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Regular rainfall is usually sufficient, but if the season is a dry one, water the chickpeas twice a week during the flowering and pod formation stages. Avoid "overhead" watering. Water can get on the flowers and pods, causing them to break off prematurely. Pouring water over the plant can also invite mildew to develop. When you water the chickpeas, water them directly at the soil level. Once the pods mature and the plant begins to die back on its own, cut back on watering the plant. Once every one to two weeks should suffice. Doing so encourages the drying process, which you'll want to the plant to go through before the harvest. Once the weather warms up, you should add a light coat of mulch around the stems. Doing so can retain an adequate amount of soil moisture, which is especially important if your plants are receiving full sun. Mulch can also help prevent weeds from invading the plant bed. You can add a little aged compost or similar organic material to the soil around the chickpeas mid-season. As before, though, you should avoid adding nitrogen-rich fertilizers. Chickpeas work with microorganisms in the soil to produce their own nitrogen, so they receive all the nitrogen they really need. Any excess nitrogen will cause the leaves to grow bushier and may dampen the eventual yield. When removing weeds or adding anything to the soil, you need to work carefully to avoid disturbing the plant's root system. The root system of a chickpea plant is quite shallow, so working too close to the base of the plant can cause damage to its roots. You should also avoid handling the plants when they are wet since doing so can cause fungus spores to spread quickly. Chickpeas are vulnerable to attacks by a range of different pests. You should avoid pre-treating the plant for pests, though, and instead wait until you spot pests before taking action against them. Adult aphids, leafhoppers, and mites can be controlled with a blast of water from the hose or insecticidal soap. After noticing adult pests, look for eggs and crush them between your fingers. Alternatively, simply cut away any leaves with egg cases on them. For notably bad infestations, try a natural and food-safe pesticide containing pyrethrins. You should also keep the garden free of debris to reduce the number of pests. These plants are also vulnerable to a few different diseases, including blight, mosaic, and anthracnose. Plant disease-resistant varieties when possible. To avoid the spread of disease, keep the planting bed free of debris and avoid handling the plants when they are wet. Remove diseased plants and discard them to prevent the disease from spreading. Burn them or put them in the trash, but do not use them for compost.
Water regularly. Mulch as needed. Fertilize with caution. Handle the chickpeas carefully. Manage pests as you see them. Keep an eye out for signs of disease.