# GTS Vigna seed mix for 2026? Not just cowpeas again? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussions\ **Tags:** legume, beans, vigna\ **Created:** [September 30, 2025, 7:54pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/gts-vigna-seed-mix-for-2026-not-just-cowpeas-again/4265 "2025-09-30T19:54:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![VeggieSavage](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/veggiesavage/32/3383_2.png) [@VeggieSavage](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/VeggieSavage)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 7:54pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/gts-vigna-seed-mix-for-2026-not-just-cowpeas-again/4265/1 "2025-09-30T19:54:49Z")
Anyone growing _Vigna spp._ Beans or Cowpeas? I was hoping to get a seed mix started with _Vigna_ beans. GTS did offer a “Not just cowpeas” seed mix in 2024, we skipped 2025 but I wonder if there’s enough interest to have one in 2026? I received the “Not Just Cowpeas” in 2024 & I sorted them into separate groups. Majority of what was submitted were _Vigna unguiculata_. Some Pigeon Peas (_Cajanus cajan_) were also tossed in. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/landracegardening/original/3X/4/a/4a8fa0e68c28294eb5aacda812363a254d8e127f.jpeg) I was also hoping we could separate the _Vigna_ into basic 2 groups that don’t hybridize between each other but mostly cross within their own group/subgenus. This way we can grow cross-compatible species together. Here’s how to ID them. 1. **Cowpeas Group : Subgenus _Plectotropis_**. These are mostly just Cowpeas. These have bigger purple to white flowers & more bean shaped seeds with distinct hilum. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/landracegardening/original/3X/f/5/f53fd27ca8da25430bbd3dc7c8288b92329f1e86.jpeg) ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/landracegardening/original/3X/4/5/455f84e93a33d6f577dfdf3a119ff75e80623c9f.jpeg) It includes the following species - Cowpeas/Black Eyed Peas (_Vigna unguiculata_) : These types were submitted last time. - Zombie Pea (_Vigna vexillata_) : I doubt anyone on here is growing these 1. **Mung Bean Group : Subgenus _Ceratotropis_**. In this group are Mung, Moth, Urad, Rice, Adzuki, and many more types/species. They are all cross-compatible. These have smaller, more twisty yellow flowers & more squarish/rectangular seeds. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/landracegardening/original/3X/5/6/56a1f3ac6ae7e42579ca26dcf45db2362af76173.jpeg) ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/landracegardening/original/3X/0/4/0417df8cb0329b5cf1464569cc24dd39e5ade1d6.jpeg) It includes the following species - Mung Bean (_Vigna radiata_) : Closely related to Urad Bean - Urad Bean (_Vigna mungo_) : Closely related to Mung Bean - Moth Bean (_Vigna aconitifolia_) : Very Drought Tolerant - Rice Bean (_Vigna umbellata_) : Closely related to Adzuki Bean - Adzuki Bean (_Vigna angularis_) : Closely related to Rice Bean Here’s the Phylogenic Tree for _Vigna_. Helpful for exploring interspecies _Vigna_ landrace! ![Vigna Phylogenic Tree split into Subgenra and Sections All Species 2024 Fabaceae](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/landracegardening/original/3X/0/0/00bd7147b7a2f478924f257a140bb6a32a869545.jpeg) ![Vigna Phylogenic Tree split into Subgenera Color Coded Fabaceae](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/landracegardening/original/3X/3/a/3a1679ddfd03b2e94bebe87b0b6aad7b471de200.png) ---
**Author:** ![APUCommunityGarden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@APUCommunityGarden](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/APUCommunityGarden)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2025, 9:01pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/gts-vigna-seed-mix-for-2026-not-just-cowpeas-again/4265/2 "2025-09-30T21:01:30Z")
I can contribute cowpeas. I’ve divided mine into two mixes (can’t say that I’ve seen evidence of crossing): bushy habit and climbing habit, each with 3 or 4 different ones. I will say - I’m about to retire my climbing habit cowpeas due to consistently much lower yield. ---
**Author:** ![VeggieSavage](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/veggiesavage/32/3383_2.png) [@VeggieSavage](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/VeggieSavage)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 2:45am UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/gts-vigna-seed-mix-for-2026-not-just-cowpeas-again/4265/3 "2025-10-01T02:45:25Z")
> [@APUCommunityGarden](#): > > I can contribute cowpeas. I’ve divided mine into two mixes (can’t say that I’ve seen evidence of crossing) Are they all the same species _Vigna unguiculata_? Bushy & Climbing habit is also another good way to sort them but that’s mostly if we get a bunch more like how was done with Common Beans (_Phaseolus vulgaris_). ---
**Author:** ![APUCommunityGarden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@APUCommunityGarden](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/APUCommunityGarden)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 3:24am UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/gts-vigna-seed-mix-for-2026-not-just-cowpeas-again/4265/4 "2025-10-01T03:24:21Z")
Yes, all v unguiculata. ---
**Author:** ![VeggieSavage](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/veggiesavage/32/3383_2.png) [@VeggieSavage](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/VeggieSavage)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 6:04am UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/gts-vigna-seed-mix-for-2026-not-just-cowpeas-again/4265/5 "2025-10-01T06:04:22Z")
Fantastic! These would be perfect to contribute to GTS seed mixes. ---
**Author:** ![APUCommunityGarden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@APUCommunityGarden](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/APUCommunityGarden)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 2:21pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/gts-vigna-seed-mix-for-2026-not-just-cowpeas-again/4265/6 "2025-10-01T14:21:14Z")
I’ve added an envelope of them to the stack going to GTS. I think I’ve got everything except the most giant of the sunflowers, which are still drying. ---
**Author:** ![lyvasana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@lyvasana](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/lyvasana)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 8:40pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/gts-vigna-seed-mix-for-2026-not-just-cowpeas-again/4265/7 "2025-10-01T20:40:59Z")
This has been my first year growing pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan) the ones that I started early in the season did not do well. I think I started them too early. I got a second set going. I hope I get seeds this year and then I could contribute for 2026. The tree is just starting to form flower buds. My first frost is usually late November time frame. I am in the Bay Area CA. ---
**Author:** ![VeggieSavage](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/veggiesavage/32/3383_2.png) [@VeggieSavage](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/VeggieSavage)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 12:00am UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/gts-vigna-seed-mix-for-2026-not-just-cowpeas-again/4265/8 "2025-10-02T00:00:42Z")
Fantastic! Which type of Pigeon peas are you growing? Share some photos! I don’t know much about Pigeon peas, ideally it would be best for it’s own separate mix. But if there are only a few contributions than we can repeat trowing a few in from last time. ---
**Author:** ![lyvasana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@lyvasana](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/lyvasana)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 11:36pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/gts-vigna-seed-mix-for-2026-not-just-cowpeas-again/4265/9 "2025-10-02T23:36:15Z")
![PXL_20251002_233345746.MP](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/landracegardening/original/3X/8/8/88390e1d3c6bdd606dd3243eeea896052023e08d.jpeg) ![PXL_20251002_233356533.MP](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/landracegardening/original/3X/1/2/123b13ce8cad692f14a9320cf50ef8871bca8967.jpeg)The tree is about 5 feet tall now and the flower buds just started forming. They are supposed to be able to live as a short-lived perrenial in my area and I hope to get at least a few pods this year. ---
**Author:** ![norris](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/norris/32/11210_2.png) [@norris](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/norris)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2025, 6:27am UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/gts-vigna-seed-mix-for-2026-not-just-cowpeas-again/4265/10 "2025-10-04T06:27:35Z")
I’m growing these Vignas (in Hawai’i) - cowpeas - got good harvests of Red Ripper (sprawler) and Mavuno (climber for me, though others say it doesn’t climb) and a first harvest of a small number of other varieties. (Sourced from ECHO, EFN, and friends) - yard long beans - poor performance so far, but I’ve gotten some seeds for resowing - wild mung bean, _V. vexillata_ - grows very well here. The strain I have, originally from ECHO, has a similar running/sprawling habit as the Red Ripper cowpea. They’ve been pretty productive—not as much theoretical yield as from the cowpeas, but the wild mung beans are immune to the slug predation on green pods which has been a challenge off and on with cowpeas in the same beds - rice bean, _V. umbellata_ - I’ve planted two types from ECHO, bush and a vining “Green.” Maybe I mixed up harvests at some point, or maybe the genetics are unstable, or maybe they just behave differently here, but my “bush” plants are crazy climbers. I’m not sure yet how practical the seed harvest will be. The greens make good eating, and relieve some of the pressure on the neighbor plants who expected well-behaved bush companions, not relentless vines. - nanea / beach pea, _V. marina_ - native here. I’ve mostly failed to establish any from seed, but cuttings took very well. Grew well this season and made many pods. The plants got knocked back hard by a droughty spell, but I think they’re still alive. Pods and seeds are small, so much less efficient to harvest and process than the cowpeas and wild mungs. I did cook a batch and it turned out fine, so breeding and/or hybridization for larger seeds could be worthwhile. Leaves are good to eat. I could contribute lots of pigeon pea seeds, mostly “Black”, but also from several other varieties from ECHO. I have no idea whether they’ll do anything useful in temperate areas. I sent @Tanjaeskildsen a bunch in the spring; maybe she can share how they’ve done in Europe. ---
**Author:** ![VeggieSavage](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/veggiesavage/32/3383_2.png) [@VeggieSavage](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/VeggieSavage)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 5:54am UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/gts-vigna-seed-mix-for-2026-not-just-cowpeas-again/4265/11 "2025-10-05T05:54:50Z")
> [@lyvasana](#): > > They are supposed to be able to live as a short-lived perrenial in my area and I hope to get at least a few pods this year. Nice! It looks healthy, hopefully you get some pods. > [@norris](#): > > _V. vexillata_ - grows very well here. The strain I have, originally from ECHO, has a similar running/sprawling habit as the Red Ripper cowpea. WOW! You actually have that species, does yours make a big root like this? ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/landracegardening/original/3X/9/9/991206b3f85f1417413de4b363acee6f78b559a5.jpeg) Apparently they are edible raw or cooked. They have soft easily peelable skin with creamy tasty flesh & can be boiled or roasted like sweet potato or cassava. Reguardless I suspect it’s cross-compatible with Cowpeas (_Vigna unguiculata_) and the hybrid offspring will probably be even more adaptable. @norris Message me, I’d love to trade with ya for them & probably others too like _Vigna marina_. > [@norris](#): > > nanea / beach pea, _V. marina_ - native here. I’ve mostly failed to establish any from seed, but cuttings took very well. Grew well this season and made many pods. Nice! This is a very interesting one as it’s closely related to Bambara beans, belonging to the same subgenus _Vigna_. They might be able to cross with a lil help. I didn’t think anyone was growing them, if we could include these, that would be epic too! ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/landracegardening/original/3X/4/6/462d7982c5bd37f0687f1cb7de18bb6670a79f81.jpeg) Ima add the whole _Vigna_ Phylogenic Tree to the first post. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelFomhar](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/michaelfomhar/32/11621_2.png) [@MichaelFomhar](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/MichaelFomhar)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2025, 6:33pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/gts-vigna-seed-mix-for-2026-not-just-cowpeas-again/4265/12 "2025-10-05T18:33:41Z")
I’ll probably contribute a good few cowpeas this year ---
**Author:** ![NotFaeGardener](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/notfaegardener/32/2344_2.png) [@NotFaeGardener](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/NotFaeGardener)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2025, 4:30pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/gts-vigna-seed-mix-for-2026-not-just-cowpeas-again/4265/13 "2025-10-14T16:30:10Z")
I’m planning to send in some cowpeas this year from my wildly mixed up patch of “bush” & vine types. I didn’t grow any other Vignas, tho. ---
**Author:** ![VeggieSavage](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/veggiesavage/32/3383_2.png) [@VeggieSavage](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/VeggieSavage)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2026, 6:35pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/gts-vigna-seed-mix-for-2026-not-just-cowpeas-again/4265/15 "2026-05-23T18:35:07Z")
> [@Adrian](#): > > Some things that i noted,i dip the seeds one mid day, like dipped them in water & let them soak overnight before sowing? Sandpaper to nick the little seedcoat so water can penetrate faster? I find older seeds take longer to soak in water but will eventually grow. What is a hermetic box? ---
**Author:** ![Adrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/82dd89/32.png) [@Adrian](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/Adrian)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2026, 9:42pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/gts-vigna-seed-mix-for-2026-not-just-cowpeas-again/4265/16 "2026-05-23T21:42:34Z")
Sorry , i posted in the bad topic its a topic in vigna.I was mistaken.Someone can remove my last post please? A diping during a night or some hours can be pertinent for get fat the seed. When the seed are in ground the morning dew is the most part of time sufficient for started the germination for vigna unguiculata. Too watered at the germination can rot the seeds. In my low experience vigna unguiculata required a very draining soil for germinate and he moist in a too humid soil. He required a drought period for get flowers. If someone want i have cow peas seeds dall’occhio veneto ---
**Author:** ![VeggieSavage](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/veggiesavage/32/3383_2.png) [@VeggieSavage](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/VeggieSavage)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2026, 1:52am UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/gts-vigna-seed-mix-for-2026-not-just-cowpeas-again/4265/17 "2026-05-24T01:52:41Z")
> [@Adrian](#): > > Too watered at the germination can rot the seeds. That’s good to know, is this for all varieities? _Vigna unguiculata_ is a really diverse species, makes me wonder how cultivars from tropical humid regions do, they might have better adapted genetics for those climates. I know there’s a Catjang Thai Black Bean, perhaps if it’s from thailand, it will have more humid/water adapted genetics compared to black eyed peas which are more dry-african adapted? Drought period to get flowers? perhaps the stress triggered it to flower finally? ---
**Author:** ![norris](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/norris/32/11210_2.png) [@norris](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/norris)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2026, 10:33pm UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/gts-vigna-seed-mix-for-2026-not-just-cowpeas-again/4265/18 "2026-05-25T22:33:48Z")
I grew two varieties in humid tropical Hawai’i last year, and both did great. This year I planted about 10 more varieties whose permformance I actually tracked, and 6 or 7 did quite well, and the rest all grew and made some seeds, but not as many. I’ve planted another about 30 varieties in the past months, without trying to track what’s what. I’m seeing most of those germinating and thriving too. So, my limited experience is that they’re easy to grow, and mkae seeds well here. I’ve been poking the purchased seeds into the ground (with no presoaking); I’ll broadcast sow saved seed to select for easier planting. And at some point I need to segregate into bushy forms, running/low spreading ground cover types, and types that climb a lot. And I want to select for longer-lived plants, and/or self-seeding (I’m seeing some of that already), to minimize the planting I need to do. The main challenge I’ve had is that at some point, someone else is discovering patches and eating nearly 100% of the peas. I’m not sure whether it’s slugs/snails, and/or rodents. The hairier pods of wild mung bean, _Vigna vexillata_, don’t get eaten, so maybe some hybridization would be great. Or maybe some of the _unguiculata_ will reveal itself to already have resistance. ---
**Author:** ![VeggieSavage](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/goingtoseed.discourse.group/veggiesavage/32/3383_2.png) [@VeggieSavage](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/u/VeggieSavage)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 12:46am UTC](https://goingtoseed.discourse.group/t/gts-vigna-seed-mix-for-2026-not-just-cowpeas-again/4265/19 "2026-05-31T00:46:15Z")
> [@norris](#): > > I’ve been poking the purchased seeds into the ground (with no presoaking) I can confirm it, I’ve done that with _Phaseolus vulgaris_, works like a charm even in the forrest. _Vigna unguiculata_ also germinate well with this method (but groundhogs ate them much more). > [@norris](#): > > The hairier pods of wild mung bean, _Vigna vexillata_, don’t get eaten, so maybe some hybridization would be great. I think so, if the hairy pods don’t ruin the texture of the green beans for you, this would awesome! Both species are likely cross compatible (Both species are in the same Subgenus _Plectrotropis_). Speaking of which how big is your _Vigna vexillata_ (Zombie pea)? Many different varities within that species, one that makes edible bigger tuberous roots.