QUICKPICK PINKEYE COWPEA

Vigna unguiculata

An extraordinary selection of pinkeye purple hull southern pea. Extra early and easily grown in northern gardens. Compact determinate plants do not require support. Both pods and peas are larger than standard purplehull varieties, and pods are set at the top of the plants, making them easy to see and to pick, hence the name. Ready to shell within 60 days from sowing. The beautiful fresh shelled peas are sublime and hard to find in northern regions. Look for pods that are pink to newly purple for fresh shelled peas. Allow pods to darken and dry completely in the garden for seeds or dry beans. Some gardeners eat the pods, but we don't recommend this.

Flavor of the cooked dried beans is earthy and nutty. Soak them and throw them in the slow-cooker with a big hunk of smoked fatty meat and leave on low for 8 hours and enjoy the unique flavor and texture of these beans. As a vegetarian alternative to smoked meat, consider a bag of dried porcini mushrooms, lots of onion powder and butter, or a couple iru and red palm oil. Smoked salt and black pepper will go a long way, too. If you're extra lazy, try several splashes of San-J Umami Tamari and then drizzle with rice bran oil or toasted sesame oil.

Sow these seeds into the garden in full sun when soil has warmed to near 70°F. Seeds should be planted 1/2" to 1" deep and at least 2" apart. Water frequently until germinated. Thin seedlings to 4"-6" apart. Once established, cowpeas do not require much fuss. Do not fertilize or coddle. Water only during very hot dry spells.

Bred at the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station. Resistant to Cowpea Blackeye Mosaic virus.

Packet contains at least 30 seeds.