General
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.
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Facts and figures
Times
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.
Sowing and planting
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.
Neighbourhood
Crop rotation
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.
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