Other Names: Cajanus cajun, Congo peas, Gunga peas
The pigeon pea has to be one of the most versatile and hearty perma-culture plants. A staple of Mexican and south American cuisine this variety produces a hearty yield. Use the green peas like fresh peas, and the dried peas like any other dried peas, beans or lentils. In India, the peas are combined with lentils to make a popular soup or for Dhal.
Meanwhile, the people in the Dominican Republic and Hawaii grow the seeds for canning. The taste of pigeon peas is nutty and grain-like. The peas can also be sprouted to make them even more nutritious, and they can be ground into flour.
Pigeon Pea Makes for a Great Nitrogen-Fixer, And More!
Every time you prune them (and also when the plant dies) root nodules release nitrogen that can be used by other plants. Their open canopy shelters young, delicate plants but lets enough light through for things to grow underneath. They have a very deep tap root that is able to break through hard pans and improve the soil structure. A hedge of Cajanus pea plants makes for a good windbreak.
Pigeon pea plants also bring nutrients from the subsoil to the surface. It is used extensively as a cover crop, a chop and drop green manure, inter crop etc. in many sustainable farming systems in the tropics and subtropics, and in many home gardens in warm climates.
The Pigeon Pea plant is a short lived perennial shrub. It lives for about five years. Nonetheless, pigeon pea plants will keep growing and self seeding. The flowers are yellow or yellow and red. The leaves consist of three leaflets and are a dark green above and silvery underneath.
How to Care for Pigeon Pea Plants
Pigeon peas will grow just about anywhere, and can cope with poor soils and little water. Of course they will grow faster, bigger, better, and live longer if they have plenty of water and nutrients. If you get freezing winters you can choose to cover them from the frost or simply grow them as an annual crop.
Once established they self seed prolifically. Cut down the ones you don’t really want and use as mulch. Leave the ones that grow in the right spots.
Germination Procedure: Sow seeds 1 inch deep. The seeds take about two to three weeks to germinate (Germination is faster in warm soils and takes longer in cooler climates).
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