How To Grow Cowpeas In Uganda

What Is Cowpeas?

The cowpea is an annual herbaceous legume from the genus Vigna. Due to its tolerance for sandy soil and low rainfall, it is an important crop in the semiarid regions across Africa.

How To Grow Cowpeas In Uganda?

Cowpeas can be planted either on ridges or on flat beds depending upon your chosen field preparation. To plant sow 3 seeds per drilled hole of about 2cm deep, then gently rake the soil to cover the seeds. Maintain a spacing of 50cm between rows and 20 cm within the plants in a row.

What Is The Best Way To Plant Cowpeas In Uganda?

Time of Planting: Most gardeners plant cowpea seeds directly outdoors, once the danger of frost has passed. Water seeds well to speed up germination. Spacing Requirements: Plant the cowpea seeds 2-3 inches apart, ½ inch deep directly into warm soil. Time to Germination: Cowpeas are quick to germinate.

How Many Days Does It Take Cowpea To Germinate In Uganda?

Sow seeds directly into the garden. They germinate best at a soil temperature of 65 degrees or higher. Follow the spacing directions on the packet. Seeds germinate in 7-10 days.

How Long Does Cowpeas Take To Mature In Uganda?

Cowpeas take 80 days or more to become ready for harvest. If growing on a vine, they will need some support like a pole or fence during their growth.

What Is The Best Time For Planting Cowpea In Uganda?

Showed that elite cowpea lines performed better in terms of grain yield when planted between mid-June and mid-July without insecticide protection, whereas a local variety included in the study produced higher grain yield when planted between late July and early August.

How Much Is Cowpeas In Uganda?

The price in Uganda Shilling is UGX 2430.56 per kg.

What Is The Best Fertilizer For Cowpeas In Uganda?

Apply a balanced fertilizer at planting time, such as 250 pounds of 13-13-13 or 200 pounds of 19-19-19 per acre. No additional fertilizer should be required after this.

Do You Soak Cowpeas Before Planting In Uganda?

Most of them have hard coats, and all benefit from soaking before planting. Soak them overnight in warm water. This will expedite the germination process.

Do Cowpeas Need Fertilizer In Uganda?

Fertilization: N is not required. Cowpea performs best on well-drained sandy loams or sandy soils where soil pH is in the range of 5.5 to 6.5. Excess nitrogen (N) promotes lush vegetative growth and delays maturity. A starter N rate of around 27 lb/acre is recommended for early plant development on low-N soils.

What Is The Spacing Of Cowpeas In Uganda?

It is advisable to sow three seeds per drilled hole of about 2cm deep, then gently rake the soil to cover the seeds. Maintain a spacing of 60cm between rows and 30 cm within the plants in a row. Where the cowpea is to be intercropped or relayed with other crops like maize, a spacing of 75cmx50cm should be maintained.

Are Cowpeas Easy To Grow In Uganda?

Cowpeas are relatively easy to grow, and they are tolerant of poor soils and drought conditions. These are some of the most drought-resistant plants around and they are also suitable for long term storage.

What Can You Not Plant With Cowpeas In Uganda?

Avoid planting beans near onion or fennel. Plant bush beans in either rows or blocks, with 4-6 inches between each seed.

How Do You Know When Cowpeas Are Ready To Pick In Uganda?

Harvesting. Cultivars of cowpeas and yardlong beans vary in their tendency to shatter (when the fruits split to disperse seeds). The pods are mature enough to harvest once they have begun to turn yellow, but if they are monitored carefully to avoid shattering, they can be left on the plants until they are tan and dry.

What Is Soil Requirement Of Cowpea In Uganda?

Select a well-drained sandy loam soil for rainfed cowpea, and inland depressions or along the shores of a lake for a dry season crop using residual moisture. Cowpea does not tolerate excessively wet conditions or waterlogging and should not be grown on poorly drained soil.

What Is The Seed Rate Of Cowpea In Uganda?

25 kg/ha

1.SeasonJune – July – Irrigated September – October – Rainfed January- February
6.Seed rate25 kg/ha
7.Spacing
(i).For fodder purpose30 x 15 cm in lines
(ii).For seed purpose60 x 15 cm in lines

What Grows Well With Cowpeas In Uganda?

Some good companion plants are beans, carrots, corn, cucumber, radishes, and turnips. Do not plant with garlic, onions, or potatoes.

Can You Eat Cowpea Leaves In Uganda?

They attract pollinators and beneficial microorganisms, and of course, the beans and new growth are edible. The beans (25% protein), young shoots, pea pods, and leaves of a cowpea plant are all edible.

How Do We Harvest Cowpea In Uganda?

Cowpea can be harvested using a harvester or by hand. The upright cultivars are easy to harvest by machine. Cowpea grown as a dried seed product can be directly combined, using a platform head or a row crop head. Adjustments to combine settings and sieve sizes should be made for the cowpea seed.