Yes, you can grow new chickpea plants directly from dried beans purchased at the grocery store. These dried chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are the mature seeds of the Cicer arietinum plant, a member of the legume family. Success lies in selecting a seed that contains a viable, living plant embryo ready for germination. Dried chickpeas retain their natural ability to sprout if they have not been subjected to processes that destroy the embryo.
Selecting Viable Beans for Planting
The most important prerequisite for successful planting is ensuring the dried beans are raw and completely untreated. You must specifically seek out unroasted, uncooked, and unsalted dried chickpeas, typically found in the bulk or dried bean section of a grocery store. Any heat treatment, such as roasting or boiling, kills the tiny embryo inside the seed, rendering it non-viable for planting. Canned or fully cooked dried chickpeas will not germinate.
The seed coat of the chickpea acts as a natural protective barrier, preserving the plant embryo inside. When selecting, look for whole, plump, and unbroken beans. A damaged seed coat can allow pathogens to enter and cause rot during the soaking process. Raw dried chickpeas are a suitable and accessible alternative for the home gardener.
Sprouting and Initial Sowing Steps
The first step in preparing your dried chickpeas is to initiate germination by soaking them in water for 8 to 12 hours. This process rehydrates the seed, signaling to the dormant embryo that conditions are favorable to begin growth. The beans will visibly swell as they absorb the water, which is necessary to break dormancy.
Following the initial soak, drain the water completely and rinse the chickpeas thoroughly. Transfer them to a container where they can stay moist but not submerged, such as a jar covered with cheesecloth, and keep them out of direct sunlight. Rinsing and draining the beans two to three times a day is crucial to maintain high humidity while preventing mold or rot.
Within two to four days, a small white root, or radicle, will emerge from the seed, indicating successful germination. Once the radicle is about a quarter to a half-inch long, the sprouted chickpea is ready to be sown. Plant the sprouted seeds about one to two inches deep, with the emerging root facing downward, into a prepared pot or garden bed.
Essential Growing Conditions and Care
Chickpeas thrive in Mediterranean-like conditions, preferring a cool to warm growing season, with ideal temperatures ranging between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The plants require full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight each day, for optimal growth and pod production. Planting should occur in early spring, a few weeks before the last expected frost, as they can tolerate a light chill.
The soil must be well-drained, as the chickpea plant is highly susceptible to root rot if left in standing water. A sandy loam soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH is generally best. It should not be overly rich in nitrogen, which encourages leafy growth instead of seed production. As a legume, the plant naturally fixes nitrogen in the soil, reducing the need for external fertilizers.
Watering should be consistent to keep the soil evenly moist, particularly once the plants begin to flower and develop pods. Avoid waterlogging the roots. Providing about an inch of water per week, either through rainfall or irrigation, is sufficient. The plants will mature and be ready for harvest as dried beans approximately 90 to 100 days after sowing.