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When to plant southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea)

Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) timing, counted from your average last spring frost and first fall frost. Thrives in heat.

Seasonwarm-season, tender to frost
Sow outdoors3 weeks after to 6 weeks after the last frost
Soil temperature to germinate65°F or warmer
Days to maturity60–90 days from seed
Spacing3–4 in apart, rows 24–36 in apart
Seed depth1.0 in
Leaves of a southern pea (cowpea) plant
Photo: Vengolis, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Example dates

PlaceDates
Austin, TX (78701)Sow outdoors: Mar 31–Apr 21
Atlanta, GA (30303)Sow outdoors: Apr 14–May 5
St. Louis, MO (63101)Sow outdoors: Apr 22–May 13
Chicago, IL (60614)Sow outdoors: May 1–22
Denver, CO (80202)Sow outdoors: May 21–Jun 11
Seattle, WA (98101)Sow outdoors: Apr 3–24

Every ZIP page has its own dates. Find your ZIP.

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Sources

Summarized in our own words from public extension publications.

All vegetables · Your ZIP's planting calendar