazinon Cutworm Diazinon, Sevin, Methoxychlor Stink Bug Sevin, Lannate Aphid Di-syston, Dimethoate, Diazinon, Malathion Weeds Control Preplant incorporated Tri-4, Prowl Postemergence Poast
* NOTE--The above is a partial listing of controls intended as examples. Some labels may have been revoked since publication of this guide. Refer to product labels for specifics and use accordingly. Failure to do so may result in crop injury, death and/or citation for law violation. Humans, animals and the environment may also be adversely affected by misuse.
HARVEST Mechanical Days after planting= 65 - 80. Normal method= Hand: green snap stage or dry seed; some varieties can be mechanically harvested Containers= Field Baskets/bulk wagons Grades= Free from defects, blemishes and insect stings. Packaging/Handling= 24lb bushel baskets, 40 lb crates, cardboard boxes containing 12 11-oz cello bags Anticipated yield lbs/A= Dry, 600 - 800; green, 900 - 2000 (15 - 24 bu).
TRANSIT CONDITIONS 32oF @ 95 - 98% RH; Shelf-life 1 - 2 Weeks.
COMMENTS/PRODUCTION KEYS Can be harvested as green snaps, green mature and dry. Ship fresh peas under refrigerated conditions. Most fields are multiple harvested. Three year crop rotation is suggested to reduce potential disease and insect problems. Wet cold conditions at or following planting induce seed rot and seedling damping off. Frost causes pod injury. Can be grown as a dry land crop but responds extremely well to irrigation in the form of increased yield and quality. Best to use a seed inoculant (nitrogen-fixing bacteria), especially on new pea land, crop does not respond well to high nitrogen fertilization (increased vine growth and reduced pea yield can result). Winter rye crop prior to planting spring peas aids in reducing nematode problems.
Texas Cooperative Extension, Horticulture Crop Guides Series Revised November, 2003 http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/vegetable/cropguides/pintobean.html Prepared for Web delivery by Brooke Bludau, Amanda Zan, and Dan Lineberger