Cowpea: Baby Cream
(Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata)

Vigna unguiculata is a grain legume that originates in Africa. Attributes such as vine shape (climbing, prostrate, or semi-erect), seed color (shades of white, pink, brown, and black), and seed maturation time (60 to 240 days) vary with variety. Pods appear in V-shaped pairs. It is an important source of edible, dry seeds. Immature/green pods, seeds, and leaves are also eaten. It makes an excellent green manure/cover crop and can be fed to livestock as hay, silage, or cut and carry forage. Best varieties for small-scale agriculture are usually those with spreading vines (for ground coverage/animal fodder) and high pod production (for human/livestock consumption). Early-maturing types are suited to short rainy seasons.

This variety was released from the USDA vegetable laboratory in Charleston, South Carolina. It forms compact erect plants with 15 cm long pods that are filled with 13 small cream-colored peas. This variety is resistant to lodging and root-knot nematodes and performs well under hot and humid conditions. 63-74 days to dry pod harvest.