Garbanzo Plants

Plant Description

• Garbanzo beans are also referred to as common gram, chickpea, pea bean, cici bean or gram pea. They grow on annual plants with multiple branches and a spreading growth habit. Depending on the variety, the plants grow anywhere between 8 to 40 inches tall; the large-seeded varieties grow taller than the small-seeded types. The foliage is simple or compound, composed of eight to 20 leaflets.

Flower and Fruit

• The ½- to 1-inch-long flowers are self-fertile and bloom in shades of blue, pink, purple or white. Flower color differs by variety. The inflated seed pods are ¾- to 2-inches long and contain two to three seeds or beans with smooth or rough surfaces. The seeds can be yellow, brown, cream, green or black. Each bean has a distinct groove running two-thirds of the way around its diameter.

Cultural Requirements

• Cool season garbanzo bean plants grow best during 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the daytime and 64 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit at night. The plants prefer a well-drained, fertile, sandy loam. Avoid planting them in poorly drained sites, as this makes plants highly prone to root and stem rots. Garbanzo plant growth is likely to be affected by even short periods of waterlogging or flood. Use treated seeds to reduce the chances of Pythium or Rhizoctonia infections. Recommended planting time is between early and mid April.

Nutritional Value

• Garbanzo beans are favored for their rich nutritional content, containing high levels of folic acid, fiber and manganese. The beans also contain copper, magnesium, iron and zinc. The use of garbanzo beans helps reduce cholesterol and maintain blood sugar, placing them among the foods of choice for people with insulin resistance and diabetes, according to "The Condensed Encyclopedia of Healing Foods." Garbanzo beans contain the trace mineral molybdenum, which helps with the detoxification of sulfites, a preservative found in lunch meats and salad bar food.