Description

🟢 Deepika Pea, also known as Deepika Payar, is a popular vegetable cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) variety cultivated in Kerala. It’s especially loved for its tender pods, high yield, and suitability for home gardens and terrace farming.

🌿 Key Features

• Growth Habit: Semi-trailing or climbing; may need support like trellises
• Pod Length: Typically 25–30 cm, slender and light green
• Texture: Smooth, stringless, and tender when harvested young
• Harvest Time: Ready in 45–60 days from sowing

🍽️ Culinary Value

• Used in Kerala dishes like payar mezhukkupuratti, avial, and stir-fries
• Rich in fiber, protein, and vitamins
• Absorbs spices beautifully and cooks quickly

🌱 Cultivation Tips

• Climate: Thrives in warm, humid conditions—perfect for Kerala
• Soil: Loamy, well-drained soil enriched with compost
• Spacing: 30 cm between rows and 15 cm between plants
• Support: Needs trellising or stakes for climbing
• Watering: Keep soil moist during flowering and pod formation