Southern Pea Seeds

Grow a warm-weather favorite with Southern Pea Seeds from David's Garden Seeds®. Also known as cowpeas or field peas, Southern peas are different from cool-season English peas. This collection brings together Pinkeye Purplehull BVR, Texas Cream 8, California Blackeye and Lady Finger for fresh-shelled harvests and comforting home-cooked meals.

Choose Your Southern Peas

• Pinkeye Purplehull BVR: A purplehull selection for gardeners who enjoy traditional pinkeye peas.
• Texas Cream 8: A cream-pea choice for Southern-style dishes and garden-to-table meals.
• California Blackeye: A familiar blackeye pea for simmered dishes, soups and cooked-pea salads.
• Lady Finger: Another Southern pea option to compare for your garden and favorite recipes.

Why Grow Southern Peas?

• Warm-season growing: Cowpeas are adapted to warm conditions, making them a useful alternative to cool-season peas during suitable summer planting windows.
• Flexible harvests: Harvest plump peas for fresh shelling or allow pods to mature for dry peas when weather permits.
• Traditional kitchen appeal: Enjoy familiar Southern flavors in side dishes, stews and meals with rice or garden vegetables.
• Legume biology: Cowpeas can form nitrogen-fixing root nodules with compatible bacteria. This does not eliminate their need for suitable soil, water and care.

Planting Tips for Success

• Wait for warm soil: Direct sow after frost danger has passed and the soil has warmed. Follow local planting guidance and allow time for harvest before cold weather.
• Choose a sunny site: Use well-drained soil and follow each variety's planting depth, row spacing and thinning instructions.
• Water for establishment and harvest: Keep the seedbed appropriately moist for germination. Although established cowpeas tolerate some dry conditions, consistent moisture is important during flowering and pod development.
• Fertilize thoughtfully: Follow soil-test recommendations and avoid assuming nitrogen fixation supplies every nutrient the plants need.
• Consider inoculation where appropriate: If using a legume inoculant, choose one labeled for cowpeas and follow its directions.
• Monitor plants: Watch for insects and disease, keep weeds under control and avoid working among wet plants when practical.

Harvesting Your Peas

For fresh shelling, pick pods when the peas inside are well filled but still tender. Check frequently so pods do not pass your preferred harvest stage. For dry peas, allow pods to mature and dry when conditions permit, then finish drying and shelling in a protected, well-ventilated place. Store only thoroughly dried peas intended for food storage.

Cooking Ideas for Your Harvest

• Southern-style peas: Simmer shelled peas with onion, herbs and your preferred seasonings until tender.
• Rice dishes: Pair cooked blackeye or other Southern peas with rice and vegetables.
• Soups and stews: Add cooked peas for a hearty garden-inspired meal.
• Cooked-pea salads: Cool cooked peas and combine with chopped vegetables and dressing.

Cooking ideas refer to the peas you harvest. Planting seeds are intended for sowing, not eating.

Why Choose David's Garden Seeds®?

• Veteran-Owned: Supplying premium seeds since 2009.
• GO TEXAN Certified: Supporting local agriculture and communities.
• Integrity Pledge: David's Garden Seeds has taken the Seed Integrity Pledge.
• Vegetable Seed License: David's Garden Seeds has been granted a Vegetable Seed License for the State of Texas.

Order Southern Pea Seeds Today

Plant a Southern favorite for fresh harvests and flavorful home-cooked meals.

Browse the products below for seed counts, maturity information and individual growing instructions. These products are seeds, not harvested peas or live plants.

Grow something beautiful. Grow something delicious. Grow with David's Garden Seeds®.