What’s new in the heirloom world? Well, a lot. Some new varieties were grown at the LSU AgCenter’s Sweet Potato Research Station just south of Winnsboro this year and, good grief, the seeds! A black crowder pea obtained from Richland Parish has shown up in several places around central and northern Louisiana. It’s a wonder why this little pea hasn’t caught on more. It’s super productive and, like most other field peas, holds up to Louisiana’s sweltering summer with no problems.

Another field pea grown this year was Calhoun Crowder, an LSU release from the 1940s. Crowder peas are so named because the ends of the seeds are truncated instead of rounded like in regular purple hull peas. Thus, they look “crowded” into the pod. Calhoun Crowder is extremely productive and will make peas over a long summer if harvested regularly.

The major producer at the station this year was a cream pea that came from the Marvin “Bud” Weinberg Family of Rose Hill, Texas. The Rose Hill cream pea is delicious and makes a milky, creamy pot liquor. You’ll have more seeds than you know what to do with if you let some pods dry out on the vine.

Another new find that was grown this year is a wild okra from Red River Parish. Called Ninock Plantation okra for lack of a better variety name, it is called wild because it’s naturalized in old cotton fields around what used to be Ninock Plantation, south of Bossier City. The plants are large as are the pods of okra they produce. And, when harvesting, some might find it necessary to wear long sleeves because this is an itchy okra. Seeds didn’t start germinating until days were consistently above 90 F. Even then, germination was extremely asynchronous. But heirlooms aren’t grown because they play by the rules. They’re grown for flavor, and this okra definitely brings it. Big pods are perfect for slicing and frying, for smothering with tomatoes and for using in soups and gumbo. Useable pods must be harvested frequently, or they get too tough almost overnight.

And finally, what Louisiana heirloom garden is complete without a watermelon? This year, growing the Calhoun Gray again was pure joy. Calhoun Gray, a 1965 LSU release, is the result of crosses made between Charleston Gray and Calhoun Sweet. Calhoun Gray is perfect for home gardens because it’s a guaranteed producer and highly disease resistant. Thirty-pound melons are common and if grown in isolation, plenty of seeds can be saved from year to year. The sweet, dark red flesh of a Calhoun Gray is just the thing on a hot summer day.

Kerry Heafner
Associate Extension Agent
Caldwell, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Union, West Carroll parishes
North Louisiana Seed Preservation Program

This black crowder pea has shown up in a few parishes. These were from Cynde McClain Dubois of Ouachita Parish. Photo by Kerry Heafner.

Weinberg’s Rose Hill cream pea came from Texas. It’s delicious and super productive. Photo by Kerry Heafner.

Calhoun Crowder is an LSU release from the 1940s and produces attractive plants. Photo by Kerry Heafner.

Calhoun Gray is a favorite and was the industry standard for disease resistance at one time. Photo by Kerry Heafner.

Ninock Plantation okra is a large variety that has old-time okra flavor. Photo by Kerry Heafner.