Iron & Clay Peas (Iron-Clay Cowpeas) are a southern favorite for food plots and are an easily planted crop either in row or by broadcasting. This is an annual legume that provides forage and seeds for deer and game birds alike, and can be planted in early March through September depending upon the climate zone.
What is iron clay peas?
Iron Clay Pea is a warm-season cover crop that fixes nitrogen, suppresses weeds, and attracts beneficial insects. Great for planting between the spring and fall gardening season. Performs well in hot climates and is very drought-tolerant.
Can you eat iron and clay peas?
The “Iron Clay” variety is commonly grown as forage, and incorporates both the bush and vining types. This variety would be found in the “field and forage” classification of cowpeas, but can be used to eat for human consumption as well.
Why are peas called cowpeas?
The first written reference of the word ‘cowpea’ appeared in 1798 in the United States. The name was most likely acquired due to their use as a fodder crop for cows. Black-eyed pea, a common name used for the unguiculata cultivar group, describes the presence of a distinctive black spot at the hilum of the seed.
What can cowpeas be used for?
Cowpea is mainly used for human and livestock consumption. When fresh, the young leaves, immature pods and peas are used as vegetables, while snacks and main meal dishes are prepared from the dried grain.
Are cowpeas and black-eyed peas the same thing?
Black-eyed peas (Vigna unguiculata) are a variety of the cowpea and are part of the family of beans & peas (Leguminosae or Fabaceae in the USA). Although called a pea, it is actually a bean. Both peas and beans are legumes, and both have edible seeds and pods.
Are cowpeas Roundup Ready?
And since cowpeas are weak-stemmed and viny, thy do best when planted in a mix with strong vertical growers like sunflowers, grain sorghum, corn, or Sunn hemp (more on that below). The downside to cowpeas is the lack of a Roundup-Ready variety, so weed control options are more limited.
Do deer like iron clay cowpeas?
Uses: Iron and clay cowpeas are perhaps the most popular peas for wildlife enthusiasts planting warm season plots for deer. It is extremely high yielding, high in protein and productive throughout the summer. It is very tolerant to deer pressure once established and has good regrowth potential.
Will deer eat cowpeas?
Cowpeas are relatively inexpensive, easy to establish and manage, grow well under just about any condition, produce a tremendous amount of protein-packed and digestible forage, and deer are extremely attracted to them.
Will turkeys eat iron clay peas?
Aside from deer, Iron Clay Cowpeas also provide a food supply for turkey, rabbit, and quail. Turkey in particular will seek out Cowpea plots due to their preference for early seedlings. Once the plants have matured, they will attract insects that turkeys depend upon for their diet.
What is another name for cowpeas?
cowpea, (Vigna unguiculata), also called black-eyed pea or southern pea, annual plant within the pea family (Fabaceae) grown for its edible legumes.
What are the different types of cowpeas?
Black-eyed peaLower classifications
Can you eat cowpea?
Cowpeas, also called black-eyed peas or Southern peas, are a staple associated with meals in the American South. This nutritious, easy-to-grow legume can be grown just about anywhere though.
Is cowpeas good for health?
Regular consumption of cowpeas reduces LDL and total cholesterol levels and improves blood circulation and heart health. Cowpeas have a low glycaemic index, thus reducing sudden spikes of blood sugar levels after eating. Therefore, including them in the diet is beneficial for diabetic people.
Can you eat cowpeas raw?
The pods are eaten raw or stir fried, and some may even add it to a soup or eat them steamed. Raw cowpeas are commonly added to papaya salad and make a great vegetable to dip into chili sauce dip.
Will cowpeas reseed?
Cowpea has the potential to reseed from previous plantings. Cowpea can be planted in mixtures with buckwheat or sorghum-sudangrass to maximize its potential to suppress weeds. It is often interseeded into corn for weed suppression (Clark, 2007).
Do you have to soak cowpeas?
The black-eyed pea, which is also known as a cowpea, doesn’t necessarily need to be soaked. But if you find yourself short on time, soaking black-eyed peas can make a true difference in regards to cooking time.
Why do they say to eat black-eyed peas on New Year’s?
Today, the tradition of eating black-eyed peas for the New Year has evolved, as many traditions do, into a number of variations – but most hold the theme of luck and prosperity that harkens back to the Civil War days when people felt lucky to have black-eyed peas to eat and help them survive through the winter.
Why do Southerners eat black-eyed peas?
Southerners considered themselves lucky to be left with some supplies to help them survive the winter, and black-eyed peas evolved into a representation of good luck.
How late can you plant cowpeas?
In most areas, cowpeas can be planted from early May to early August. Plant too early and you risk frost and low soil temperatures preventing good germination. Plant too late and you risk an early frost terminating growth too early in the cycle.
Do you have to inoculate iron clay peas?
Must be inoculated with N-Dure Peanut Inoculant for best nitrogen fixation. If cowpeas have not been grown in the field before, the soil likely won’t have the correct strain of rhizobium bacteria in the soil for an advantageous inocu- lation.