Pink Eyed Purple Hull Cowpea Seeds (Vigna unguiculata) | Southern Pea

A Southern Garden Favorite with Purple Pods

Grow Pink Eyed Purple Hull cowpeas for colorful pods and creamy peas with a distinctive pink eye. This Southern pea is a warm-season garden staple, valued for fresh shelling and dried beans. Imagine gathering purple pods on a summer morning, then shelling a homegrown batch for a comforting cooked meal.

Variety details

• Variety: Pink Eyed Purple Hull
• Botanical name: Vigna unguiculata
• Common names: Cowpea, Southern pea
• Pods: Develop purple coloring as they mature
• Peas: Cream-colored with a pink eye
• Growth habit: Approximately 3–3.5 feet with runners, depending on conditions
• Growing season: Warm weather
• Product supplied: Seeds for planting

Planting your seeds

Direct sow after frost risk has passed and the soil is thoroughly warm. Choose a sunny location with well-draining soil. Sow approximately 1 inch deep and give plants room for their spreading growth. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment without allowing it to become waterlogged.

Growing and care

Allow space for runners and keep the bed free of competing weeds while plants establish. Water as needed during dry spells, especially while pods are developing. Growing results and harvest timing depend on weather, soil, and the stage at which you harvest.

Harvesting fresh or dry peas

For fresh shelling, pick developed pods while the peas are plump and before the pods dry completely. For dried peas, allow mature pods to dry, then shell and finish drying the peas thoroughly before storage. If wet weather threatens, finish drying harvested pods in a sheltered, well-ventilated location.

From garden to kitchen

Cook harvested cowpeas thoroughly before eating. Enjoy fresh shelled peas in Southern-style dishes, soups, and stews, or store fully dried peas for later cooking. The seeds supplied here are for planting, not ready-to-eat food.

Available quantities

Choose from 50 seeds, 150 seeds, a 4-ounce packet, 1 pound, or 10 pounds. Weight-based options are sold by weight, not a guaranteed seed count.