Legumes
Chickpea
A cool-season pulse grown for fresh green or mature dry seed.
Sowing & planting windows in Australia
Planting timing varies by broad Australian gardening zone. Local weather, unusual seasons and your garden’s microclimate can shift timing.
Cool
Sow · May-Aug
Core months: May, June, July, August
Temperate
Sow · May-Aug
Core months: May, June, July, August
Subtropical
Sow · Apr-Jun
Core months: April, May, June
Tropical
Sow · Mar-May
Core months: March, April, May
Arid
Sow · Apr-Jun
Core months: April, May, June
Getting started
Sow seed in the recorded window, preferably directly into freely draining soil. Space plants for airflow and avoid damaging the developing root system.
The right conditions
Give full sun, moderate fertility and freely draining soil. Avoid persistently wet ground and humid, stagnant conditions.
As it grows
Water to establish, then avoid overwatering. Support is usually unnecessary for compact plants, though a low edge support can help in exposed sites.
Ready to harvest
For green chickpeas, pick filled pods while still green and cook the seed. For dry use, wait until plants and pods dry, then shell and store only fully dry seed.
Important cautions
Do not eat the foliage. Cook chickpeas before eating; keep green-pod and mature dry-seed harvest paths distinct.
Plant guidance: P11b Wave 2 propagation, safety and plant-specific guide audit. Planting windows are a guide rather than a rule.