Puerto Rican Brown Frijoles (African Pea)

Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata

Origin: Puerto Rico via New Jersey

Improvement status: Landrace

Seeds per packet: ~40

Germination tested 10/2025: 90%

Life cycle: Annual

We got this productive and delicious red-brown-seeded African pea (a.k.a. cowpea or Southern pea or black-eyed pea, for the white and black type) from our dear friend Joe Kiefer, the second-generation owner and director of Triple Oaks Nursery in Franklinville, New Jersey. It came to him from a childhood friend, who in turn got it from another friend originally from Puerto Rico (our region of southern New Jersey has an old and well-established Puerto Rican community). Joe was able to glean very little about the origin of this variety, other than that it comes from Puerto Rico and they simply call it "frijole" — a word which simply means "bean" in other parts of Latin America, but specifically connotes African peas in Puerto Rico, where common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are much more likely to be called habichuelas.

This is a sprawling-type pea, though it would likely take to a trellis as well. It has relatively pale green pods, which are also tasty when young (as are the protein-rich leaves!), and makes a great dry bean, but its highest use is as a shelly bean, picked when the seeds are still oversized and slightly green. We're not sure when this variety was brought to New Jersey, but at this point it is very well-adapted to the north. Joe was able to grow pounds of it from a few short rows.

GROWING TIPS: Direct-sow when you would beans or corn, once the soil has warmed in the spring. Space plants one foot apart. Leave plenty of room for them to sprawl.