VegetableBean
Phenomenal (Cowpeas) Bean
Yori Cahui cowpea is a heat-loving legume collected from the Mayo people near Los Mochis in Sinaloa, Mexico, and brought into cultivation through Native Seeds/SEARCH. This variety produces exceptional long pods, the longest in the seed bank's collection, packed with oblong seeds that thrive in intense desert heat. It grows as a frost-tender annual that needs warmth to flourish, with seeds germinating best between 70 and 85°F.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained Loam, Tolerates Poor Soil
Growth Stats
Spacing
6
Plant Profile
Sunlight
—
Water
Moderate
Zones
?-?
Size
?in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
In Arizona's record-breaking heat, Yori Cahui produced abundant yard-long beans when other crops faltered, making it a survivor rather than a novelty. The pods stretch longer than almost any other cowpea variety, and the seeds themselves are distinctly oblong, giving this cultivar a unique character in the garden. Collected directly from indigenous farmers in Mexico's low coastal region, this is a living connection to traditional desert agriculture.
Common Uses
As a cowpea, Yori Cahui's long pods are harvested as a green bean vegetable, eaten fresh or cooked in soups, stews, and traditional preparations. The dried seeds can also be cooked like other legumes, providing a protein-rich staple. Its exceptional pod length makes it particularly suited to fresh harvest while the pods are tender, though they can also be left to mature and dried for long-term storage.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds in warm soil after all frost danger has passed and soil temperature reaches at least 70°F, ideally closer to 85°F for fastest germination.
Harvesting
Harvest pods while they are still young and tender for use as green beans, picking them regularly to encourage continued production. For dried beans, allow pods to mature and dry on the plant, then shell and store the seeds.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Vigna unguiculata
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Vigna
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)VI (I)
History & Origin
“Yori Cahui cowpea was collected by Native Seeds/SEARCH from the Mayo people in the village of Ahome, situated near Los Mochis in Sinaloa, Mexico, at just 32 feet elevation. The variety comes from the low coastal desert where it has been grown for generations, selected and preserved by Maya farmers for its extraordinary productivity and heat tolerance. When Native Seeds/SEARCH included it in their demonstration gardens in Arizona, it demonstrated why it has persisted in one of North America's harshest growing regions, producing abundant beans through record-breaking heat that would stress less adapted varieties. This cultivar represents a direct preservation of indigenous agricultural knowledge and plant selection.”