Chickpeas grow on bushy plants that produce pods, each typically containing one to three chickpeas. The plants require a warm climate and a growing season of around 100 days. Farmers ideally want the plant to dry out before harvest.
While the provided reference snippet is brief, it alludes to the basics of chickpea cultivation, which can be expanded upon to fully explain the growth process.
Here's a more detailed look:
- Planting: Chickpeas are typically planted in the spring in temperate climates and in the fall in warmer regions to avoid the hottest summer temperatures. They prefer well-drained soil.
- Germination: The chickpea seed germinates in the soil, sending out roots and a shoot that emerges above the ground.
- Vegetative Growth: The plant grows vegetatively, developing stems, leaves, and branches. This stage requires adequate sunlight, water, and nutrients. The snippet mentions that the plant is "sustained," which refers to its access to these necessities.
- Flowering: Small, pea-like flowers develop on the plant.
- Pod Development: After pollination, the flowers develop into small pods. Inside these pods, the chickpeas begin to form.
- Maturation: The chickpeas grow and mature inside the pods. The pods turn from green to yellow or brown as they ripen. The plant starts to dry out as harvest time approaches.
- Harvest: Farmers harvest chickpeas when the plants and pods are dry. This can be done mechanically or by hand.
The clip suggests that farmers want the plant to dry out before harvest. This is because dry chickpeas are easier to harvest and store.
