Black eyed peas can be eaten at all of their different ripeness stages. They ripen fast so pick them often, every two to three days. As soon as the baby pods appear they can be eaten. These young immature pods can be stir fried whole or chopped and eaten as “snaps” like a green bean.
When should you pick black-eyed peas?
Black-eyed peas will typically mature 60-90 days after planting. Depending on the variety, black-eyed peas can be harvested for several days or weeks. Pick peas as soon as the pods are 3-4 inches long. Carefully remove pods from the vine with scissors or a knife to avoid shocking the plant into non-production.
How do you harvest and store black-eyed peas?
Once they are brown and feel dry, that’s when you know they are ready to harvest.
- Snap the seed pod off of the plant.
- Break the seed pod down open right down the middle.
- Remove the small seeds, let them dry, then store in a paper envelope.
How long do black-eyed peas produce?
60 to 90 days
Harvesting Black-Eyed Peas
Information that comes with seeds of black-eyed peas will indicate how many days until maturity, typically 60 to 90 days after planting. Harvest for several days to a few weeks, depending on the variety you have planted.
What to do with black-eyed peas after shelling?
Use your thumb to push the peas out of the pod and into a bowl. Cook the shelled peas the same day, or store them in the refrigerator or freezer.
How do you dry fresh picked black-eyed peas?
Wait to harvest until the pods are dry, brown, and you can see the beans almost bursting through the pods. Shell the pods and allow the peas to dry thoroughly. Store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry area for at least a year. Add the empty hulls to your compost pile.
Are black-eyed peas bush or pole?
Black-eyed peas are suitable to grow in containers, and they have similar requirements as beans. However, you should be aware that black-eyed peas can come in pole (climbing) and bush varieties. Pole black-eyed peas need a large container, at least 18 inches (46 cm) in diameter, to avoid getting root bound.
Can you eat black eyed pea leaves?
Black eyed pea leaves can be eaten! Sweet potato leaves, okra leaves, are also edible! In West Africa cassava leaves join these as traditional vegetables along with wild and other cultivated greens! Black eyed peas symbolize the eye of G-d.
Can I freeze fresh black-eyed peas?
Drain the peas in a colander then immediately transfer them to the ice water to stop the cooking. Freeze as for fresh peas on a rimmed baking sheet or pack into freezer containers or bags. Label the bags with name and date and freeze for up to 9 months.
Can you eat black eyed pea pods?
Between 60-70 days, green pods are useful for fresh eating, like snap beans, when they have just “plumped up.” At this stage the pods are edible, or they can be shelled and the tender young peas eaten like edamame.
Can you plant dried black-eyed peas from the grocery store?
Dried Peas purchased from the grocery store will germinate readily within a few days of sowing. As dried Peas are at least 10 times cheaper than traditional garden seeds they are ideal for applications where large volumes of seeds are required such as growing Peas shoots or using them as a green manure.
Can I plant dried black-eyed peas?
Black-eyed bean or peas thrives well in soil that is averagely fertile and with a pH that is near neutral. Sow black-eyed peas seeds 1 inch deep. Space planting holes about 2 inches apart in row.
Do you need to soak black-eyed peas before planting?
Should I soak black-eyed peas before planting? You can soak your seeds before you plant them to maximize yield. They only need a maximum of 24 hours in water. If you soak them too long, they’ll become damaged.
Why do you eat black-eyed peas on New Year’s?
According to legendary Southern food researcher John Egerton’s Southern Food: At Home, On the Road, In History, black-eyed peas are associated with a “mystical and mythical power to bring good luck.” As for collard greens, they’re green like money and will ensure you a financially prosperous new year.
Can you freeze fresh black-eyed peas without blanching?
If, however, you find yourself with a bountiful harvest of fresh peas and no time to blanch, you can freeze fresh peas without blanching them first. You should use unblanched frozen peas within four to six weeks of freezing; they lose color, flavor and nutrition the longer they are stored. Shell the peas.
What do black-eyed peas have to do with New Year?
Southern U.S. tradition dictates that eating black eyed peas on New Year’s will bring luck and good fortune. Often served with cabbage or collard greens, black eyed peas are seen as symbolic stand-ins for coins and financial prosperity.
Can you dry beans off the vine?
One method of drying out-of-doors is vine drying. To dry beans (navy, kidney, butter, great northern, lima, lentils and soybeans) leave bean pods on the vine in the garden until the beans inside rattle. When the vines and pods are dry and shriveled, pick the beans and shell them. No pretreatment is necessary.
Why do you soak black-eyed peas?
According to The New York Times, soaked beans cook faster and are easier to digest. Adding salt to the brine speeds up cooking even more, since the salt breaks down the bean’s tough skin.
How deep are black-eyed pea roots?
Growing Black-Eyed Peas
That ability to cope with minimal water is because of their taproots, which can be as much as 8 feet deep. Your plants won’t need irrigation once they’re established.
How do you fertilize black-eyed peas?
Apply a low-nitrogen fertilizer to the soil 10 days before planting seeds. A fertilizer labeled 5-10-10 is the best choice because the legumes fix nitrogen in the soil. Work the fertilizer into the soil rather than applying it only to the top. This makes the nutrients more available as the plant produces roots.
Can you plant black-eyed peas in July?
Black-eyed peas can only be grown in warm soil, with no risk of frost or cold, generally in the late spring and throughout the summer. No need to hose down your plants daily, even in hot summers; black-eyed peas are drought-resistant and can withstand long stretches without water.