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When to Plant Chickpeas in Meigs County, TN

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

Meigs County, Tennessee is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 7 and the first fall frost is October 26, giving you a growing season of approximately 202 days.

At an elevation of 3,095 feet, Meigs County receives approximately 43 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 94ยฐF, providing good warmth for Chickpeas during the growing season.

Meigs County, TN (Zone 7a) Long season
202 days
Last Spring Frost April 7
202 growing days
First Fall Frost October 26

Meigs County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Monthly Watering Guide for Chickpeas

Chickpeas needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Chickpeas Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 3.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 3.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 3.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.4" 1.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 3.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 3.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Meigs County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Chickpeas Planting Timeline โ€” Meigs County, TN

Chickpeas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 3 Mar 3 โ€“ Mar 17
Transplant Outdoors April 7 Apr 7 โ€“ Apr 21
Direct Sow March 24 Mar 24 โ€“ Apr 14
Harvest June 30 Jun 30 โ€“ Aug 11
Fall Sowing August 17 Aug 17 โ€“ Aug 31

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

Low โ€” drought tolerant

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

80โ€“110 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“8 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

202 days in Meigs County

Growing Tips for Meigs 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 Meigs County, TN?

Meigs County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 7. Plan your Chickpeas planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Meigs County, TN?

Meigs County, Tennessee is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 7 and first fall frost is October 26.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Meigs County gardeners in Zone 7a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

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