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When to Plant Chickpeas in Laramie County, WY

Laramie County, Wyoming Zone 5b May

May to-do list for Laramie County, Wyoming

Each item below is timed to Laramie County, Wyoming's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost May 19
Avg. first frost September 24
Soil temp (4") 39°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.3 hrs
  1. Get chickpeas in the ground

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

  2. Scatter chickpeas into prepared beds

    Succession planting is the secret here. Put in a row now, another in 2 weeks, a third in 4.

Looking ahead to June
  • Starting indoors: chickpeas

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

Laramie County, Wyoming is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 19 and the first fall frost is September 24, giving you a growing season of approximately 128 days.

At an elevation of 6,153 feet, Laramie County receives approximately 19.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Chickpeas to ensure they mature before fall. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Chickpeas successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Laramie County, WY (Zone 5b) Short season
128 days
Last Spring Frost May 19
128 growing days
First Fall Frost September 24

Laramie County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-8.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (2 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 7 Transplant: May 12 🍅 Harvest: Aug 4 – Sep 15
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (2 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 14 Transplant: May 19 🍅 Harvest: Aug 11 – Sep 22
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: May 3 Transplant: Jun 7 🍅 Harvest: Aug 30 – Oct 11

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Laramie County

How your county's soil matches Chickpeas's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–8.2) overlaps with Chickpeas's range (6.0–8.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Laramie County is excellent for Chickpeas — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Chickpeas.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.3%). Annual compost additions will help Chickpeas.

How to Plant Chickpeas

0.5"
Planting Depth
6"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

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

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.0″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 23 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Chickpeas

Chickpeas needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week (2.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Chickpeas Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 2.2" 2.1" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 2.2" 1.3" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Jul 2.2" 1.8" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Aug 2.2" 2" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Sep 2.2" 1.6" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Oct 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Laramie County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Chickpeas Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Chickpeas needs ~1,164 GDD — county provides 1,568 GDD Excellent fit

Chickpeas Planting Timeline — Laramie County, WY

Chickpeas Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 14 Apr 14 – Apr 28
Transplant Outdoors May 19 May 19 – Jun 2
Direct Sow May 5 May 5 – May 26
Harvest August 11 Aug 11 – Sep 22
Fall Sowing July 16 Jul 16 – Jul 30

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

80–110 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–8 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

📆 Growing Season

128 days in Laramie County

Growing Tips for Chickpeas in Laramie County

Direct sow Chickpeas outdoors after May 19 in Laramie County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Chickpeas in this region include bean beetles and aphids. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

Laramie County receives only 19" of rain annually. Chickpeas needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

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 Laramie County, WY?

Laramie County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 19. Plan your Chickpeas planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Laramie County, WY?

Laramie County, Wyoming is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 19 and first fall frost is September 24.

🌱

Your Laramie County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Laramie County (Zone 5b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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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 Laramie County, WY. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

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