Though botanically neither a bean nor a pea, chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are considered to be beans. In this blog post, we will show you how to grow chickpeas in your garden. We will also discuss the benefits of growing this legume and provide some helpful tips on how to care for your plants. So if you are interested in learning more about chickpea gardening, keep reading!
Best Growing Conditions
Light & Temperature
Garbanzo beans require full sun for at least six to eight hours each day. Chickpeas grow well in USDA zones 2 through 10b in the spring. Zones 10b through 11 can plant in the fall. The native environment of the chickpea plant experiences days with temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. With no harm to the plant, nighttime lows of 64 can be tolerated.
Soil
There should be plenty of rich soil in the planting area or container. Make sure the soil is well-drained. To encourage proper nutrient absorption in your chickpea plants' shallow root systems, slope the area where you'll be gardening. Chickpeas can be grown in less-than-ideal soil, but a thin layer of old compost really helps. Chickpeas grow best in a pH range of 4 to 6.
Water
Chickpeas prefer slightly drier soil because overwatering will quickly cause the plants to die. Instead of watering your chickpea plants overhead, which will wet the leaves and pods and raise the risk of fungal rot, use a watering can with a long spout that enables you to water the base of the plants directly.
How To Plant & Grow
These delicious beans have a lengthy growing season that can take up to 100 days from the date of sowing to the time of harvest. The plants themselves are relatively simple to maintain. Follow these instructions to plant and grow your own garbanzo beans:
- Plant the seeds in the soil at a depth of 1-2 inches indoors. Start the seeds about four weeks before the last anticipated frost date in your area. Instead of planting chickpea seeds in the chilly ground, you should sow them indoors because they are somewhat fragile.
- Use pots that will biodegrade. Use paper or peat seedling pots that can be planted directly into the ground as opposed to plastic or ceramic containers because chickpea seedlings do not transplant well. You can buy seedling pots online and at the majority of gardening supply stores.
- In each pot, sow one to two seeds. Plant one seed in each pot, placing it 1 to 2 inches deep, after adding a small amount of potting soil to the seedling pots. Typically, sprouting takes two weeks.
- Give the seeds water and sunlight. Every day, gently mist the soil. Give them twice-daily waterings if it gets hot. Until the seedlings sprout, place the seedling pots close to a window that gets a lot of direct sunlight and keep the soil's surface evenly moist.
Harvesting
Harvest your chickpeas about 100 days after planting them if you want to eat them fresh. Eat them like snap peas after removing the pods. Allow the entire plant to wither and turn brown before pulling it up by the roots if you want to harvest dried chickpeas.
Storage
Fresh, unshelled chickpeas keep well in the fridge for 3 to 5 days when stored in a plastic bag. Fresh peas freeze poorly. In an airtight container, dried seeds last for two to three years. Chickpeas can be cooked for storing and will last for three to four days in the fridge.
Conclusion
Chickpeas are indigenous to the Mediterranean region. In addition to being a flexible ingredient that can be used in many different meals, chickpeas are a healthy source of both protein and fiber. Chickpeas can be cultivated in most climates and are comparatively simple to grow.