BLACK EYED PEA - SUMMER COVER CROP

 Some People may be familiar with Pete Kanaris and GreenDreams TV on You Tube, if you have not seen the channel, check it out.  One of the people you see frequently on GreenDreams TV is a nomadic farmer who travels back and forth between Maine and New Port Richey, Florida.  If you are interested in growing your own food....in your own front yard....watch this guy, his name is Jim Kovaleski.  He grows amazing amounts of food on his residential property in NPR. 

One of the things that we picked up from watching Mr. Kovleski put his Florida garden away for the summertime is the use of Black Eyed Peas as a cover crop.  When we reach the summer heat, to avoid drying out the beds and causing them damage, we like to grow something that will help improve the soil instead. 

Black Eyed Peas (also known as Cow Peas) are an annual of the legume family that are drought resistant and grow well with limited care.  The vines and broad leaves provide shade for the soil and their deep taproot help to aerate and enhance the soil tilth as well as provide nitrogen to the soil.  Not a fan of colder weather, the Black Eyed Pea enjoys the summer temperatures.  

We purchased our peas from WinnDixie / SE Grocers brand.  They were BOGO.