How to Grow Cowpeas (Southern Peas) in Australia
A warm-season fruiting crop for the home garden
Growing Cowpeas (Southern Peas) at home is well within reach for most Australian gardeners, and this guide walks you through every step. It is rated beginner to grow. Saves on dried legumes and improves your soil for free.
This guide covers when to plant Cowpeas (Southern Peas) in your region, the position and soil it likes, how to sow and space it, day-to-day care, the pests and diseases to watch, and how to harvest and store your crop.
When to Plant in Your Region
Cowpeas (Southern Peas) is a warm-season crop, frost-tender and needs a frost-free run. In subtropical South-East Queensland it is sown in September, October, November, December, January, February and March. Timing shifts with your climate, so choose your region below for a local calendar.
Varieties to Try
Black-eyed Pea
The classic cream pea with a black eye. Dual-purpose for eating and green manure.
Try: Green Harvest, Eden Seeds
Red Caloona
Australian-bred cowpea, vigorous with good disease resistance, popular as a cover crop.
Try: Green Harvest, Boondie Seeds
Position and Soil
Give Cowpeas (Southern Peas) full sun (at least 6 hours a day). It does best in free-draining soil with a pH around 5.5 to 7.5. Dig through plenty of compost before planting, and mulch to hold moisture and keep weeds down. It grows happily in a pot of 30cm+, which makes it a fine choice for balconies and courtyards.
Sowing and Spacing
Sow seed about 3 cm deep. Thin or space plants to about 15 cm apart. Seedlings usually appear in around 8 days, fastest when the soil is between 20 and 35 degrees.
A tough, heat-loving legume grown across subtropical and northern Australia as black-eyed peas and as a green-manure cover crop. It germinates fast in warm soil, fixes nitrogen, smothers weeds and copes with poor soil and dry spells. Pick young for fresh shelling peas, or leave the pods to dry on the bush for storage. An excellent SEQ summer legume when common beans struggle in the heat.
Care
Water consistently, roughly 4 L per plant every 2 days in warm weather, less in cool or wet spells. Feed every few weeks through the growing season with a balanced organic fertiliser, and keep mulch topped up.
Pests and Diseases
Keep an eye out for Aphids and Pod borer. The main diseases to watch are Powdery mildew. Good spacing, watering at the base rather than over the leaves, and crop rotation prevent most problems. See our Pest and Disease Guide to identify and fix any issue.
Harvesting and Storage
Cowpeas (Southern Peas) is typically ready to harvest in around 70 days (about 2 months). Fresh peas a few days in the fridge; dried peas in jars for a year or more.
In the Kitchen
In the kitchen, cowpeas (southern peas) is good fresh shelled peas in summer dishes, dried for soups and stews, classic Southern black-eyed peas and young pods cooked like snake beans. Nutritionally: high in protein and fibre and good source of folate and iron.
Companion Planting
Cowpeas (Southern Peas) grows well alongside Corn, Sorghum and Cucumber. Keep it away from Onion and Garlic. Our Companion Planting Guide has the full pairings.
Track Your Cowpeas (Southern Peas) Growing
Add cowpeas (southern peas) to your garden in the Planting Season app and get reminders for planting, care and harvest, tuned to your region.
Open the App →Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant Cowpeas (Southern Peas) in Australia?
Cowpeas (Southern Peas) is a warm-season crop. In subtropical regions like South-East Queensland it is sown in September, October, November, December, January, February and March. Timing changes with your climate, so use the calendar above for your region.
How long does Cowpeas (Southern Peas) take to grow?
Cowpeas (Southern Peas) is generally ready to harvest in around 70 days (about 2 months).
Can I grow Cowpeas (Southern Peas) in a pot?
Yes. Cowpeas (Southern Peas) grows well in a container of 30cm+ with free-draining mix and regular watering.
How much sun does Cowpeas (Southern Peas) need?
Give it full sun (at least 6 hours a day) for the healthiest growth and best harvest.
