Great nutritional qualities has the chickpea and that is why we thought of growing it in the garden. You can design many dishes with this healthy product, from stews and salads to the famous hummus, the chickpea paste native to the Middle East.
FOR grow chickpeas You need to have some space in your garden and know some general growing techniques. If you follow the right tips, you'll be able to provide everything this plant needs and enjoy a good harvest. Additionally, you can consider growing chickpeas in pots if space is limited, which is an excellent option for optimizing your garden.
Chickpea needs
The scientific name of chickpea is Cicer Arietinu, belongs to the family Fabaceae and is native to southwestern Turkey, although it later spread to other latitudes. There are about 40 known species of chickpea, although, in general terms, we are talking about a plant that can reach a height of 60 cm and whose main parts are the roots, stem, leaves, flowers, and fruits.
For growing chickpeas, the best soil is siliceous-clay or loamy-clay, well-aerated and deep, but not too saline. The depth allows the roots to develop more, and this can also improve yield. You can find more details about the ideal soil in the article on chickpeas. garden plants and in our section on what suggests when to start this type of planting.
El chickpea is resistant to drought and therefore can survive on rainwater alone, although gentle watering is best to produce a greater number of pods. As for the climate, the plant can germinate from 10°C, although the ideal temperature for the first shoots to emerge is between 25-35°C. For more information on how to start growing, you can read about how to plant chickpeas, which details essential steps for obtaining a good harvest.
To help the plant, it is recommended to remove weeds and avoid growing the same plot of land repeatedly for at least four years. Crop rotation can be beneficial, as mentioned in the article on types of legumes, which you can combine with growing chickpeas in your garden.
Plagues and diseases
The main pests that affect chickpea are chickpea fly, weevil, leaf miner flies and Plusia orichalcea, while among the most common diseases are chickpea rage and the Fusarium, conditions that are caused by various fungi that attack the plant and cause round spots in the first case and brown spots on the neck of the plant in the second case. It is important to keep track of pests and apply appropriate treatments, as well as inform yourself about the chickpeas to learn more about its cultivation and care.
