Queen Anne Blackeye Pea is an heirloom, open-pollinated cowpea variety with heavy yields and exceptional drought-tolerance. This southern pea is widely-adapted and performs well in northern climates as well as the southern climates where it is traditionally grown. Queen Anne produces large yields of 7-9″ pods with 8-12 seeds per pod. Pods may be harvested green and eaten fresh or allowed to dry for storage purposes. It is drought-tolerant and will perform well in drier years.
This is a great variety for freezing, canning or dry storage. Fresh green peas may be blanched and frozen or canned in jars for later use. Dried beans store very well and can be rehydrated for those special occasions. Blackeye peas are also a great addition to fresh salads and soups. For best results, plant on drip irrigation to ensure plants are have adequate water throughout their life cycle. Plants have a vining growth habit and should be given plenty of room to grow.
We recommend planting Queen Anne Blackeye Pea using a walk-behind planter like our Hoss Garden Seeder. Use a #5 seed plate, but always check the hole size and modify if necessary. Because it has a semi-vining growing habit, allow 3-4′ of growing space for each row. Field peas, or “crowder peas”, do very well when planted on double rows. Plant two rows about 6″ apart, then skip over 3-4′ and plant another double row. This will allow you to maximize garden space and produce more vegetables per square foot of garden. Peas should be harvested when pods are full and shelling is easy. If the pods do not shell easily, they likely need to stay on the plant longer.
Queen Anne Blackeye Pea Planting Information
Planting Method: direct seed
When to Plant: after last frost
Planting Depth: 1″
Seed Spacing: 3-4″
Row Spacing: 3-4′
Days to Maturity: 60
Disease/Pest Resistance: None
