Cowpea planting technology and management methods

Cowpea, also known as green bean, string bean , etc., is a very popular vegetable and one of the important summer vegetables. Because it is easy to grow, it is grown in many areas. Let’s learn about cowpea planting techniques and management methods below.

1. Planting time

Cowpea grows strongly and can be produced all year round, but it is mainly used as a summer vegetable, so it is mostly cultivated during the high temperature period. The suitable sowing period is generally April to August in the north, March to September in the central part, and February to October in the south.

2. Land preparation

After the soil is plowed and broken up, furrows are dug according to the row spacing, base fertilizer is applied in the furrows, and then ridges are made, with two rows planted in one ridge. Ordinary soil is used as high ridges, and riverbed gravel is used as flat ridges. During the summer cultivation period, there is more rain, so large drainage ditches need to be built around and in the middle of the fields. To facilitate drainage.

3. Planting seeds

Sow directly in the rows with basal fertilizer, and sow 2 seeds in each hole according to the plant spacing. The thickness of the soil covering the seeds should be 2 cm, and 3 cm for sandy ground. If the soil is too thick, the seeds will easily rot, especially when the soil is too wet. The seed quantity is 0.8~1.0 kg per 0.1 hectare. When sowing in the rainy season, it is best to cover the rows with grass to prevent the soil from being washed away or becoming solidified.

4. Topdressing management

Do a good job of topdressing. The first time is to apply a thin amount of human and animal manure water after the seedlings emerge, and the second time is applied when there are three true leaves; the third time is applied when the vines just start to grow, using 30-40% concentration of human and animal manure water, and the fourth time is applied in the bud stage, using 30% concentration of human and animal manure water, add 7.5 kg of superphosphate and 100 kg of wood ash for flowering needs; the fifth time is applied during the pod-setting stage, using 40% human and animal manure water to promote vigorous vines and large pods. It is best to apply heavy fertilizer again from the time when pods are formed to the time when the plants fill the top of the frame to promote flowering and extend the harvest period.

5. Intertillage and weeding

In the early growth stage, inter-row cultivation and weeding should be carried out as appropriate depending on the occurrence of weeds. The tillage should be shallow to avoid damaging the root system. To save labor for weeding, herbicides can be sprayed after sowing. Use 300~450 ml of 34% Shidepu Emulsion per 0.1 hectare, diluted 350 times. The efficacy can be maintained for 1 month, but during the effective period of the herbicide , the soil surface should be avoided from being turned over.

6. Build a scaffold and prune

Before the vines become entangled with each other, insert small bamboo poles (preferably 2.5-3 meters high) and tie them in a herringbone shape. The vine is left-handed and will wrap around the bamboo pole from the left. The side vines at the base of the main vine should be removed early to facilitate ventilation, and the vines above the waist should be removed after leaving 50 cm, because the side vines only have inflorescences at 1-2 nodes. If the stems and leaves are too lush and hinder ventilation and light transmission, the old leaves can be removed in batches.

7. Irrigation and drainage

The soil needs to be kept appropriately moist during the growth period of cowpea. If it is too dry, it will easily cause flower drop and poor pod setting. At the same time, mosaic virus diseases transmitted by red spider mites and aphids will occur more frequently. Therefore, irrigation should be carried out when the soil is dry, usually using furrow irrigation. Watering should be done in the morning to avoid sudden changes in soil temperature. During rains, attention should be paid to drainage to prevent water from accumulating in the furrows.

That’s it