Topic: Chickpeas

[clumsy]

Finally the sun is shining. Here's a picture of our chickpeas in flower.

[Jayb]

Wow they look great 
Do you sow them direct?

[clumsy]

Yes we sow them direct. Much easier that way.

[macmac]

My lottie neighbour grew these a couple of years ago, but she said it was a labour of love podding them. That put me off.

[pumkinlover]

Someone gave me one to taste than they had grown it was nice. Have you grown them before?  It looks like a good crop do they need much  ?

[clumsy]

Yes podding can be laborious but it's worth it. Yes we have been growing them about 30 odd years in England I should say. We sow the seeds in march and harvest around august. They do tolerate cold weather. The only time we have a problem is if it rains to much and the bees don't come out to pollinate them like last year.

[artichoke]

Do you buy seed, or can you grow from dried chickpeas bought to cook?

[clumsy]

We use dried chickpeas you get in the Asian shops. We grow the small dark coloured ones. We find the big white ones germination erratic. Around early march is the time we sow if the weather is ok but this year it was first week in April. Make a trench put the seeds in cover with soil, Plus make sure you some netting on because the pigeons. Once the plants get big you can take the netting off. This is one the easiest plants to grow with no maintenance, Once sown just leave the plants to it no need to water just might needed weeding early on that's it. They tolerate frost and have no pest issue's either. Hope this helps.

[gwynleg]

I experimented this year but think I didnt put them in till May - will have to see what happens. I havent netted them and they arent being nibbled so I have been lucky. Interested to eat them green rather than dry them for storage (as they are so cheap dry too)

[pumkinlover]

Thanks for the information clumsy

[artichoke]

Yes, thanks. Sounds like a trouble free crop to cover the ground with, and although the podding sounds tedious, it could be a pleasant sit down job indoors in the winter while listening to radio.

[SueK]

We use dried chickpeas you get in the Asian shops. We grow the small dark coloured ones.

 Are they still called chana, Clumsy?  I  believe  there are some black chick peas.    It might be a good fun crop for us to try next year.