How to grow cowpea on the balcony?

After the Chinese New Year, I want to plant some cowpeas in my own yard, but I don’t know how to plant them on the balcony?

Seedling cultivation

The root system has weak regeneration ability, so direct seeding is often used. The optimum temperature for germination is 25-30℃, and the temperature should be above 20℃ during sowing. ① The potting soil should be watered thoroughly before sowing, with 3-4 seeds per hole and covered with soil of about 2-3 cm. ② After germination, remove the diseased and weak seedlings, leaving 2-3 plants per hole; thin out the seedlings once when there are 3-4 true leaves, leaving 1-2 plants per hole. If transplanting is required, it can be transplanted 3-4 weeks after germination when 2 true leaves grow and the first compound leaf unfolds, then water thoroughly, and enter normal management after survival.

Planting should be done after the frost breaks, when the seedlings are 20-25 days old. Apply more decomposed organic fertilizers, 3000-5000kg per mu, 25-30kg superphosphate, 50-100kg plant ash or 10-20kg potassium sulfate, planting density is 66cm row spacing, 10-20cm hole spacing, 3000-3500 holes per mu, two or three plants per hole (two or three plants can be used for seedling raising, which is convenient for planting later). After planting, water the seedlings to slow down the growth, deep tillage and squat the seedlings for 5-8 days to promote the development of the root system.

Cowpea-Daily Management

① A support should be set up when there are 5 to 6 true leaves. In the early stage, the vine should be pulled onto the support in a counterclockwise direction and fixed with ropes. This is usually done at noon or in the afternoon on a sunny day. In the later stage, the vine has a strong winding ability and no human assistance is required.

② In the early stage, less fertilizer should be applied. About one week after the planting and survival, apply thin and well-rotted organic fertilizer once. From the budding to the maturity stage, fertilize once every 7 to 10 days, pay attention to increasing the proportion of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, and fertilize 2 to 3 times in succession.

③ It likes warmth, and the optimum growth temperature is 20-30℃. It grows slowly below 15℃, and freezes below 5℃. It is resistant to high temperatures, and can still bloom and produce pods at 35℃, but the quality is poor. It is relatively drought-resistant but not waterlogged. Water should be properly controlled in the early stage. When about half of the inflorescences on the main vine begin to produce pods, water should be fully applied to ensure that the soil is moist.

④ When the main vine grows the first inflorescence, all the side branches below the inflorescence should be removed, and the side branches above the inflorescence should be pinched, leaving 2 leaves at the base; when the main vine climbs all over the support, it should be topped to encourage the lower side branches to sprout flower buds.

⑤ The inflorescence is racemose, with 2 to 5 pairs of flowers, but usually only one pair of pods is produced. Often the second pair of flower buds begins to develop or bear fruit only after the first pair of pods are picked. If there is sufficient fertilizer and water and proper maintenance, all the flowers on the inflorescence can produce pods.

Cowpea-harvesting

7 to 10 days after flowering, the pods can be picked when they are full and the seeds are slightly exposed. When picking, break them about 1 cm from the base, being careful not to damage other flowers.

Cowpea-Nutritional Value

It is sweet and mild in nature, and can strengthen the stomach and kidneys. It contains easily digestible and absorbable protein, as well as a variety of vitamins and trace elements. The phospholipids it contains can promote insulin secretion, making it an ideal food for diabetics.