Pinkeye Purplehull Cowpea Seeds

Pinkeye Purplehull is a beloved Southern heirloom cowpea that is famous for its stunning purple pods, outstanding flavor, and ease of harvest. The plants grow in an upright habit with a semi-vining spread, producing an abundance of 6 to 7 inch pods that start out bright green and turn a striking deep purple as they mature. This dramatic color change makes it incredibly easy to tell at a glance when the pods are ready to pick. Most of the pods are set above the foliage on the top of the plants, which makes harvesting quick and convenient without a lot of bending and searching through leaves. Each pod contains up to 14 peas that are light green with a distinctive pink eye when fresh, maturing to a creamy white with a maroon eye when dried. The flavor is wonderfully nutty and rich with a creamy texture when slow-cooked that has made Pinkeye Purplehull a favorite across the South for generations. Once the pods have turned purple, they are very easy to shell by hand, which is a welcome advantage during big harvest sessions. This variety is resistant to Blackeye Cowpea Mosaic Virus, which gives it strong, reliable performance in regions where that disease is prevalent. Like other cowpeas, Pinkeye Purplehull is exceptionally heat-tolerant, thriving in the hottest months of summer when many other crops struggle. The plants grow well when planted in late spring into early summer and can be planted again in fall for a second harvest in warmer climates. Pinkeye Purplehull is a great variety for fresh eating, preserving, and slow cooking. To preserve for year-round enjoyment, blanch, dry, and vacuum-seal the shelled peas. Plant in full sun with well-drained soil and provide 3 to 4 feet of growing space between rows to accommodate the semi-vining habit. Our non-GMO seeds are open-pollinated, untreated, and provided in their natural state.