Pigeon pea

When our neighbour put a large Colorbond shed to the boundary, we quickly thought of what plant could provide a quick-growing screen. I had always wanted to try grow pigeon pea for its well-known permaculture utility; nitrogen-fixing, quick-growing shade and windbreak, chop-and-drop mulch, but mostly for its peas!

I purchased two seedlings from Northey Street City Farm Nursery in September 2023 and within 6 months, they were each 3m x 3m, with soft, feathery leaves that quietly ruffled in the breeze. We reaped 700g of in-pod dried peas in July 2024, and only two months later, the plants are heavy with fruit again!

Pigeon peas ready for picking, though we prefer to wait for them to dry in-pod and then use them in dhal.