Chickpea
Cicer arietinum
Also known asGarbanzo bean · Garbanzo · Bengal gram · Chana · Kabuli · Desi · Egyptian pea
Environment
The bounded range this crop tolerates.
Climate and zones
- USDA zones
- 3–10 (winter low around -40°C)
- Frost
- tolerates light frost
- Season
- warm (summer, frost-sensitive)
Growing systems
Root mass: moderate.
Growing media
| Medium | pH effect | Retention | Bacterial surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soil-based mix (Potting soil) | varies | high | high |
Nutrient demand by stage
NPK ratios are relative weights. EC targets shift through the plant's life.
| Stage | N | P | K | EC (mS/cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| seedling | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.7 |
| vegetative | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1.3 |
| flowering | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1.5 |
| fruiting | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1.5 |
Aquaponics suitability
Not recommended
Fish waste alone doesn't supply enough of what this crop demands. Grows in hybrid systems with supplemental dosing, but expect active management.
Care notes
Not a common hydroponic crop, but feasible in media bed or container systems. EC 1.5-2.5 mS/cm. pH 6.0-7.0. Temperature: 18–28°C (warm-season crop; frost kills the plant). Moderate to high light (DLI 16-22 mol/m2/day). The nitrogen-fixing capability is reduced or absent in hydroponic systems because the symbiotic Rhizobium bacteria may not be present in sterile media; supply nitrogen through the nutrient solution. From seed to harvest (dry chickpeas): 90-110 days. The plants are determinate: they grow, flower, set pods, and die. Harvest when pods are brown and dry on the plant, then shell the dried seeds. For fresh green chickpeas (a delicacy in some Middle Eastern cuisines, eaten like edamame), harvest pods while still green and plump. Each plant produces a relatively small yield (30–50 g of dried seed), so a large planting is needed for meaningful production. Ascochyta blight is a concern in humid conditions; good airflow helps. For aquaponics growers, chickpeas in media beds are a viable legume option for personal use, though the yield per plant is modest compared to bush beans.
Notable varieties
| Cultivar | Type | Days | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kabuli (cream) | open pollinated | 100 | Large cream-colored chickpea, the hummus and falafel variety. Multiple commercial cultivars (UC-15, Sierra, Sanford) share the type. Slightly later than desi, prefers warmer growing conditions. Zones 5-10. |
| Desi (small dark) | open pollinated | 90 | Small angular brown or black seeds, the type that becomes chana dal (split) in Indian cooking. Higher fiber, slightly nuttier flavor. More drought-tolerant and earlier than kabuli. The dominant chickpea in India. |
| Black Kabuli (Ceci Neri) | heirloom | 110 | Italian heirloom from Puglia, large black-coated chickpeas. Sweet rich flavor, holds shape well in soups. Pre-modern variety, available through heritage seed catalogs. |