Chickpea
Cicer arietinum
Botanical family: Fabaceae
Cicer arietinum, an annual Fabaceae of the eastern Mediterranean, adapted to hot, dry climates. Harvested dry, it is cooked in stews or ground into flour. Sources: Tela Botanica, “Cicer arietinum L.” (Coste's flora; Baseflor); Plants For A Future, “Cicer arietinum”.
Full sun, warm and sheltered
Light, drained, even poor; dislikes moisture
Very low, remarkably drought-resistant
Warm-climate annual (spring sowing)
Almost strictly self-pollinating
One plant is enough for a crop
Role in permaculture
A Mediterranean legume that FIXES nitrogen and thrives where other crops suffer from heat and drought: a resilience crop for warming summers. Its protein-rich seeds keep for a long time; roots and haulm left in place return part of the nitrogen to the soil.
Good companions
Traditional companion planting (benefit not demonstrated)
Poor companions
Seasons & availability
Sown in spring, harvested dry in late summer, in August and September, it keeps a long time.
Available: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
Guidance for the oceanic / temperate climate; it may vary with your region, altitude, exposure and growing method.
Sources
- Terres Inovia, « Pois chiche – Guide de culture 2026 » (terresinovia.fr/sites/default/files/2026-04/guide_culture_pois-chiche_2026_terresinovia.pdf)
- Plants For A Future, « Cicer arietinum » (pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Cicer+arietinum)
Nutritional & medicinal properties
For educational purposes. Not a substitute for medical advice. Effects depend on the form, the dose and personal context.
Precautions & contraindications
Eaten cooked, never raw; soaking and long cooking improve digestibility (the cooking water, aquafaba, is also cooked with).
Family behaviour: Legumes
In general, Legumes fix nitrogen from the air in most cases, thanks to the Rhizobium in their root nodules. They mainly enrich the soil for the following crops, as their residues decompose. Ideal in a rotation, before nitrogen-hungry plants such as nightshades.
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Species & varieties
The best-known species and varieties in France.