The chickpea needs quite a lot of warmth. In our latitudes, you really need a mild, wine-growing climate and certain early-maturing varieties for them to ripen. The name derives from the Latin "cicer", which simply means pea.
pokku/Shutterstock.com
Facts and figures
Planting & harvest times of Chickpea
Direct sowing from Mid May to Mid June. Transplant to bed from Mid May to Mid June. Pre-grow about 21 days before planting out, approximately between Late April and Late May. After a growing period of 50 days, harvest can begin around Late June and continues until Late September.
Sow and plant Chickpea
The seedlings have a better chance if you start them off in pots.
Location and soil
It prefers sandy, nutrient-poor soil. It can't cope with heavy, wet soils. The spot should be warm and sheltered.
Good and bad companions of Chickpea
Predecessors and successors of Chickpea
Varieties
Look out for early-maturing varieties.
Care and fertilising
They don't need any fertiliser and handle drought well.
They work nicely as green manure themselves and leave behind nitrogen-enriched soil, just like other legumes. That makes them a great preceding crop for various heavy feeders.
Harvest and processing
You should soak raw chickpeas overnight in water to flush out bitter compounds and a toxin called phasin. Throw away the soaking water.
mama_mia/Shutterstock.com