Cowpeas Planting Guide

May

May cowpeas essentials

Month-by-month cowpeas fundamentals. Your frost dates change the timing, so pick your county for a tailored plan.

Sun full sun

Water low

Days to harvest 60–90

Plant depth 1″

Spacing 15″

How to water cowpeas
Mulch heavily around cowpeas to hold soil moisture without watering more often.
Where to put cowpeas
South-facing beds are ideal for cowpeas. Shade from nearby trees or fences costs real production.
Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant cowpeas. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.

Show me cowpeas timing for my zone →

Cowpeas (black-eyed peas) are a heat-loving legume that fixes nitrogen in the soil. They are drought-tolerant and produce protein-rich pods in hot conditions.

Vigna unguiculata · Vegetable · Fabaceae family · 60–90 days to maturity

Get Your Personalized Cowpeas Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Cowpeas?

Zone Compatibility for Cowpeas Zones 5a – 11b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest
Zone 5a	—	May 2	—	Jul 4 – Aug 15
Zone 5b	—	Apr 25	—	Jun 27 – Aug 8
Zone 6a	—	Apr 17	—	Jun 19 – Jul 31
Zone 6b	—	Apr 10	—	Jun 12 – Jul 24
Zone 7a	—	Apr 1	—	Jun 3 – Jul 15
Zone 7b	—	Mar 25	—	May 27 – Jul 8
Zone 8a	—	Mar 15	—	May 17 – Jun 28
Zone 8b	—	Mar 4	—	May 6 – Jun 17
Zone 9a	—	Feb 17	—	Apr 21 – Jun 2
Zone 9b	—	Feb 1	—	Apr 5 – May 17
Zone 10a	—	Jan 8	—	Mar 12 – Apr 23
Zone 10b	—	Jan 8	—	Mar 12 – Apr 23
Zone 11a	—	Jan 8	—	Mar 12 – Apr 23
Zone 11b	—	Jan 8	—	Mar 12 – Apr 23

Why are some columns showing "—"?

Start Indoors shows "—" because Cowpeas is typically direct sown outdoors rather than started indoors. It germinates quickly and doesn't transplant well.

Transplant shows "—" because Cowpeas is best direct sown where it will grow. Transplanting can disturb the roots and slow growth.

How to Plant Cowpeas

Planting Depth

15"

Between Plants

24"

Between Rows

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Low — drought tolerant

Drought tolerant — water only when soil is dry 2" deep.

🧪 Soil pH

5.5 – 7

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 5a – 11b

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.

👪 Plant Family

Fabaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Fabaceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Cowpeas

Cowpeas matures in just 60–90 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 3 successive plantings by sowing every 6.9 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Cowpeas

✅ Good Companions

Corn Squash Summer Sunflower

❌ Keep Away From

Fennel Onion

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Cowpeas

Direct sow after soil is thoroughly warm. Do not over-fertilize with nitrogen as cowpeas fix their own. Harvest pods when they begin to dry on the vine for dry beans.

Saving Cowpeas Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Reader favourite

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

$27 $157 value

Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant

Save a lifetime of seed money →

Cowpeas by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Cowpeas?

Cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) takes 60 to 90 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Cowpeas grow in?

Cowpeas can be grown in USDA zones 5a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Cowpeas need?

Growing Cowpeas requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Low — drought tolerant, and soil pH of 5.5 to 7.