Market Farming

[Alex McGregor <waldenfarm AT sprintmail.com>]

Sue,

Here's a company that carries a lot of varieties of "Southern peas" including 
black-eyed:

 http://www.willhiteseed.com/
They sell California  No.5 for $1.40/lb., less per lb. in bulk- best prices 
I've seen.
You might also try Southern Exposure Seed Exchange to see if they offer any 
heirloom
varieties. I checked prices in Shumway's catalog and the same variety is 
almost twice
Willhite's.

Black-eyed and Crowder peas are called "cow peas" by those who don't eat 
them. Your
extension agent should have information on cultural practices. if you're too 
far north,
you could suggest they contact a southern extension for info. I grow the 
crowder variety.
They're pretty easy and undemanding. I inoculate with bean and pea rhyzobial 
bacteria and
plant like beans with a wider spacing than bush, since they grow like half 
runners. They
need warm soil to germinate like beans (don't let the name "pea" throw you) 
so I plant
when soil temperatures are warm enough for beans.

If you're growing them for fresh shelling, pick when most pods are full and 
before they
start drying. They best way to tell is to pick a pod and taste it. Yummers! 
You want them
to be full size, but not mealy of texture, if that makes any sense. We also 
pick the
immature pods at the same time to snap and add a bit of tender green pods to 
the pot-
something my grandmother always did.

Black-eyed peas and crowders are an old tradition in the South and are 
excellent
fresh-shelled (not dried). They're both good with sweet potatoes, slaw and 
cornbread.
Uh-oh! I've made myself hungry. Time to pop some sweet potatoes in the oven 
and heat up
the pot. Good luck with your peas!

Alex McGregor
Walden Farm
Walden Ridge, TN

Sue wrote:

> Hi,
>   My husband I had our meeting with the local organic grocer and
> restaurant to line up what we will be growing for them this growing
> season.  The restaurant has asked for black eyed peas and I have been
> searching for seeds in all of my seed catalogs and can't find any.  does
> anyone have any experience with growing black eyed peas and wouldn't
> mind throwing a little advise my way?
>   I thought I might try some shell bean varieties.  Does anyone have a
> favorite?