Hi, all, Excellent response to the 'off topic' issue, Anna and Dorene. At this electronic 'garden gate', I hope we can have all the conversations that grace our real world gardens. Plus, in our virtual garden, we all have the option of scrolling past stuff we don't want to read, or clicking delete. For me, problem solved.
Now, I think you will be able to grow garbanzos (chickpeas) where you are, Dorene - Zone 6? Libby did a very nice description, which I second. You don't need to baby them. I grew them in San Luis Obispo, CA, where it was easy as pie. They are a Mediterranean summer crop, so they resist drought - my guess is they would be happiest with excellent drainage (I wouldn't overwater them once you've got them up) and won't be fussy about soils that aren't too acidic. I suggest waiting until a week or two after your last frost date - early-mid May? - to plant, the same time as you set out peppers and eggplant. Direct seed, and I suggest soaking them 6 hrs or so before (like for peas or sweet peas). Using a rhizobial bacteria powder wouldn't hurt. I think Libby's idea of planting them along paths is brilliant, also in dry poor beds beside fences. I wouldn't expect super yields, but as Libby says they are pretty in a quiet way. Full sun. If they don't work, dig 'em in as green manure. They might look nice around the base of okra as an 'edible mulch'. They are good in hummus, and in salads - I'm not sure how they'd work coated in Hershey's chocolate. Meanwhile, I'm going to try edame (edible soybean) this year. My family now gobbles 'em by the fistfull, and they supposedly work well here in Zone 7, better than limas. (Sorry about the snow, Libby. Down here, our Daphnes opened up today, perfuming the whole yard, and the daffodils are beginning to pop. A saucer magnolia is just about to open.) Good luck, Don Boekelheide Charlotte NC > > In that spirit, has anyone successful raised > chickpeas outside of the > > Southwest? Seeds of Change just sent our > community garden packets and > > *packets* of the stuff and I haven't a clue what > to do with them. > > > > Dorene Pasekoff (reply) > Yo Doreen, > > I grew them years ago. The variety that I grew was more cold > resistant than most. I got it from Johnny's, but they stoped carrying > it. > > Anyway, one needs to start them in warm soil (Have you seen any soil > yet? I haven't.): I think mid May to early July, depending on what > else you're growing. You could plant them after lettuce or spinach. > However, one only gets one or two beans per pod; so you might just > want to cook most of the ones you got. Great for hummus. > > They are low-growing, have ferny leaves and pretty white flowers. I > grew mine as an edging to one of my large beds at S/QV. I think I > planted them about 1-2" apart and thinned them to about 4", but I > don't really remember, and you know how I crowd stuff. > > Has your snow melted off yet? I've still got places in the back yard > with almost a foot left. > > Libby __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes.yahoo.com/ ______________________________________________________ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden
