Black Eyed Peas History

Black Eyed Peas (AKA cowpea) This legume is extremely drought tolerant and loves the heat. Because of this, the black-eyed pea grows best in the southern states and is widely used in southern cuisine. George Washington Carer was a major advocate of the black-eyed pea because it naturally replenishes the soil with nitrogen and has great nutritional value.

How To Grow Black Eyed Pea Seeds

Once germinated, peas will climb a fence or trellis to anywhere between 2 and 8 feet tall, depending on the variety. Prepare supports ahead of time, taking into consideration the mature height of the pea variety (which should be listed on the seed packet). Water sparsely unless the plants are wilting. If the weather is dry, water them periodically. Do not let plants dry out, or no pods will be produced. Keep the pea bed well weeded, but be careful using weeding tools such as hoes because peas are shallow rooted.

To avoid disturbing fragile roots, gently remove intrusive weeds by hand. It’s best to rotate pea crops every year or two to avoid a buildup of soil-borne diseases. In between pea plantings, plant other vegetables to take advantage of the nitrogen-rich soil that peas leave behind (they are a nitrogen-fixing legume). Peas are best grown in temperatures below 70°F (21°C). Once temperatures get above 80°F (27°C), peas tend to stop producing pods or the pods become tougher.

Preserving And Storing Black Eyed Pea Seeds

There are some veggies that aren’t the greatest out of the freezer, but green beans aren’t one of them! Freezing is a much better way to preserve the sweet taste and tender texture of fresh peas than pressure canning is. It also preserves more of the nutrients in this healthy vegetable than canning does.

Pea Recipes

This easy green Pea Salad is an old fashioned classic recipe served cold and enjoyed all year round. Made with bacon, cheddar cheese, red onions, and a sweet dressing, all in one bowl and in only 15 minutes!

Pea Nutrition

Cow peas are seeds that come from a legume plant, but they are most often consumed as a starchy vegetable. Peas are fairly low in calories and contain several vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They’re also high in fiber and protein. They are a very filling food, mostly due to the high amounts of protein and fiber they contain. Cow peas have a low glycemic index and are rich in fiber and protein, all of which are important factors for blood sugar control. Peas are rich in fiber, which benefits digestion by maintaining the flow of waste through your digestive tract and keeping gut bacteria healthy.

Other Pea Varieties Worth Checking Out

Little Marvel peas are a dependable variety introduced in 1908, known for fine quality and excellent yields. At the time it was called American Wonder, but its roots (forgive the pun) were purely British. Little Marvel is a cross between two British varieties, Daisy and William Hurst. It exceeded even the greatest expectations for this cultivar, because Little Marvel plants were only 15-20 inches tall, usually requiring no trellising, but these little plants were prolific producers which produced over a very long season. Since its introduction it has continually been one of the most popular shelling peas available.

Green Arrow Peas are a shelling pea variety, which means its pods should be allowed to grow to maturity before being harvested, then the shells should be removed and only the peas inside eaten. At their biggest, these pods grow to about 5 inches (13 cm.) in length, with 10 to 11 peas inside. The plant grows in a vining habit but is small as peas go, usually reaching only 24 to 28 inches (61-71 cm.) in height. It is resistant to both fusarium wilt and powdery mildew. Its pods usually grow in pairs and reach maturity in 68 to 70 days. The pods are easy to harvest and shell, and the peas inside are bright green, tasty, and excellent for eating fresh, canning, and freezing. Click here to learn more about green arrow peas.