What are the precautions for growing cowpeas?

Cowpea is what we commonly call long bean. Most of its nutrients are vitamins. Although it can be eaten raw, it can cause poisoning if it is not fully cooked when prepared as a dish. We all quite enjoy eating pickled long beans now, especially in summer, and they also have the effect of relieving heat, so basically many people grow cowpeas. Today, Qinnong Network wants to tell you about some issues that need attention when growing cowpeas. Let's take a look below.

1. Select good varieties

There are now at least dozens, if not hundreds, of cowpea varieties, but each cowpea variety has its own advantages, for example, some have high yield, some have good quality, some have good disease resistance, and so on. These are actually determined by the local environment. In fact, cowpea varieties are all quite good, it is just that their growth performance differs in different environments. So we need to select seeds according to the local climate, and next we should pay attention to understanding market conditions, seeing which cowpea variety is more popular and more competitive, and choose the variety with the greatest economic value for planting.

2. Seed treatment

Cowpea seeds are harvested from mature bean pods, so before planting we need to treat the seeds. First, we take the seeds out of the pods, remove impurities, then soak the seeds in medicinal solution for about twenty minutes and take them out, rinse them three or four times with clean water, drain the water, and place them at a suitable temperature for germination. After most of the seeds have sprouted, they can be sown in the field. This can greatly increase the seedling emergence rate of the seeds and at the same time enhance the resistance of the seeds.

3. Reasonable density

When growing cowpeas, be sure to pay attention to reasonable density. Otherwise, if planted too densely, many bean seedlings will not get sunlight, which reduces the chance of forming pods, and in severe cases may cause cowpea seedlings to die. Second, the purpose of this is also to enhance ventilation in the field so that the field does not look so gloomy. The best planting density is a spacing of thirty cm between each plant and fifty cm between each row, so they have a certain amount of space to spread out.

4. Watering and fertilizing

We need to water according to the growth condition of the bean seedlings. If the bean seedlings have just emerged not long ago, then basically water once about every week. But after the bean seedlings grow, watering needs to be based on the humidity in the field. If the soil is relatively dry, then watering is needed; if there is more rain, then drainage is needed. However, when the bean seedlings bloom and form pods, they need more water. After transplanting, one fertilization is needed, mainly using urea. When the plant grows to about forty cm, a second fertilization is needed, generally using manure and urine water. The third fertilization should be when the plant blooms, and we can choose to use potassium fertilizer and phosphorus fertilizer. Because cowpeas are harvested in batches, after each harvest we must fertilize once to promote the growth of the next batch of cowpeas.

5. Pruning and trellising

In order to increase the pod-setting rate of cowpeas, we need to prune and trellis the bean seedlings when they reach a certain stage of growth. Generally, when the bean seedlings grow to a height of forty to fifty cm, we should set up a support beside the bean seedlings and let the bean seedlings grow along the support. This can not only increase yield but also reduce some pests and diseases. When the bean seedlings begin to form cowpeas, we can remove the leaves in some places where growth is relatively dense. This can increase density and enhance air permeability between the cowpea seedlings, making disease less likely.