Hi obrionusa,

If you sow the whole pack of seeds it should produce a decent amount of blackeye peas. It really depends on how much you want. I'm not sure how many seeds you get with 13 grams, but should be enough to plant about a 15 to 20 foot row.

The California Blackeye Cowpea is a vigorous vine so it will need some support for ideal growth and production.

I hope this was able to help you some, and good luck this spring ;)

I don't support any cowpea and the California Blackeye is more bushy than most. They yield pretty well under normal circumstances.
{{gwi:15531}} {{gwi:15533}}

Nice cowpeas, FD. Did you irrigate those?

As I understand it Vigna naturally tends to be bushy; climbing varieties are rare. The opposite from Phaseolous where bushiness is recessive.

No, No irrigation except the kitchen garden in my backyard.
Corn, peas,watermelons, lima beans, sweet potatoes are field grown on natural rainfall.

Cowpeas vary widely in weight, and I've seen quite a bit of difference just in in Blackeyes. But there are generally 100 seeds or more per ounce, which is 28 grams... so 13 grams would be about 40-50 seeds. With good soil & irrigation, that should produce several pounds of seed... less under field conditions.

Cowpeas need no support but another Vigna, yard longs, are climbers. I know you didn't ask about yardlongs, but they are in the same species.

Cowpeas are probably the most trouble-free crop I have grown. I think you will have good results. There are many varieties for you to try in the future.

Jim

Upon reading a few articles on here the CA. Blackeye is the most undesirable species to plant. Is that true?

Depends on what you like. The only cowpeas that my wife will eat are Blackeyes,Pink Eye/Purple Hulls and Big Boys. Blackeyes are mild flavored and some folks prefer the stronger flavored brown peas. Blackeyes in all their manifestations ( Most of them are California followed by a number) California #5 is usually the one sold simply as Blackeye. California # 46 is available from some home gardener sources. The Blackeyes remain the number 1 commercial cowpea. Many homegardeners for their own reasons prefer the similar tasting Pinkeye/Purple Hull varieties. Those really into cowpeas will go for more exotic cultivars like Red Ripper, Pennyrile, Brown Crowders, Black Crowders, Lady, White Acre or the Texas Cream peas. Fortunately Blackeyes are readily available as both dried peas and frozen green shellies so you can test your taste buds before you plant. Be warned tho, the frozen green shellies as not as good as homegrown garden fresh.
The Purple Knuckle Hull, a brown crowder that I like,but that my wife will not eat on a bet. {{gwi:15535}}