Queen Anne

Family: Fabaceae Legume

Tender pods of Queen Anne cowpea arrive with a satin, medium-green sheen and a graceful, slightly curved profile that feels crisp and lively in the hand.

When shelled, the beans offer a delicate, sweet-nutty flavor and a pleasantly firm bite—ideal for creating hearty, colorful bowls, silky sauces, and quick pickling-style preserves. A warm-season favorite that rewards steady sun with abundant, garden-to-table harvests in about 60 days.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Bush

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jun 24th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	60
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Bush
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	80
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	55
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Queen Anne cowpea leans sweet and nutty with a satisfying, not-mushy bite—so it stays crisp in hot pans and doesn’t collapse in bowls. Use it to build glossy, buttery sides or to make pickled crunch that still tastes like real vegetables, not just vinegar.

Best Uses

quick sauté with garlic and butter for a glossy, snappy side
tossed into grain bowls with a bright vinaigrette to keep the bite intact
silky purees or thickened soups where the beans hold body
quick pickling-style preserves for tangy, crunchy sweetness

Flavor Profile

sweet-nutty bean flavor tender-crisp snap in the pods or firm bite when shelled green, vegetal sweetness with a light buttered finish

Kitchen Pairings

olive oil garlic butter lemon onion cumin

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a common pest or disease for Vigna unguiculata (black-eyed pea/Queen Anne), and how can I manage it?

Watch for cowpea aphids and thrips, which can stunt growth and distort tender leaves; check the underside of leaves every few days. Rinse aphids off with a strong jet of water, then use insecticidal soap if populations persist. If you see leaf spots or a fading, water-soaked look on foliage, remove affected leaves and keep plants spaced for airflow to reduce foliar wetness.

How often should I water Queen Anne (Vigna unguiculata) during the main growing phase?

During active growth and flowering (about weeks 2–6), keep soil evenly moist but not soggy—about 1 inch (2.5 cm) per week total from rain plus watering, adjusting for your soil. Water deeply when the top 1 inch of soil is dry, and avoid frequent light sprinkling that wets leaves and encourages disease. Once pods start forming, reduce watering slightly so the soil doesn’t stay constantly wet.

How do I tell when Queen Anne (Vigna unguiculata) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when pods are firm and have filled out, typically around 60 days from sowing. For dried beans, leave pods on the plant until they are papery and the seeds rattle; for fresh snap-style harvest, pick pods earlier when they’re plump and tender. Either way, harvest promptly to prevent pods from cracking or drying too hard on the plant.