Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans require around 100 days to reach harvest. These delicious vegetables are popular in many cultures and have multiple culinary uses. Learn how to grow chickpeas in your garden and enjoy the benefits of this wonderful vegetable.
How to plant Chickpeas:
- To get a sneak peek, plant your chickpea seeds indoors in a paper pot a few weeks before you can transplant them outdoors.
- You can transplant them once the chickpeas are 10-15 cm tall.
- Choose a spot with full sun and plant them in light soil that drains well.
- Add stale manure to the beds before sowing.
- Before sowing, add a little potassium and phosphorous to the soil.
- Sow the chickpeas in the garden 2-3 weeks before the last snowfall in spring.
- Sow each seed 3 to 4 cm deep and space them 8-15 cm apart.
- Thin out successful plants 40-60 cm apart.
Chickpea’s Care:
Don’t water deeply right after sowing, but make sure the soil is moist.
Once the chickpea seeds have sprouted, start watering regularly.
Add a layer of mulch once the weather warms up to keep the soil moist.
Harvest
Chickpeas will be ready for picking about 100 days after you plant them. If you plan to eat them fresh, harvest them while the pods are still small and green, then eat them like snap beans. If you prefer to dry them, wait for the leaves to wither and turn brown, then pull the whole plant. Lay it on a flat, warm surface and leave it until the pods dry and begin to split, allowing you to harvest the seeds inside. To store dried chickpeas, place them in an airtight container and store in a cool, dry place.
Grow Chickpeas in Containers:
Follow the same guideline above, planting in 20 and more cm deep containers.
Chickpea Plantation Companions:
Plant the chickpeas next to the potatoes, cucumbers, corn, strawberries, and celery. Never sow next to garlic.
Now that you know how to grow chickpeas, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and start planting.