Speckled Purplehull Cowpea Seeds | Southern Shelling Pea

Rich-Flavored Southern Peas for Fresh Shelling

Speckled Purplehull is a Southern cowpea with purple-hulled pods and brown-speckled mature seeds. Its rich flavor and hearty texture make it a satisfying choice for simple cooked meals. Pick pods for fresh shelling or allow a portion of your crop to mature into dry peas for later cooking.

Variety details

• Variety: Speckled Purplehull
• Crop: Cowpea / Southern pea
• Class: Semi-crowder
• Pods: Purple hulls at the shelling and dry stages
• Mature seeds: Brown-speckled
• Harvest timing: Approximately 60 days as listed; actual timing depends on conditions and harvest stage
• Product supplied: Seeds for planting

Planting and care

Direct sow after frost risk has passed and the soil is warm. Choose a sunny location with well-draining soil. Sow approximately 1 inch deep and give plants room to develop. Keep soil evenly moist during establishment without waterlogging.

Keep weeds under control while plants are young. Water as needed during dry weather, especially while pods are developing. Growing results vary with climate, soil, and care.

Harvesting fresh shelled peas

Check pods as their hulls turn purple and the peas inside become plump. Pick before the pods dry completely for fresh shelling. Open the pods, remove the peas, and discard the hulls. These are shelling cowpeas, not snap beans or cool-season garden peas.

Harvesting dry peas

For dry 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 peas before eating. Enjoy fresh shelled peas simmered as a side dish or added to soups, stews, and rice dishes. Planting seeds are not ready-to-eat food.

Packet options

Choose from 10 seeds, 25 seeds, 100 seeds, or a 1/4-pound packet. The weight-based option is sold by weight, not a guaranteed seed count.