Red Cowpeas - Raw Seed (lb)

Red Cowpeas bring dependable legume growth to the hottest part of the cover crop calendar. Vigna unguiculata is a tender warm-season annual that establishes in heated soil, tolerates periods of limited moisture after establishment, and produces a leafy stand capable of competing with summer weeds. It is useful in open fields as well as orchards, vineyards, and corn plantings where moderate shade may occur.

Plants generally reach about 2 feet and can begin setting seed in roughly 60 days, so management decisions come quickly. For the greatest green-manure value, allow a dense canopy to develop but mow or incorporate before mature seed forms. Cowpeas can be grown alone or combined with a faster broadleaf or warm-season grass, provided the companion crop is not seeded so heavily that it suppresses the young legumes.

Red cowpeas prefer warm, well-drained soil and perform especially well on sandy loams. They can remain productive on relatively low-fertility sites when soil pH is approximately 5.5–6.5, but nitrogen fixation depends on effective nodulation. This is raw seed and should be treated with cowpea-group inoculant immediately before planting. Actual nitrogen contribution varies with inoculation, stand growth, soil conditions, moisture, and termination timing.

• Scientific Name: Vigna unguiculata
• Growth Cycle: Tender warm-season annual legume
• Application Rate: 2–3 lb per 1,000 sq ft or 30–40 lb per acre
• Inoculant: Strongly recommended for effective nodulation and nitrogen fixation. Use Cowpea, Peanut & Lespedeza Inoculant (treats 100 lb), Garden Combination Mix Inoculant (treats 8 lb), or Garden Combination Mix Inoculant (treats 50 lb). Choose the package size that matches the amount of seed being planted, and plant promptly after treating the seed.
• Germination: Approximately 5–10 days under warm, suitable conditions
• Plant Height: Approximately 2 feet
• Uses: Nitrogen fixation, summer green manure, organic matter production, weed competition, and forage
• Site Preference: Warm, well-drained soil; especially well adapted to sandy loams
• Management: Terminate before mature seed develops; seed formation may begin in approximately 60 days