Grow Gram Greens in a Pot This Winter and Enjoy Their Amazing Benefits

With the arrival of winter, our meals naturally become richer and greener. From mustard to fenugreek and spinach — this season offers a variety of leafy vegetables. Among them, gram greens (chana saag) stand out for their rich flavor and nutritional value. They are packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber, making them a great addition to your winter diet.

The best part? You can easily grow chickpea greens at home — even in pots! These plants don’t require much care and are ready for harvest in just a few weeks. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to grow them in your kitchen garden.

1. Choosing the Right Seeds

You’ll find two main varieties of chickpeas — Desi (smaller seeds) and Kabuli (larger seeds). For growing greens, either type works well. Just make sure the seeds are of good quality and untreated.

2. What You’ll Need

• A rectangular or wide pot (better than round ones for more space)

• Good quality soil

• Organic fertilizer or vermicompost

• Watering can

• Chickpea seeds

If you have a kitchen garden, you can also plant them directly in the ground. Otherwise, containers or seed trays work perfectly fine.

3. Preparing the Soil

Gram plants grow best in fertile, well-draining soil.
For containers:

• Mix soil and fertilizer in a ratio depending on soil quality.

  • For fertile soil: 1 part compost

  • For medium-quality soil: 2 parts compost

  • For less fertile soil: up to 3 parts compost (or 30% vermicompost) and 70% soil.

• Fill the pot with this mixture and ensure it has proper drainage holes.

4. Sowing the Seeds

• Maintain a distance of about 9 cm (3 inches) between seeds since the plants grow bushy.

• For small varieties, sow 1 inch deep; for larger ones, go 2 inches deep.

• Lightly water the soil after planting.

• If you’re growing just for greens, no need to use support or trellises.

5. Care Tips

• Keep the pot in a sunny place where it gets at least 4–6 hours of sunlight daily.

• Water a little every day to keep the soil slightly moist — avoid waterlogging.

• If you pre-sprout the seeds, soak them overnight and keep them wrapped in a damp cloth for a day before planting.

• You generally don’t need to add more fertilizer later, but if growth seems slow, use a mild organic liquid fertilizer.

6. Harvesting Time

• Seeds usually germinate within 3–5 days.

• For greens, the plants will be ready to harvest in 20–25 days.

• Once the plants reach 6–8 inches in height and leaves look lush, snip off the top portion to encourage regrowth.

• The plants will continue producing fresh greens after the first cut.