Piggott peas should be relatively large, grayish with speckles. They tend to grow in a compact clump with relatively short vines. The peas ripen within a short interval and then are gone. In other words, they are kind of like a determinate tomato, something you harvest and preserve and then they are gone. I recommend growing them in relatively poor soil, they do not do well if planted into richer soil. Cowpeas are very good at producing their own nitrogen, but definitely benefit from innoculation with the correct bacteria.

There seems to be a contoversy as to what is the true Pigott Pea and it's true spelling
The PIGGOTT PEA from SESE is brown
The one from S.C.Crop Imp. is reddish brown and spelled PIGGOTT PEA
The PIGOTT FAMILY from SANDHILL is also reddish brown
The discription in the year book over the years state that PIGOTT FAMILY HEIRLOOM is grey speckled tan
All state they originated in Washington Parish LA.
I guess they should e listed as sold
Charlie

This post was edited by hementia8 on Thu, Jan 16, 14 at 10:25

Charlie, I have grown several of the cowpeas. We all have different taste buds and those that I grew did not do well for me. Now the Jackson Wonder butter bean I grow a few of those each year. It is one of my favorite bush butter beans. The pink eye purple hull BVR cowpea can be used as a pole variety. I usually plant a few of those during the summer months.

Luther

Hementia, I purchased the same speckled mix from SESE this past fall/winter and grew a few seeds in limited space. A couple of them appear to be a semi-vining bush and a couple of them appear to be bush. I had a very hard time getting any germination, but will try again next year. I think they are not yet stable as the seed I planted don't look much like those I have harvested thus far.