Chickpeas Planting Guide

Chickpeas (garbanzo beans) are a drought-tolerant legume producing round, nutty-flavored beans. They are the base for hummus, falafel, and many global dishes.

Cicer arietinum · Vegetable · Fabaceae family · 80–110 days to maturity

Get Your Personalized Chickpeas Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Chickpeas?

Zone Compatibility for Chickpeas Zones 3a – 10b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest
Zone 3a	Apr 3	May 8	May 15	Aug 7 – Sep 18
Zone 3b	Mar 29	May 3	May 10	Aug 2 – Sep 13
Zone 4a	Mar 25	Apr 29	May 6	Jul 29 – Sep 9
Zone 4b	Mar 20	Apr 24	May 1	Jul 24 – Sep 4
Zone 5a	Mar 21	Apr 11	Apr 25	Jul 18 – Aug 29
Zone 5b	Mar 14	Apr 4	Apr 18	Jul 11 – Aug 22
Zone 6a	Mar 6	Mar 27	Apr 10	Jul 3 – Aug 14
Zone 6b	Feb 27	Mar 20	Apr 3	Jun 26 – Aug 7
Zone 7a	Feb 18	Mar 11	Mar 25	Jun 17 – Jul 29
Zone 7b	Feb 11	Mar 4	Mar 18	Jun 10 – Jul 22
Zone 8a	Feb 1	Feb 22	Mar 8	May 31 – Jul 12
Zone 8b	Jan 21	Feb 11	Feb 25	May 20 – Jul 1
Zone 9a	Jan 13	Jan 20	Feb 10	May 5 – Jun 16
Zone 9b	Dec 28	Jan 4	Jan 25	Apr 19 – May 31
Zone 10a	Dec 4	Dec 11	Jan 1	Mar 26 – May 7
Zone 10b	Dec 4	Dec 11	Jan 1	Mar 26 – May 7

Why are some columns showing "—"?

Transplant shows "—" because Chickpeas is best direct sown where it will grow. Transplanting can disturb the roots and slow growth.

How to Plant Chickpeas

0.5"

Planting Depth

Between Plants

12"

Between Rows

🍂 Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Low — drought tolerant

Drought tolerant — water only when soil is dry 2" deep.

🧪 Soil pH

6 – 8

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 3a – 10b

📅 Days to Maturity

80–110 days

Medium-season crop. Start early for best results in shorter seasons.

👪 Plant Family

Fabaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Fabaceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Chickpeas

Chickpeas matures in just 80–110 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 2 successive plantings by sowing every 9.1 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Chickpeas

✅ Good Companions

Corn Squash Summer

❌ Keep Away From

Onion Garlic

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Chickpeas

Direct sow 4 weeks before last frost as chickpeas prefer cool growing conditions. Avoid overhead watering to prevent fungal diseases. Harvest when pods rattle with dry beans inside.

Saving Chickpeas Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Level Up Your Garden

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

Learn when to harvest, how to dry, and how to store seeds from 200 plants. Never buy seeds again.

Learn More →

Chickpeas by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Chickpeas?

Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum) takes 80 to 110 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Chickpeas grow in?

Chickpeas can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 10b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Chickpeas need?

Growing Chickpeas requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Low — drought tolerant, and soil pH of 6 to 8.

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