====== Cowpea ====== 
 ===== Botanical Information ===== 
^Botanical Information^^
^Order | Fabales| 
^Family | Fabaceae| 
^Genus | Vigna| 
^Common Name | Cowpea| 
^Species | V. unguiculata| 
 ===== Maturity days ===== 
  * 80
 ===== Planting Months ===== 
^Planting months^^^^^^^^^^^^
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| X         | X       | X         | X         | X         | X         | X         | X         | X         | X         | X         | X       | 
 ===== Permaculture uses ===== 
^Permaculture uses^^^
| Usage 1| Usage 2 | Usage 3 | 
| Pioneer| Nitrogen_Fixer| Vegetable| 
 ===== Growing condition comments ===== 
^Growing Condition ^Comment^
|Drought Tolerant | Yes| 
| Humidity tolerant | | 
| Planting area | Ground| 
|Sunlight | Full_sun| 
 ===== Photos ===== 
^ Photos ^^^
| {{ :wiki:Cowpea1.JPG?200|}}| {{ :wiki:Cowpea2.JPG?200|}}| {{ :wiki:?200|}}| 
 ===== Short comments ===== 
Heat and dry tolerant. Arid & semidesert regions
 ===== General comments ===== 
Space plants: Rows 1 Metre apart  Cowpeas are heat and dry tolerant but frost will finish them. Can be grown in cooler areas if they are started under cover and planted out after last frost. They are an ancient food source and have probably been used since Neolithic times.  Young leaves can be cooked and used like spinach and are very high in protein. The young pods are edible.
 ===== Tags ===== 
{{tag>Fabales Fabaceae Vigna Cowpea Perennial Pioneer Nitrogen_Fixer Vegetable Full_sun Ground }}