Garbanzo beans belong to the legume family but have a nutty flavor that lends itself well to dips, salads, and soups. Besides, chickpeas are used to make delicious South Asian cuisines and curry recipes. If you too want to enjoy it fresh, then read on to know all the details on Planting and Growing Garbanzo Beans.

USDA Zones: Growing chickpeas is possible where the temperature stays in the range of 50-85 F, at least for three months.

Difficulty: Easy

Other Names: Chickpeas, gram, chana, Kala chana, Bengali chana, Kabuli chana

Soil pH: Neutral

Pollination: Autogamous

Want to Grow Mung Beans in Pots? Click here

Garbanzo Bean Growing Information

Garbanzo bean is used interchangeably in American English for chickpeas. It is a cool-season crop from South Asia that is grown in winters in the tropics. In cool and temperate climates, growing garbanzo beans is possible between spring to late summer.

It requires at least three months of cool, frost-free days to mature. In areas where summers are cool, garbanzo beans can take up to five-six months to get ready for harvest.

In cooler zones, getting an early start to the growing season is important, but starting too early will lead to despair.

Bean seeds, especially garbanzo beans, require relatively warm and dry soil for germination. Wait to plant garbanzo beans when soil temperature becomes at least 50 to 60 F, as it is hard to transplant “chickpeas” or “garbanzo” beans.

Sow them directly on the planting site. If you are starting the seeds early, it is recommended to sow seeds in biodegradable pots so that you will be able to transplant them later without disturbing the rootball of seedlings.

Learn about the Best Bean Varieties here

How to Grow Garbanzo Beans?

For growing garbanzo beans, select large and dry seeds that are free from mold and damage. Purchase seeds only from a quality source.

  • Remove weeds and debris from the planting site.
  • If the soil is heavy with a clay-like texture, add a top layer of sand, compost, or manure to the soil to improve its texture.
  • Make holes 1 cm deep to sow seeds, and space them three to six inches apart in rows.
  • Water abundantly until germination to stimulate the growth of seedlings.

Learn about Growing Pinto Beans here

Requirements for Growing Garbanzo Beans

Location

Planting garbanzo beans in a location with full sun is best. If you want a plentiful harvest, make sure the plant gets a minimum of 5-6 hours of direct sunlight every day.

Soil

Amend the soil for quick and improved drainage. Add plenty of organic compost into the growing medium.

Spacing

Sow garbanzo bean seeds one inch deep, and space them every three to six inches apart in a row. Allow space of at least 18 to 24 inches between rows. Thin stems to at least 2.5 inches (approx. 6 cm) or more to space crops.

Watering

Measure the depth of water penetration with a finger or a popsicle stick and water only when the top layer of soil seems slightly dry. In any case, avoid overwatering as growing garbanzo beans require only average watering.

Also, avoid overhead watering, as this may lead to fungal diseases.

Temperature

This plant doesn’t tolerate temperatures below 60 F (15 C) and does preferably well in temperatures around 70-90 F (21-32C).

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Garbanzo Beans Care

Fertilizer

Garbanzo beans, like other legumes, are used for nitrogen fixation, which means that nitrogen, which is in the air, gets back into the soil. The addition of nitrogen fertilizer is not necessary.

Fertilizing the plant with 5-10-10 fertilizer is best.

Pests and Diseases

Growing garbanzo beans requires care against pests and diseases. Cutworms, aphids, chickpea leafminers, pod borers, grasshoppers, and beet armyworms are the insects that attack it.

The application of organic pesticides and neem oil is recommended to deter them. Ascochyta blight, root rot, and stem rot are common diseases, these diseases can be prevented by avoiding overhead and overwatering.

Mulching

Place a thin layer of organic mulch on the ground to keep the beans warm and humid.

Want to Grow Castor Beans? Click here

Harvesting Garbanzo Beans

Chickpeas will be ready to harvest between 90-110 days after planting. You can pick garbanzo beans when the pods swell. The beans taste best when they are fresh.

For dried chickpeas, allow the plant to turn brown before collecting the pods.

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  • gretchen watson

  • May 9, 2018 At 2:55 pm

  • I’m having a hard time finding seed for sale? Do you have any sources?

  • Reply

  • Kate

  • May 18, 2018 At 1:47 am

  • Walmart.com garbanzo seed – organic, 9.95 for 1 lb. Ship to you or pick up at you local store. Hope that helps :-)

  • Reply

  • Cucoo

  • July 28, 2020 At 2:08 am

  • Another idiot. 0.99 cents per pound at any grocery store

  • Reply

  • Me

  • March 25, 2019 At 9:21 pm

  • Grand Prismatic Seeds

  • Reply

  • Jerry Stinson

  • April 13, 2019 At 4:10 am

  • Uprising Seeds, Bellingham, Wa. is an excellent source for Black Kabuli garbanzo seeds {& many other high quality veg & flower seeds}.

  • Reply

  • Kate Russell

  • April 5, 2020 At 9:13 pm

  • I love your blog, but adding sand to clay only creates concrete-like soil. Adding organic material, such as aged compost, or mulching with free arborist wood chips are much more effective at improving soil structure.

  • Reply

  • Carol

  • June 16, 2022 At 4:54 am

  • I just thought of planting them kind of late in the season, but I’m thinking that I will plant them anyway just to nourish the soil. If I get any beans, great! But if not, it isn’t wasted.

  • Reply

  • Kate

  • May 18, 2018 At 1:47 am

  • Walmart.com garbanzo seed – organic, 9.95 for 1 lb. Ship to you or pick up at you local store. Hope that helps :-)

  • Reply

  • Cucoo

  • July 28, 2020 At 2:08 am

  • Another idiot. 0.99 cents per pound at any grocery store

  • Reply

  • Me

  • March 25, 2019 At 9:21 pm

  • Grand Prismatic Seeds

  • Reply

I’m having a hard time finding seed for sale? Do you have any sources?

  • Cucoo
  • July 28, 2020 At 2:08 am
  • Another idiot. 0.99 cents per pound at any grocery store
  • Reply

Walmart.com garbanzo seed – organic, 9.95 for 1 lb. Ship to you or pick up at you local store. Hope that helps :-)

Another idiot. 0.99 cents per pound at any grocery store

Grand Prismatic Seeds

Uprising Seeds, Bellingham, Wa. is an excellent source for Black Kabuli garbanzo seeds {& many other high quality veg & flower seeds}.

I love your blog, but adding sand to clay only creates concrete-like soil. Adding organic material, such as aged compost, or mulching with free arborist wood chips are much more effective at improving soil structure.

I just thought of planting them kind of late in the season, but I’m thinking that I will plant them anyway just to nourish the soil. If I get any beans, great! But if not, it isn’t wasted.

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