(Cicer arietinum) One of our favorite discoveries of the past several years, we enjoy spending an inordinate amount of time keeping these pristine and weed-free as they are such a priority for us. Everything from their desire to be Spring planted with the peas to their delicate leaf and plant structure and finely veined, bi-colored purple/pink flowers keep us riveted, enraptured...I kid you not. Yes, we are easily delighted. More reliable though less productive then our other dry beans, they are Spring planted, harvested with the dry peas and yield one but more often two beans per pod.
Also a rare tasty treat harvested and eaten fresh and green like English peas, steamed like Edamame or made into any number of delightful dishes and spreads. So go on. Certain rapture awaits. 95-115 days. UO
Seeds can be sown as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring (April, when you sow peas). Some people try to push the season even earlier by sowing in flats indoors and transplanting, but we are not those kinds of people. Direct seeding is strongly recommended.
Note: Garbanzo beans prefer light, sandy, and loamy soil high in aged organic matter.
PLANTING DEPTH:
1-1.5"
SPACING:
2-3 seeds per linear foot, 3-6" apart after thinning in rows 12-18" apart.
EMERGENCE:
5-10 days @ soil temp 60-70F
LIGHT:
Full sun to part shade. Yields will be higher in full sun!
FERTILITY:
Low to medium. Garbanzos prefer well-prepared and fertile soil with an optimal pH between 5.3-7 and can produce their own usable nitrogen from atmospheric nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with bacteria that colonize specialized nodules in their roots. Too much soil fertility can cause excessive vegetative growth at the expense of pod set.
It is advisable to use specific chickpea Nitrogen fixing inoculation especially if legumes have not been grown regularly.
Specific minerals needed for quality legumes are phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and micro-nutrients.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Let pods dry on the plant for a dry harvest or eat fresh as shelly beans.
Garbanzos are frost tolerant, but tend to do best in a 70-80F temperature range.
Adding too much Nitrogen to the soil will result in lush leafy growth but less and possible delayed seed production.
Keep em weeded! They do not play well with high weed pressure and will succumb.
