Grow Chickpeas With Your Kids at Home & Learn To Slow Down Together

One small seed. That’s all it takes to spark wonder.
Hold a chickpea in your palm — tiny, plain, and light — and it’s hard to imagine the life waiting inside it. In a few weeks, that same seed can split open, stretch towards the sun, and grow pods filled with more seeds of its own.

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For a child, this feels almost magical. Growing chickpeas at home turns an everyday seed into a living lesson in care and patience. Each stage — planting, watering, waiting — becomes a story of curiosity and discovery, where children get to watch life unfold right before their eyes.

Here’s a simple, step-by-step way to help them begin this small but wonderful journey.

1. Select healthy seeds

The adventure begins with selecting the seeds. Pick firm, unblemished chickpeas meant for home cultivation, as vitality is key to successful germination. Children can enjoy examining each seed — its size, shape, and texture — and even counting them carefully. This first step encourages attentiveness, anticipation, and a sense of excitement for the journey ahead.

2. Choose a sunny spot

Chickpeas thrive in well-lit and sunny spots. Whether planting in a garden bed or a large container, make sure the area receives plenty of sunlight. For containers, choose a pot at least 30 cm deep with good drainage to prevent waterlogging. 

Let children help choose or decorate the pots and arrange them in sunlit corners. It makes the growing space more personal and exciting—a small stage for life to unfold.

3. Prepare rich, well-drained soil

Healthy soil forms the base for strong growth. Chickpeas prefer loamy, well-drained soil enriched with compost or well-rotted manure. Children can join in by mixing the soil and feeling its texture, learning how fertile earth sustains life. This tactile activity strengthens their connection between preparation, care, and growth.

4. Soak the seeds before sowing

Before sowing, soak the seeds in water for eight to 12 hours. This softens their outer coats and helps them germinate faster. Watching the seeds swell can be fascinating for children — it’s their first glimpse of change and a spark of curiosity about how life begins.

5. Plant the seeds evenly

Plant each seed gently two to three centimetres below the soil surface, spacing them about 20 centimetres apart so roots and shoots have room to grow. In containers, one seed per hole is enough. 

Children can press the seeds lightly into the soil and cover them, realising they are nurturing new life from a tiny kernel.

6. Keep the soil moist but not soaked

Chickpeas need consistent moisture, especially during germination, but too much water can harm them. Teach children how to sprinkle water evenly and check the soil’s dampness with their fingers. This daily care builds patience, attentiveness, and a sense of responsibility — reminding them that living things thrive when cared for thoughtfully.

7. Let the sunlight in

Sunlight is essential for chickpeas to grow well. They need at least six to eight hours of light each day. 

Position containers or garden beds where they’ll get full sun, and encourage children to observe how leaves turn towards the light. These small changes transform routine care into a fun lesson in science and the patterns of nature.

8. Support the growing stems

As the stems grow taller, they may need support to stay upright. Simple sticks or small trellises can keep them from bending or breaking. Children can help tie the stems gently, learning how care and gentleness protect growth and strength.

9. Observe the growth

Growth takes time. Encourage children to notice new shoots, emerging leaves, and delicate flowers. This stage nurtures mindfulness, curiosity, and appreciation for the slow, steady work of nature. Every observation is a reminder that patience and care always bear fruit.

10. Harvest the results

After about three to four months, when the pods dry and turn golden brown, it’s time to harvest. Children can pluck the pods and open them to find the seeds inside, witnessing the tangible result of their effort. Harvesting becomes both a reward and a final lesson in the satisfaction that comes from care and consistency.

Growing chickpeas may start as a small home project, but for children, it often becomes something much deeper — a story of life unfolding in their own hands.