Seasonal Care Guide for Southern Peas: Weeding, Training, and Midseason Maintenance

Southern peas (cowpeas) are some of the most reliable warm-season crops you can grow—fast, vigorous, and well adapted to heat. But even heat-loving, drought-tolerant legumes benefit from a bit of seasonal care. After growing southern peas for decades in two hot-summer regions, I’ve learned that small, timely tasks—especially weeding, minimal training, and a simple midseason check-in—can significantly boost yield and vine health.

This guide shares my hands-on insights to help your cowpeas stay productive from early summer through harvest.

Table of Contents

Why Seasonal Care Matters

Southern peas aren’t fussy, but they are competitive. Weeds, crowded vines, and lack of airflow can reduce bloom count and pod set. A little attention at the right time keeps plants stress-free and fruiting steadily.

Weeding Southern Peas: Keep Competition Low

1. Weed Early and Consistently

Southern peas grow quickly once summer heat arrives, but early weeds can steal moisture and nutrients.

My routine:

Weed lightly every 7–10 days during the first month.
Use a collinear hoe or hand weeding to avoid disturbing young roots.

Once vines begin to run or bush varieties fill in, shading suppresses most weeds.

2. Mulch to Reduce Weeds and Save Water

A 1–2 inch mulch layer of straw or shredded leaves:

Prevents weed seeds from germinating
Conserves moisture
Moderates soil temperature

In both Sonoma Valley and the Central Valley, mulching significantly cuts midseason weeding. I rarely weed after July once mulch is in place.

Training Southern Peas: When You Should Help the Vines

Southern peas vary widely:

Bush types need little to no training.
Semi-vining types may sprawl.
Full vining types benefit from trellising or support.

1. For Bush Varieties

No training required—just space properly at planting.

2. For Semi-Vining Varieties

These will send tendrils across nearby crops or paths.

My method:

Add a low trellis or 2–3 foot stakes if vines wander.
Gently guide vines upward once or twice early in the season.

This keeps rows tidy and improves airflow, reducing pest and disease pressure.

3. For Vining Varieties (6 feet or more)

I use simple supports:

Cattle panel arches
Netting on T-posts
6-foot bamboo tripods

Training vines early—around 10–12 inches tall—keeps them manageable and allows more sunlight to reach lower pods.

Midseason Maintenance: Keeping Vines Productive

1. Water Check

Southern peas rely on deep, infrequent watering. Midseason (especially mid-July through August), evaluate:

Are vines flowering well?
Are pods filling evenly?
Is soil too dry below the first 2–3 inches?

In extreme heat waves (common in the Central Valley), I add one extra deep watering per week to prevent flower drop.

2. Nutrient Check

Because southern peas fix their own nitrogen, fertilizer is rarely needed.

Midseason feeding only if:

Leaves are very pale
Growth is clearly stalled
Plants look stressed after a heatwave

If needed, top-dress with compost or apply a very low-nitrogen organic fertilizer (3-4-4 or similar).

3. Pest and Disease Check

Southern peas are resilient, but look for:

Aphids on tender tips
Spider mites during hot, dry spells
Root-knot nematodes in sandy soils
Cowpea curculio in the Southeast

My method:

Hose off aphids.
Increase watering slightly for mite pressure.
Rotate crops yearly for nematodes.

4. Clean Up Vine Growth

Trim back broken vines, clear weeds that escaped early control, and ensure mulch is intact. Healthy vines produce longer into the season.

My Takeaway

From years of warm-season gardening, I’ve found that southern peas thrive with low input but benefit from timely care. Weed early, guide vines when needed, check water and nutrients midseason, and the plants will reward you with heavy flowering and steady pod production well into late summer.