Best Companion Plants for Chickpeas (and What to Avoid)

ByStephen Albert

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Chickpeas—garbanzo beans—are one of the easiest legumes to grow in a home garden, especially in raised beds and wide rows where airflow and soil drainage are good. After decades of growing cool-season legumes in the Sonoma Valley, I’ve found that chickpeas thrive when paired with compatible neighbors and struggle when crowded by heavy feeders or tall, shading crops. Good companion planting not only boosts yield but also supports soil health, moisture balance, and pest control.

Here are the companion plants that work best with chickpeas—and the ones you’ll want to avoid.

Why Companion Planting Matters for Chickpeas

Because chickpeas fix nitrogen, they naturally enrich soil for neighboring plants. But they’re also sensitive to shade, root competition, and excess nitrogen. Companion planting helps you:

  • Improve soil structure and fertility
  • Manage moisture efficiently
  • Reduce pest pressure, especially from aphids
  • Keep plants cool in early spring but not shaded during pod set

From years in the garden, I’ve learned that chickpeas prefer low-maintenance partners that don’t overwhelm them.

Best Companion Plants for Chickpeas

1. Carrots

Carrots pair well with chickpeas because they thrive in the loose soil chickpeas help maintain. Both are light feeders, so nutrient competition is minimal.

2. Spinach

A cool-season green that matures quickly, spinach grows beautifully alongside early-sown chickpeas. It benefits from the partial wind protection chickpeas provide.

3. Radishes

Fast-growing radishes act as a living mulch early in the season. They germinate quickly and finish before chickpeas start branching heavily.

4. Lettuce

Lettuce grows well in the cool spring window when chickpeas are establishing. The shallow roots of lettuce won’t interfere with chickpeas’ deeper taproots.

5. Cilantro

Cilantro enjoys the same cool spring conditions as chickpeas and doesn’t compete for nitrogen or space. The two crops mature around the same time.

6. Alliums: Onions, Scallions, and Leeks

Alliums deter aphids, one of the most common early-season chickpea pests. Their upright growth and small footprint keep the bed open and airy.

7. Beets

Like carrots, beets are deep-rooting but not heavy feeders. They tolerate the slightly drier conditions chickpeas prefer as they mature.

Companion Plants That Help the Soil

Because chickpeas are nitrogen-fixing legumes, they enrich the soil for the next crop. Good follow-up plantings include:

  • Corn
  • Squash
  • Cucumbers
  • Brassicas (such as cabbage or broccoli)

In my experience, planting a heavy-feeding summer crop in a former chickpea bed gives excellent results—especially corn and squash.

Plants to Avoid Near Chickpeas

1. Other Legumes (Beans, Peas, Lentils)

While it may seem logical to plant legumes together, they often compete for the same rhizobial bacteria in the soil. This reduces nitrogen fixation efficiency and can lower yields for all crops involved.

2. Potatoes

Potatoes compete aggressively for soil moisture and space. They also attract aphids, which can spread disease to chickpeas.

3. Fennel

Fennel inhibits the growth of many nearby plants, including chickpeas. Avoid planting it anywhere in the same bed.

4. Tall Crops That Create Shade

Corn, sunflowers, and okra cast too much shade during chickpea flowering and pod development. Chickpeas need full sun—especially in their brief warm-season window.

5. Nitrogen-Loving Heavy Feeders

Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants demand more nitrogen than chickpeas provide and can easily outcompete chickpeas for nutrients.

My Best Companion Planting Layout for Chickpeas

After many seasons using the NEW system (Narrow beds, Equidistant planting, Wide rows), I’ve found this layout dependable:

  • Chickpeas: 6–8 inches apart
  • Lettuce or radishes: Between chickpea rows for early harvest
  • Alliums: Planted along one edge or between chickpea blocks
  • Cilantro: Interplanted lightly throughout the bed

This mix gives early greens, builds soil, deters pests, and maximizes production in small spaces.

Planting compatible neighbors around your chickpeas helps you get the best from the crop with minimal intervention. With smart spacing, careful crop pairing, and an understanding of what to avoid, chickpeas become an easy and productive addition to any spring garden.

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Stephen Albert is a horticulturist, master gardener, and certified nurseryman who has taught at the University of California for more than 25 years. He holds graduate degrees from the University of California and the University of Iowa. His books include Vegetable Garden Grower’s Guide, Vegetable Garden Almanac & Planner, Tomato Grower’s Answer Book, and Kitchen Garden Grower’s Guide. His Vegetable Garden Grower’s Masterclass is available online. Harvesttotable.com has more than 10 million visitors each year.

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