Big Red Ripper African (Southern) Pea
Vigna unguiculata
Seeds per pack ~ 40
Germination: 92% Nov 2024 Packed for 2025
Origins and History
The Big Red Ripper African (Southern) Pea (Vigna unguiculata), also known as a cowpea, is a traditional heirloom variety with deep roots in African agriculture, carried to the Americas through the transatlantic slave trade. Over centuries, it became a cornerstone crop in the Southern United States, prized for its ability to thrive in hot, dry conditions and poor soils. This variety reflects both African farming heritage and Southern food traditions, sustaining generations with its resilience and nutritional value.
Appearance and Characteristics
Big Red Ripper peas grow on vigorous, trailing or semi-vining plants that produce abundant pods. The pods are long and slightly curved, maturing to contain large, deep-red seeds with a smooth texture. The plants are drought-tolerant, heat-loving, and adapted to a wide range of soil types. Their dense foliage helps shade the soil, suppress weeds, and protect developing pods from excessive sun.
Culinary Uses
This variety is celebrated for its rich, earthy flavor and meaty texture. The fresh green pods can be enjoyed as snaps when young, while the mature seeds are traditionally shelled and cooked in classic Southern dishes such as hoppin’ john, stews, soups, and slow-simmered pot meals. They are equally delicious boiled with herbs, smoked meats, or vegetables, and they hold up well in freezing or canning for year-round enjoyment.
Growing Tips with Vegetation Zones and Sow Depth
Big Red Ripper peas grow best in USDA Zones 7–10 but can be cultivated as an annual in cooler climates. They prefer full sun and well-drained soil, though they tolerate sandy and less fertile ground. Direct sow seeds outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures reach at least 65°F. Plant seeds 1 inch deep, spacing them 4–6 inches apart in rows 24–36 inches apart. Avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen to prevent excessive vine growth at the expense of pods.
Harvesting Guidance
For fresh “snap” peas, harvest the pods while still tender and before seeds swell fully. For shelling peas, wait until the pods are plump and the seeds have reached full size but are not yet dry. To store as dry peas, allow pods to mature and dry completely on the vine before picking. Once harvested, shell and store the dry peas in airtight containers in a cool, dark place for long-term use. Regular picking of fresh pods encourages continued production throughout the growing season.
Botanical Origins of Vigna unguiculata
Vigna unguiculata, commonly known as cowpea, black-eyed pea, or southern pea, is a species of legume that originated in sub-Saharan Africa. Its wild relatives are native to tropical regions of West Africa, where the plant evolved in dry savanna ecosystems characterized by seasonal rainfall and poor soils. Genetic and archaeological evidence points to the Sahel region—spanning modern-day Niger, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso—as the primary center of domestication. This region’s fluctuating climate favored plants that could tolerate drought, leading to the selection of early cowpea types adapted to marginal soils and variable moisture. The species’ genetic diversity is greatest in Africa, supporting its identification as the evolutionary cradle of the crop.
History of Domestication
Domestication of Vigna unguiculata likely began more than 3,000 years ago, when early African farmers began selecting plants with larger seeds, less pod shattering, and improved taste. These cultivated forms were closely associated with the rise of settled agriculture in West African communities that also grew millet and sorghum. Archaeobotanical finds from central Ghana and the Niger River basin confirm cowpea’s early presence in African farming systems. Its rapid domestication was driven by its multipurpose utility—as a source of protein-rich seeds, edible leaves, and soil-enriching green manure.
Spread and Diversification
From West Africa, domesticated cowpea spread along ancient trade routes both within Africa and beyond. It moved eastward into Ethiopia and down into southern Africa, where it diversified under local growing conditions and cultural preferences. Through trans-Saharan trade and contact with the Mediterranean world, Vigna unguiculata reached India by around 2,000 years ago, and later spread to Southeast Asia. The species was introduced to the Americas in the 16th–17th centuries via the transatlantic slave trade, where enslaved Africans carried seeds and culinary traditions that became embedded in Southern U.S. food culture. In the Americas, cowpea adapted to new environments and diversified into varieties such as the black-eyed pea, clay, cream, and crowder types. Today, it is a global crop cultivated across tropical and subtropical regions, valued for its resilience, nitrogen-fixing ability, and central role in food security.
