Southern peas are pretty plants with glossy leaves. are easy to reach when they are above the plants.
Pods held on stems above the plants makes Southern peas easy to harvest.
Sometimes called Texas Caviar, freshly hulled black-eyed peas are easily frozen for later use.Familiar black-eyed peas are the most common and popular southern peas, although the group also includes crowders, lady peas, butter peas, purple hulls, and countless heirloom varieties. Dependable and easy to grow, hot-natured southern peas are pretty plants. Their leaves have a glossy finish that enhances their heat tolerance while making the plants unappetizing to insects. In late summer, enjoy freshly picked southern peas on their own, or combine them with peppers, tomatoes, okra, or sweet corn in dishes from salsa to succotash. Like okra, this is a great crop for hot summer weather.
Soil, Planting, and Care
Southern peas will grow in any warm, well-drained soil with a pH of 6 to 6.8. They grow well in sandy soil or rich ground as long as it drains well. This crop likes warm weather, and plants will struggle to grow in soil that feels cool to the touch; the soil temperature must be above 65 degrees. Set out seedlings 3 inches apart at least 2 weeks after the last frost, when the soil is warm. A double row, in which 2 rows of plants are grown with 12 inches between the rows, will produce plenty of peas in a small space. Before planting, mix a 1-inch layer of compost and a light application of an organic or timed-release fertilizer into the soil. When given a little starter fertilizer, southern peas usually need no further feeding.
Like okra, Southern peas are more tolerant of drought than most vegetables, but for the best harvest they will need an inch of water a week.
Because southern peas are nitrogen-fixing legumes, they do not need much if any fertilizer for nitrogen, but do benefit from compost or other enriching material that supplies nutrients besides nitrogen.
Remove weeds for the first few weeks after planting, and cover the soil with any type of mulch to conserve moisture and reduce problems with weeds. Weeds are usually easy to manage with this crop, because the plants do a good job of shading surrounding soil, and few weed seeds sprout when the weather is hot and dry. However, pods that come into direct contact with the ground may rot; if you see this happening, make a note to lay down a barrier of mulch next year to prevent this problem.
Troubleshooting
Generally, black-eyed peas are pretty tough and do not develop problems, but they are susceptible to root knot nematodes. If they should have any other problems, they are probably included in the list below.
Possible unwelcome insect visitors to your crop include Mexican bean beetles, bean leaf beetles, cowpea curculio, green stink bug, and lesser cornstalk borer. Possible diseases include cercospera leaf spot, rust, powdery mildew, fusarium wilt (in poorly drained soil), bacterial canker, and cowpea mosaic virus.
Harvesting and Storage
Southern peas taste best when they are just approaching maturity. At this stage, the pods will suddenly appear dull and feel slightly leathery. Inside, the peas may still have slight green color, but they will readily spill out when the pod is zipped open. Immature pods are difficult to shell, and peas that are still quite green may taste bitter.
You need not rush to pick your crop. As long as sunny weather prevails, you can let southern peas dry on the plants and then harvest them as dried peas. Gather and shell the peas when the pods feel crisp. Allow the shelled peas to dry at room temperature for about a week before storing them in airtight containers.