About
Cicer arietinum, known as the chickpea, is an annual legume featuring slender, green, feathery leaves that line the stem. It bears plump green seed pods, each housing two or three seeds, which develop in spring or early summer. Typically, the harvest occurs approximately 100 days post-sowing. In summer, the plant produces flowers reminiscent of sweet peas, displaying hues of pink, white, or purple.
About the genus
This genus comprises approximately 43 species of both perennial and annual legumes, including the chickpea. The leaves are green, serrated, and feature alternate leaflets. Flowers may vary in color, ranging from blue-purple to white.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H3
Plant details
- Plant type
- Annual Biennial
- Habit
- Bushy, Climbing
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.5-1 metres
- Spread
- 0.5-1 metres
- Time to full height
- 1 year
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in fertile, loamy, well-drained soil in full sun. Although plants can be grown in partial shade, yield will be reduced. Feed regularly with a high potassium and phosphorus feed throughout the growing season
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to aphids, bean beetles, flea beetles, leaf hoppers and mites
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to anthracnose, blight and mosaic virus