How do you plant cowpea seeds

Time of Planting: Most gardeners plant cowpea seeds directly outdoors, once the danger of frost has passed. Water seeds well to speed up germination. Spacing Requirements: Plant the cowpea seeds 2-3 inches apart, ½ inch deep directly into warm soil. Time to Germination: Cowpeas are quick to germinate.

What is the best time for planting cowpea?

August was recommended for planting cowpea in Ilorin and its environs for optimum seed yield with high quality, but with continuous monitoring of rainfall patterns. Average seed yields of all cowpea varieties planted on four different dates, and associated total rainfall received, 2008.

How many seeds of cowpea are planted in a hole?

Sow two seeds per hole, 2–3 cm deep and make holes 20 cm apart. Plant two border lines of cowpea as a growth control.

How do we plant cowpea?

1. Sow 80 seeds (a minimum of 50 seeds) per accession in two 4-m rows (40 seeds per row), with 75 cm between rows.
2. Sow two seeds per hole, 2–3 cm deep and make holes 20 cm apart.
3. Plant two border lines of cowpea as a growth control.
4. Using the above layout, you can maintain an average 1333 accessions per ha.

How long does it take for cowpeas to grow?

Cowpeas take 80 days or more to become ready for harvest. If growing on a vine, they will need some support like a pole or fence during their growth.

What is cowpea land preparation?

Site selection Select a well-drained sandy loam soil for rainfed cowpea, and inland depressions or along the shores of a lake for a dry season crop using residual moisture. Cowpea does not tolerate excessively wet conditions or waterlogging and should not be grown on poorly drained soil.

Which fertilizer is best for cowpea?

Cowpea does not require too much nitrogen fertilizer because it fixes its own nitrogen from the air using the nodules in its roots. However, in areas where soils are poor in nitrogen, there is a need to apply a small quantity of about 15 kg of nitrogen as a starter dose for a good crop.

Should I soak cowpeas 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.

Do I need to soak cowpeas before planting?

It is a good idea to soak pea seeds before planting. Soaking them for a day prior to planting helps them germinate, though it is not strictly necessary.

How do you propagate cowpea?

Cowpea is propagated through seeds, this increases the waiting period as the plant has to complete its juvenile phase before flowering. Asexual propagation approach was employed on cowpea using the vine cuttings of flowering plants.

Article first time published on

How long does it take cowpea to flower?

Cowpea can be harvested at three different stages of maturity: green snaps, green-mature, and dry. Depending on temperature, fresh-market (green-mature) peas are ready for harvest 16 to 17 days after bloom (60 to 90 days after planting).

Is cowpea a deep rooted crop?

Farming: Cowpeas grow well even in poor soils. They can tolerate slightly acid conditions. Like beans, they resist drought periods because of their deep roots. Only light tilling is needed.

Is cowpea good for diabetes?

Biomolecules from cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) can be beneficial in the reduction of hyperglycemia and strengthening the antioxidant status of individuals with diabetes.

Do cowpeas need trellis?

Vining varieties are very vigorous and drought resistant, but they should be given extra room, or trellised, or planted so they can climb stalks of dent corn.

Do cowpeas climb?

Different varieties of cowpeas have different growing habits. Some cowpeas climb like pole beans while others form compact plants like bush beans.

Can cowpeas grow in shade?

Cowpeas tolerate shade, and can be planted near taller crops. They are also drought resistant. … Cowpeas’ roots also access phosphorus that may be limited in the soil. And, their quick growth and rapid ground cover prevent soil erosion.

Should cowpeas be fertilized?

Fertilization: N is not required. Cowpea performs best on well-drained sandy loams or sandy soils where soil pH is in the range of 5.5 to 6.5. … A starter N rate of around 27 lb/acre is recommended for early plant development on low-N soils. A soil test is the best way to determine soil nutrient levels.

How far apart should cowpeas be planted?

Spacing Requirements: Plant the cowpea seeds 2-3 inches apart, ½ inch deep directly into warm soil. Time to Germination: Cowpeas are quick to germinate.

What is the nitrogen requirement in cowpea?

Manuring. Apply FYM/compost – 5 – 10 t/ha as basal with last ploughing. 15 – 20 kg N/ ha as starter dose in poor soils (organic carbon<0.5%), 50 – 60 kg/ha P2O5 and 50 – 60 kg.

Can cowpea grow in winter?

The cowpea plant won’t tolerate frost or cold temperatures and will die off in the winter.

Is cowpea a cash crop?

In view of its early maturity and ability to fit as a niche crop in multiple cropping systems involving maize, sorghum, and millet, cowpea has quickly become one of the most important food as well as cash crops in Africa.

What is the seed rate of cowpea?

1.SeasonJune – July – Irrigated September – October – Rainfed January- February – Summer6.Seed rate25 kg/ha7.Spacing(i).For fodder purpose30 x 15 cm in lines(ii).For seed purpose60 x 15 cm in lines

Should all seeds be soaked before planting?

Soak the seeds for any longer and they might rot. The seeds swell as water penetrates the seed coat and the embryo inside begins to plump up. I presoak just about everything except for the tiniest seeds. But I’m always careful not to presoak my seeds until the night before planting them in pots or in the garden.

Should you soak seeds in water before planting?

It is recommended that you only soak most seeds for 12 to 24 hours and no more than 48 hours. … After soaking your seeds, they can be planted as directed. The benefit of soaking seeds before planting is that your germination time will be reduced, which means you can have happy, growing plants faster.

Are cowpeas good for soil?

Cowpeas protect soil from erosion, smother weeds and produce 100 to 150 lb. N/A. Dense residue helps to improve soil texture but breaks down quickly in hot weather.

How do you germinate peas quickly?

1. Drop your peas in a bowl of water to get them wet.
2. Dampen a full sheet of paper towel. Put your peas in the middle of the paper towel and wrap up, like a envelope.
3. Put the peas in a plastic bag or covered container. Check on the peas daily. …
4. The peas will take a few days to sprout.

How do you start peas from seed?

Sow seed in peat pots 2 to 3 weeks before planting out if you want to start plants indoors. Sow seed ½ to 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep. In the garden, space peas 2 to 3 inches (5-7.5 cm) apart; later thin successful plants to 4 inches (10 cm) apart. Install wire or strong supports between posts for bush varieties.

Which pest is common to cowpea?

The most important pests are Maruca testulalis (Geyer), which damages flowers and pods, Piezotrachelus varium (Wagn.), which attacks seeds, and the Coreids Acanthomia brevirostris Stål, A. horrida (Germ.), Anoplocnemis curvipes (F.) and Mirperus jaculus (Thnb.), all of which destroy pods.

How do you control pest of cowpea?

1. Spray cowpea with any of the above mentionned insecticide at 7-10 days interval beginning from flower bud initiation.
2. In case of severe Thrips infestation during seedling stage, one spray may be needed before flowering. Normally four applications of insecticide are adequate to control the insect pests.

How tall do cowpeas grow?

Plant Type:Annual vegetableWater Needs:Height:8-24 inches (bush varieties), 6 feet (vining types)Genus:Spread:10-18 inchesSpecies:Tolerance:Heat, low fertility soil, drought.Subspecies:Common Pests:Aphids, bean beetles, leafhoppers, root-knot nematodesCommon Diseases:

Is cowpea same as beans?

Cowpeas are grown mostly for their edible beans, although the leaves, green seeds and pods can also be consumed, meaning the cowpea can be used as a food source before the dried peas are harvested. Like other legumes, cowpeas are cooked to make them edible, usually by boiling.