legume · direct sow
Southern Pea (Black-Eyed Pea): how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating southern pea (black-eyed pea) a few times a week needs about 44 plants in ~37 sq ft, worth about $66 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$3.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 11 | ~10 sq ft | ~21 | ~$17 |
| 2 people | 22 | ~19 sq ft | ~41 | ~$33 |
| 4 people | 44 | ~37 sq ft | ~81 | ~$66 |
| 6 people | 65 | ~55 sq ft | ~119 | ~$98 |
Spacing
4" in row · 30" between rows
Sow depth
1"
Days to harvest
65 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 29 – Jun 24 | — |
| Zone 4 | May 24 – Jul 4 | — |
| Zone 5 | May 14 – Jul 14 | — |
| Zone 6 | May 4 – Jul 4 | — |
| Zone 7 | Apr 19 – Jun 19 | — |
| Zone 8 | Apr 8 – Jun 8 | — |
| Zone 9 | Mar 6 – May 6 | — |
| Zone 10 | Feb 14 – Apr 16 | — |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
For fresh shelling: pods swollen with visible seed bumps, just turning from green to yellow, and seeds shell out plump. For dry: leave until pods are tan and papery and rattle.
Don't wait: In-between pods (leathery, half-dry) are the hardest to shell, go fresh-shelly or fully dry.
Yield
About 0.5 lbs per plant over ~3 productive weeks (~0.5 lb). Re-sow every ~14 days for a steady supply instead of one glut.
Watch for
Mexican bean beetle · Aphids · Rust & powdery mildew, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with sweet corn, squash, collards. Keep away from onion, garlic.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
90 kcal · 5 g fiber · 2.5 mg vitamin C · 431 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Southern Pea (Black-Eyed Pea) cans, freezes, or dries for the pantry. See how much to grow and store to feed your household, and how long it keeps.
Southern Pea (Black-Eyed Pea) planting questions
How many southern pea (black-eyed pea) plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 11 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 44 plants, which takes around 37 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does southern pea (black-eyed pea) need?+
Space plants 4" apart in the row with 30" between rows. Sow 1" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant southern pea (black-eyed pea)?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing southern pea (black-eyed pea) worth it?+
At about $3.00/lb retail and ~0.5 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $66 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.