For hay, crop cut when most pods are fully developed, and first ones have ripened. Ordinary mowing machine is used for harvesting cowpeas. Yields and Economics Yields vary with cv climate, soil, and culture. In southeastern United States cowpeas are grown mainly for green pods and green seeds in southeastern United States and for dry beans in California. In either dry or humid areas ofUnited States and Africa, cowpeas almost entirely self-pollinated.
Flowers open early in morning, close by noon and fall off the same day.
Pollen is sticky and heavy. In southeastern United States, the cowpea curculio is the most serious pest. Dieldrin has proved effective against Maruca testulalis and diazinon against Ophiomyia phaseoli. With effective integrated insect control, seed yield has increased 30-fold. Stagonospora phaseoli, Thielaviopsis basicola, Thyrospora solani, Uromyces appendiculatus, U. phaseoli, U. vignae, Verticillium alboatrum, and Woroninella dolichi.