Vigna unguiculata

Available for purchase from 1 July 2025  

Royal Striped Cowpea is a South African-adapted bush bean prized for its beautiful seeds and high productivity in hot, dry conditions. This variety produces round, pea-sized beans with striking white striping across each seed, offering a bicolour pattern that is as attractive as it is unique. With a low, spreading growth habit and robust resilience, it’s well suited to home gardens and small-scale farmers alike.

In the kitchen, Royal Striped is as versatile as any traditional dry cowpea. The beans cook evenly and soften beautifully, making them ideal for stews, slow-cooked dishes or as a hearty addition to rice and vegetable meals. Their mild, earthy flavour pairs well with aromatic spices and savoury broths, and they’re rich in plant-based protein and fiber.

Seeds should be sown directly into warm soil once the risk of frost has passed and temperatures remain above 18 °C. Plant seeds 2–3 cm deep, spaced 10–15 cm apart in rows about 50 cm wide. Germination takes 7 to 10 days under optimal conditions. Select a sunny, well-drained site for planting and water consistently during flowering and pod development.

Royal Striped Cowpea grows as a compact bush, reaching around 40 to 60 cm in height with a spread of up to 50 cm. The plants are drought-tolerant and well suited to poor soils, producing long pods that hold up to 20 beans each. They require no trellising and are easy to manage, even in small garden plots. Pods are best harvested once dry and leathery on the plant, after which the beans are easily shelled by hand.

To support optimal nitrogen fixation and plant vigour, treat seeds before sowing with SoyGro BeanFlo. This inoculant promotes strong early root development and supports higher yields, particularly in nutrient-poor soils.

LIMITED STOCK for 2025/6

Standard packet contains approx. 15 seeds

No Petite available