Typical mature pods suitable for fresh-shell harvest exhibit an attractive yellow color, are 25 cm long, and contain 14 peas. Fresh peas are cream color, kidney shaped, and weigh 24.5g/100 peas. Dry pods exhibit a light straw color and the dry peas have a smooth seed coat.
**Cowpeas, Southern Peas, are the most productive and heat tolerant legumes around. Cowpeas come in bush, vine, tall and short varieties. Great for stopping soil erosion and weed suppression. Cowpeas make an excellent Nitrogen source ahead of fall-planted crops and attract many beneficial insects. Cowpeas grow well on poor land and add lots of organic matter to the soil. Also, they make a good animal fodder crop.
Pollination occurs by insect, bird, wind, humans, or other natural mechanisms. Because there are no restrictions on the flow of pollen between individuals, open-pollinated plants are more genetically diverse. However, as long as pollen is not shared between different varieties within the same species, then the seed produced will remain true-to-type year after year.
* This is an estimated guide. Conditions may vary considerably due to location.
65 days
