This online guide has been created for you to successfully grow a variety of plants that thrive in the tropics, using native seeds and plants to get growing with wise advice from fellow back
yard gardeners and farmers. You are welcome to add your wisdom and share growing and harvest tips and recipes. Send to proorganicbelize@gmail.com		 Welcome to the Pro-Organic Belize
Tropical Garden Grow Guide
Where you are the student and the teacher
July 2024 Plant of the Month
pigeon peas
Botanic name: Cajanus cajan
Family
Fabaceae family
Plant Type
 		Perennial vegetable bearing shrub
Sun Exposure
Full sun

 
Soil Preference
 		Pigeon peas grow well in a variety of soils, with a preference for well drained loamy soils in areas that do not get water logged.
Soil Ph
 		5-8; prefers 6.5 – 7.5H

Pigeon Peas

By Mary Loan

 

About pigeon peas:  Pigeon peas have been cultivated for over 3,000 years.  It is widely believed that this leguminous shrub plant originated in India and spread to Africa, then to semi-tropic and tropical areas world wide  In Jamaica, pigeon peas are very popular and are known as gungo peas or tur.  In Belize, they may also be known as ganga beans. The legumes are a highly nutritious food source for people and animals as well as having medicinal properties.   The wood from the pigeon pea bushes is used and firewood and fence posts.  Their red and yellow flowers attract bees.

 

How to grow: Dawn Dean, author of Gardening in Southern Belize, recommends direct seeding at the start of the rainy season in order to harvest and dry the peas in the dry season.  She advises to chop an 18 inch circle, then weed and clear the area completely bare.  Plant 4-5 seeds about 2 inches apart 1 inch deep in the center of the circle.  Place a strong stick at least 3 feet tall deep in the middle of the circle with a tag on top, so you can locate where the seeds are growing from.  Some sources advise creating a mound of soil for each hill.  A 6 foot by 6 foot area is needed per hill.  If you plant in rows a 6 foot by 4 foot area will work by planting seeds 2 inches apart and 1 inch deep.  Thin seedlings started in a circle or row to be about 4 inches apart. Be patient as the seeds may take up to three weeks to sprout. Water and weed the plants for the first few months until the bush gets stronger and requires less water.  Pigeon peas are drought resistant and thrive in hot temperatures. Be advised that the plants are slow growing and may require 120-140 days to mature.  Pigeon pea bushes grow to be about 3 to 6 feet tall.  Pigeon pea bushes are perennials and will produce for three to five years.  The wood can then be used as firewood and/or to make fence posts.  Seeds from a mature dried pod may be saved to replant when the former pigeon pea bushes are no longer producing.

 

Disease and insect control: Pigeon peas are hardy plants but may be susceptible to blister beetles, wilts, fungus, army worms and leaf cutter (wee-wee) ants.  Thuricide BT, an organic pesticide, may be used or ashes may be sprinkled around the plants.  Wee wee ants may be a problem as they have a great fondness for pigeon pea laves.

 

How to harvest:  It is best to snip the pods in order to avoid damage to the plant.  Pigeon peas may be harvested in their green stage, then shelled and eaten or cooked like green garden peas. While harvesting, the peas can be eaten out of hand as a gardening snack, then refrigerated for about three days while enjoying them in recipes raw or cooked.  The extras may be blanched and frozen.  Once the pods turn brown, the seeds can be threshed and freed of their shells, dried in the sun, then stored in jars.

 

Health benefits:  Pigeon peas are a high protein food source.  They contain vitamins A, B6, and C.  They are a rich source of calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper and manganese.  They contain phytochemicals and fiber. Pigeon peas and the leaves, roots and peas are used medicinally in some countries.  Some uses include grinding the leaves into a powder, mixing with water or oil and applying to sores and wounds.  In China, pigeon pea leaves tea is used as an expectorant and sedative.  Many other applications may be found by browsing the internet, including some developing research about cosmetic applications.

 

Recipes:  Pigeon peas may be substituted in any recipe calling for lentils.  They hold their shape better.

The taste of the young green peas is similar to fresh garden peas.  A simple way to process the green peas is as follows: boil the whole pea, shell and all, for about five minutes then transfer the peas to an icy water bath, then chill and shell them.  For a quick and easy salad mix raw fresh green peas with chunks of papaya, mango or pineapple and serve on lettuce leaves.  To cook dried peas soak for at least eight hours then drain and rinse.  The dried peas take on a deep nutty flavor.  Simmer the peas in a covered pot for about one hour or until tender.  Rice, pigeon pea and veggies combo recipe:

Heat a large frying pan or heavy pot to medium heat with 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, add about 1 cup chopped onions for about 3 minutes then add 3 minced garlic cloves and simmer for 2 more minutes. Chop up a variety of veggies, eggplant, peppers, carrots, cabbage, (about one or two cups) and add to the  pot. Then cook one cup of rice and 4 cups water over a low heat for 20 minutes for white rice, 40 minutes for brown rice, add sea salt, pepper to taste, 2 tsps. turmeric and 1 tsp. thyme and other seasonings of your choice.

 

A side note: It seems that pigeon peas have waned in popularity over the years in Belize.  With such nutritional value it’s a disappointment; it is not easy to find seeds to plant or eat in Belize.  Selina Wamucii* has a website stating prices of pigeon pea seeds.  The last posted findings report pigeon peas range in price from 1.94 to 5.11 bzd per pound; however the site does not inform how to obtain the seeds. I speculate that perhaps the harvesting and preparation of pigeon peas may be overly time consuming for people who work while raising families.  There may be a profitable future for gardeners and farmers who wish to rekindle the pigeon pea growing industry in Belize. If you have any pigeon pea seeds, or know where to find them or a fond memory or pigeon pea recipe, please kindly share it by sending it to proorganicbelize@gmail.com.  Thank you.

 

 

* Selina Wamucii is a pan African social enterprise that integrates small holder farmers, pastoralists, fishing communities into global supply chains.

 


If you have additional info to share, send to proorganicbelize@gmail.com

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