How To Grow Chickpeas In South Africa
The bushy chickpea plant has pairs of complex, dark-green leaflets that resemble vetch and grows to a height of about 18 inches (45 cm). One or two big, cream-colored, pea-like seeds are found in each of the inflated, rectangular, chickpea pods, which are about an inch (2.5 cm) long and about as wide. Depending on the species, flowers might be violet or white.
A cool-season annual with a 100-day harvest window is the chickpea or garbanzo bean. Despite being neither a bean nor a pea botanically, chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans and gram, are considered to be beans. The annual legume chickpea is delicate.
Tips for Growing Chickpeas Quickly
About the time of the typical spring last frost, if not a little earlier, sow chickpeas in the garden.
When eating chickpeas, a lengthy growing season; to start the season early, sow chickpeas inside in a peat or paper pot a few weeks before transferring them outside.
When the plant is 4 to 5 inches (10-12 cm) tall, place the chickpea and biodegradable pot whole in the garden.
Each household member should grow 4 to 8 chickpea plants.
Chickpeas are planted in full sun, grow chickpeas. In some shade, chickpeas will grow, but the yield will be lower.
Chickpeas should be grown in organically rich, loose soil. Before planting, amend planting beds with aged compost.
Avoid sowing chickpeas in areas where green manures have recently grown or in soil that is rich in nitrogen; doing so will only produce green, leafy growth rather than seeds.
Incorporate potassium and phosphorus to the ground.
Time to Plant Chickpeas
The cool-season annual chickpea takes roughly 100 days to mature and is harvested.
Although they can withstand cold, chickpeas do best in climates with daily temperatures between 70 and 80 °F (21-26 °C) and nighttime temperatures that do not go below 65 °F (18 °C).
Chickpeas can be planted in the garden as early as two or three weeks before the typical spring last frost.
Growing chickpeas
The long growing season that chickpeas need can be shortened by starting them indoors in a peat or paper pot and transferring them whole to the garden once they are 3 to 4 inches (7–10 cm) tall.
Chickpeas are fed and given water until the chickpeas have broken through the soil, keep chickpea planting beds evenly moist. Water consistently throughout blooming and pod development. Avoid watering plants from above, since this might lead to blooms and pods falling off.
Mulch to retain soil moisture as the weather warms.
Prior to planting, add old compost to planting beds.
Midseason, side dress chickpeas with aged compost. Avoid fertilizing planting plots with substances high in nitrogen. Like other legumes, chickpeas establish a cooperative relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil to create nitrogen molecules that the plant uses.
Chickpea harvesting
After planting, chickpeas take roughly 100 days to reach harvestable size.
When the pods are still immature and green, chickpeas can be harvested for fresh consumption and eaten similarly to snap beans.
When the leaves have wilted and turned brown, harvest the entire plant to make dried chickpeas; Place the plant on a warm, level area and let the pods dry.
When the pods split, gather the seed. When bitten, seeds that barely dent are considered to be sufficiently dry.
