From lflondon@mindspring.com Sat Feb 12 20:19:32 2000 Date: Sat, 12 Feb 2000 19:12:39 -0500 From: "Lawrence F. London, Jr." To: london@metalab.unc.edu Subject: (fwd) Re: shell beans varieties On Sat, 12 Feb 2000 10:27:30 -0500, in market-farming Alex McGregor wrote: 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? Lawrence F. London, Jr. Venaura Farm metalab.unc.edu/intergarden InterGarden metalab.unc.edu/permaculture PermaSphere metalab.unc.edu/intergarden/orgfarm AGINFO metalab.unc.edu/market-farming Market Farming lflondon@mindspring.com london@metalab.unc.edu