Black-eyed peas are actually beans rather than peas, related to the likes of pole beans and bush beans that are commonly seen in vegetable gardens worldwide. Also referred to as cowpeas or southern peas, the crop is known for its distinctive black spot, and can come in both bush and climbing varieties.
It is regarded as being lucky to eat black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day, but if you grow your own you can have a big and long harvest for all your needs. The immature pods can be picked to be eaten whole, or the beans grown to be shelled or dried for an extended storage life.
