legume · direct sow
Garbanzo Bean (Chickpea): how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating garbanzo bean (chickpea) a few times a week needs about 31 plants in ~31 sq ft, worth about $23 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$3.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 8 | ~8 sq ft | ~16 | ~$6 |
| 2 people | 16 | ~16 sq ft | ~31 | ~$12 |
| 4 people | 31 | ~31 sq ft | ~60 | ~$23 |
| 6 people | 47 | ~47 sq ft | ~91 | ~$35 |
Spacing
6" in row · 24" between rows
Sow depth
1.5"
Days to harvest
100 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 1 – May 20 | — |
| Zone 4 | Apr 26 – May 30 | — |
| Zone 5 | Apr 16 – May 21 | — |
| Zone 6 | Apr 6 – May 11 | — |
| Zone 7 | Mar 22 – Apr 26 | — |
| Zone 8 | Mar 11 – Apr 15 | — |
| Zone 9 | Feb 6 – Mar 13 | — |
| Zone 10 | Jan 17 – Feb 21 | — |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
For dry use, leave until pods and plant are brown and rattle. For fresh green channa, pick when pods are plump and still green.
Yield
About 0.25 lbs per plant over ~1 productive weeks (~0.25 lb).
Neighbors
Plays well with carrot, spinach. Keep away from onion, garlic.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
378 kcal · 12.2 g fiber · 4 mg vitamin C · 718 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Garbanzo Bean (Chickpea) cans, freezes, or dries for the pantry. See how much to grow and store to feed your household, and how long it keeps.
Garbanzo Bean (Chickpea) planting questions
How many garbanzo bean (chickpea) plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 8 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 31 plants, which takes around 31 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does garbanzo bean (chickpea) need?+
Space plants 6" apart in the row with 24" between rows. Sow 1.5" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant garbanzo bean (chickpea)?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing garbanzo bean (chickpea) worth it?+
At about $3.00/lb retail and ~0.25 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $23 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.