Growing Food: A Guide to Food Production

Cowpea haulm is a useful animal food, containing 11–12% protein. When grown

for hay, which is common in southern USA, the protein content is about 18%.

Cowpea plants can be used as green manure (p. 70) and as a cover crop (p. 63).

Sometimes used as a shade crop (p. 64), for example to protect other crops from

the sun loving Chinch Bugs (Blissus leucopterus).

LIMITATIONS

Field pea

Pisum sativum (Syn. P.arvense—see below)

English Pea, Garden Pea

Erbse, Felderbse, Futtererbse, Ackererbse, Kapuzinererbse (German); Ervilha
(Portuguese); Guisante Gris, G. de Campo, G. Forrajeiro, Arvejas, Bisalto (Spanish);
Basilla (Sudan); Onjolovilha (Angola); Amashaza, Obushaza (Uganda); Atnattarrh
(Tigray); Attarrh, Danguleh (Ethiopia); Ertjie (South Africa); Mar, Matar-mar
(India); Mashung/Moshong (Dari); Polong (Indonesia); Citzaro (Philippines)

Field peas (Pisum sativum var. arvense) are only slightly different from Garden peas
(Pisum sativum var. sativum):

Field Peas Garden Peas

More hardy

Small pods and seeds

Normally grown for dried seed,

as unsupported plants

Flowers are normally

reddish/purple; many new

varieties have white flowers

Less hardy

Large pods and seeds

Normally grown for green peas

(or pods). On sticks or other

supports

Flowers are normally white

These two botanical varieties are completely cross-fertile; botanically they are very
similar, and are often regarded as the same variety. So-called “garden peas” are
often grown on a large scale as a field crop.

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Pois des Champs, Pois Fourrager (Fourrages), Pois Gris, Pois Capucin (French);

GROWING FOOD – THE FOOD PRODUCTION HANDBOOK 161

Cowpea yields are normally low, as a result of insect damage, poor management

The pods shatter quite readily when mature, losing seed and sometimes causing

Harvesting of indeterminate types can be a problem since the pods must be

Storage losses can be high, often as a result of attack by Bruchid insects.

removed every few days over a period of several weeks.

problems with volunteer plants in the following crop.

and the use of unimproved varieties.