Question about cowpeas

[hoodat]

I've grown several varieties of cowpeas but they were all bush. I need some to dry as rabbit hay and pole or rambling cowpeas would produce more fodder. Can anyone recommend a good climbing or rambling type of cowpea? It would also be nice to know a seed source.

 

[Smiles Jr.]

 

[hoodat]

Maybe I should ask a cow.

 

[so lucky]

I betcha Marshall would have some suggestions. Wonder where he's been lately?

 

[baymule]

Here in east Texas, purple hull peas are real popular. (for us, not the durn cows ) They vine like crazy, but aren't climbing vines, they just sprawl everywhere. What kind of peas do you grow?

 

[897tgigvib]

I'm here. Just let myself get busy doing things like painting and helping my neighbor move, not easy from up in the woods.

I actually defer to BayMule and the southerners about Cowpea varieties.

My Black eye Cowpeas that I got out of a store bought bag of 15 Bean mix seemed to be 2 similar varieties. One made pods green that slowly ripened bigger Cowpeas, the other made white pods that riped faster. Both turned out to be vining, but I didn't pole them thinking they'd be short runners. Once I pulled them a couple weeks ago I found that they were a good 5 foot.

Baker Creek Seeds has a whole passel of varieties, maybe more than just about any of the seed companies, over a page. I didn't count, but maybe 30 or 40 varieties. Someone correct me. Their website is www.rareseeds.com I think, or is it .org ? I think they have several kinds of purple hull. Cowpeas have such cool names! I got almost a 12 ounce coffee can full from 22 or so plants in a 4 by 4 foot patch. Could have gotten more if I'd poled them...gading!

 

[Southern Gardener]

Here in east Texas, purple hull peas are real popular. (for us, not the durn cows ) They vine like crazy, but aren't climbing vines, they just sprawl everywhere. What kind of peas do you grow?

What baymule said. They do sprawl everywhere and they grow like weeds.

 

[garockgrower]

My suggestion for a pole cowpea would be the Chinese Red Noodle Bean.
I grow them on an 8' trellis. When they reach the top they "flop" over and grow another 2'-4'.
They do need help to start climbing, but once started they climb on their own.
Baker Creek has them listed here: rareseeds.com/chinese-red-noodle-bean

 

[so lucky]

Hey, welcome to the forum garockgrower! Do they make a long twisted bean, like a noodle?

 

[garockgrower]

Hello and thanks for the welcome. The forum won't let me post images or direct links due to my newness.
The pods typically range from 18-24". Their weight makes them hang fairly straight but they do have a slight curve when laying flat.
The Chinese Red Noodle is a type of yard long or asparagus bean. Although they are called a bean they are Vigna unguiculata.

Do a search for "chinese red noodle" and click images for some nice pics.