Cowpea Green Manure Seeds
Coverage: Approx. 500m² (1 kg) – A warm-season legume cover crop ideal for soil improvement, nitrogen fixation, and weed suppression.
Cowpea is a fast-growing summer green manure crop that thrives in a wide range of Australian conditions. It rapidly builds organic matter, fixes nitrogen, and produces dense foliage that shades out weeds. Perfect for enriching soils before vegetable planting, improving poor or depleted paddocks, or using as a living mulch in orchards and vineyards.
Why Choose Caloona Cowpea?
- High biomass production for organic matter and soil carbon
- Excellent nitrogen fixation, reducing fertiliser needs for following crops
- Dense canopy suppresses weeds and conserves soil moisture
- Attracts beneficial insects when flowering
- Tolerant of heat, drought, and a range of soil types
Key Benefits:
- Improves soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen through symbiotic bacteria
- Breaks up crusted or compacted soils with its vigorous root system
- Reduces erosion and protects bare ground over the warm months
- Supports soil microbial life and enhances nutrient cycling
- Can be slashed or incorporated to improve soil texture and water retention
Plant Details:
- Plant Type: Annual warm-season legume green manure
Sowing Information:
- Sow When: Temperate: October – January; Subtropical/Tropical: September – March
- Germination: 5–10 days depending on temperature and moisture
- Depth: Sow 2–4 cm deep
- Position: Full sun
- Sow Where: Broadcast or drill into prepared beds or paddocks; lightly cover and water in
- Soil Type: Grows in most well-drained soils; pH 5.5–7.5
- Spacing: Broadcast evenly or sow in rows 40–50 cm apart
Maintenance:
- Water as needed during establishment in dry weather
- Slash or cut before seed set (approx. 8–10 weeks after sowing) to prevent self-seeding and maximise nitrogen return
Soil Incorporation:
Allow residue to break down for 2–3 weeks before planting subsequent crops. For no-dig beds, chop and leave as a mulch layer to feed soil life and retain moisture.
