Can You Grow Garbanzo Beans in Ohio?

Growing Season Length

• This type of bean requires a long, fairly cool growing season. Most varieties produce mature beans after about 100 days. According to Ohio State University, growers in Ohio experience a frost-free season anywhere from 125 to 180 days in length. If your garden is located in the Lake Erie region, you may enjoy a growing season as long as 200 days. Using high tunnels or other techniques to protect plants from frost helps ensure a healthy garbanzo bean crop. Ideally, you should plant these beans directly in the soil immediately after the last frost. Purdue University notes that garbanzos are a cool-season species whose seedlings are frost tolerant and suggests growers in the Upper Midwest plant in early to mid-April, adding that later plantings will result in smaller yields.

Temperature Requirements

• Chickpeas have relatively narrow temperature requirements. They grow best when nighttime temperatures do not fall below 65 degrees Fahrenheit, but daytime temperatures are below 80 degrees F. To help these beans maintain their ideal conditions, plant your garden where the garbanzo beans will receive only partial sun during the hottest part of the summer.

Irrigation

• Garbanzo beans need regular water, especially during the early part of their growth cycle. Keep the soil consistently moist by watering directly into the soil until the plants have leafed out. Avoid overhead watering, which can damage the pods and flowers. When the weather warms, mulch around the base of the plants can reduce the risk of moisture evaporation. Excessive water can cause root and stem rots, however. Never allow the plants to become waterlogged or let them stay damp for long periods of time.

Considerations

• While it is possible to grow garbanzo beans in Ohio, this legume crop is more difficult to produce than many other kinds of bean. Your results may not be consistent from year to year. Garbanzo bean planting in Ohio works best on a very small scale, producing a few beans for household use. It may not be viable if you want to grow a larger crop to sell at local markets or for long-term preservation.