How to grow southern pea (cowpea)
Vigna unguiculata · Fabaceae · Vegetable
When to plant southern peas: the short answer
Sow outdoors about 2 weeks after the last frost. Wait until the soil is at least 65°F; southern peas sprout fastest near 85°F.
Zone 5: sow May 9 – May 28. Zone 7: sow Apr 14 – May 3. Zone 9: sow Mar 1 – Mar 20. See every zone.
Southern Pea (Cowpea) is a warm-season vegetable in the Fabaceae family, almost always sown straight into the ground where it will grow. It wants full sun (six or more hours of direct light) and modest, occasional watering. From sowing to first pick is about 60–90 days. It is killed by frost, so nothing goes outside until the danger has passed and the soil has warmed.
Grower’s note: A staple of hot-summer gardens - thrives on heat, poor soil and drought where snap beans fail. Grown for fresh shelling (crowder and cream types) or dried, and also as a soil-building summer cover crop.
Sowing
Sow about 1.3″ deep, into soil between 65–95°F — germination is quickest near 85°F. Germination takes a week or two (7–10 days). It does not transplant well, so sow it in its final position rather than starting it in pots.
Spacing & layout
Give each plant about 4″ along the row with roughly 30″ between rows. On a square-foot grid that is 4 per square foot. Allow at least 24″ of loose, workable soil for the roots. It grows well in containers at least 12″ deep.
Fitting it to your season
Southern Pea (Cowpea) needs roughly 60–90 frost-free days to crop. Where the season is shorter than that, start it indoors and choose the earliest-maturing varieties, or grow it in a container you can move under cover on cold nights. In long, hot-summer regions it can often be planted twice — once in spring and again in mid-to-late summer for a fall harvest.
Quick facts
Growth stages: how long southern peas take to grow
From sowing to first harvest takes roughly 60-90 days (9-13 weeks), with seedlings appearing after 7-10 days in soil around 85°F.
When to plant southern pea (cowpea)
When to plant southern peas by USDA zone
Dates worked out from each zone’s typical frost dates for 2026. Find your zone on the zone map, or pick your state below for dates from its own frost dates. Zones 11 and above are frost-free, so timing there depends on heat and rain instead.
| Zone | Last / first frost | Start indoors | Sow or plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 15 / Sep 15 | - | May 24 – Jun 12 |
| Zone 4 | May 10 / Sep 25 | - | May 19 – Jun 7 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 / Oct 5 | - | May 9 – May 28 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 / Oct 15 | - | Apr 24 – May 13 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 / Oct 25 | - | Apr 14 – May 3 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 / Nov 5 | - | Mar 29 – Apr 17 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 / Nov 30 | - | Mar 1 – Mar 20 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 / Dec 15 | - | Feb 8 – Feb 27 |
Companions
Sweet Corn
No strong antagonists recorded.
Common problems
Pests: cowpea curculio, aphids, stink bug.
Diseases & disorders: fusarium wilt, root-knot nematode, cowpea mosaic virus.
Same family (Fabaceae)
Rotate these so they don’t follow each other in the same bed year to year.
Questions gardeners ask
When should I plant southern peas?
Sow outdoors about 2 weeks after the last frost. Wait until the soil is at least 65°F. The table on this page gives dates for each USDA zone, and the planting calendar gives dates for your own state or ZIP code.
How long do southern peas take to grow?
About 60-90 days from sowing to the first harvest. Seeds germinate in 7-10 days, fastest in soil around 85°F.
How much sun do southern peas need?
They need at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day.
What soil pH do southern peas need?
A soil pH between 5.5 and 6.5. It tolerates fairly acidic soil better than most vegetables. Test before adding lime or sulfur - see the soil pH and testing guide.
How far apart should I plant southern peas?
Space plants about 4 inches apart in rows 30 inches apart, or 4 per square foot in a square-foot bed. Sow seeds about 1.25 inches deep.
Can I grow southern peas in a container?
Yes. Use a container at least 12 inches deep with drainage holes and a good potting mix, and water more often than you would in the ground.
Figures are typical home-garden ranges from Cooperative Extension planting guides, cross-checked against multiple state sources. Your variety and conditions will vary.