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When to Plant Chickpeas in Rock County, NE

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

Rock County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost is October 6, giving you a growing season of approximately 149 days.

At an elevation of 1,012 feet, Rock County receives approximately 32.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 81°F, so choose short-season varieties of Chickpeas to ensure they mature before fall.

Rock County, NE (Zone 5a) Short season
149 days
Last Spring Frost May 10
149 growing days
First Fall Frost October 6

Rock County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Chickpeas Planting Timeline — Rock County, NE

Chickpeas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 5 Apr 5 – Apr 19
Transplant Outdoors May 10 May 10 – May 24
Direct Sow April 26 Apr 26 – May 17
Harvest August 2 Aug 2 – Sep 13
Fall Sowing July 28 Jul 28 – Aug 11

Plant 0.5" deep · 6" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Start Indoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June
July Fall Sowing
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September Harvest
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Low — drought tolerant

📅 Days to Maturity

80–110 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–8 · Your soil: N/A

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5a

📆 Growing Season

149 days in Rock County

Growing Tips for Rock County

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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Chickpeas in Rock County, NE?

Rock County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of May 10. Plan your Chickpeas planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Rock County, NE?

Rock County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 10 and first fall frost is October 6.

🌱

Your Rock County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Rock County (Zone 5a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Rock County, NE. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.