Legumes - The Manual of Seed Saving - page 148

Chickpeas
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
• 10 to 15 healthy plants
• dry weather in summer
POLLINATION NOTES Chickpeas are selfers, albeit with a marginal potential for crossing, as their
flowers are often visited by insects. Association Kokopelli, a French seed-saving organization, reports
crossing rates of up to 1%. Chickpea flowers can be white, pink, or blue and are found individually or
in pairs in leaf axils.
GROWING FOR SEED Chickpeas do well in garden-quality soil, but they require a hot, dry summer
and are easily damaged by watering and stagnant moisture. Some varieties can be planted just before
the last spring frost; other varieties must be planted thereafter. In warm areas, seeds ripen in early to
mid summer, though in cooler areas they may not ripen until the first autumn frosts. Grow chickpeas
as you would bush beans. Starting seeds indoors in temperate climates increases your chances of har-
vesting ripe seed.
Chickpeas grow in upright bushes and have pinnate leaves.
HARVEST The method of seed harvest depends on the variety. For varieties that flower over a long
period of time, harvest individual pods as they ripen. For varieties whose flowers blossom more or less
at once, pull entire plants, hang to dry, and thresh. In both cases, harvest just before full ripeness to
avoid losses via exploding pods. When autumn frosts threaten, harvest full plants and dry in a frost-