The garden should be tilled and raked, removing stones and other debris as lentils propagate via seed dispersal. Plant lentils in full sun. Plant the seeds in rows, spacing them at least 1 inch apart. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Lentils can be attacked by aphids, Lygus bugs, maggots, wireworms and thrips; however, this predation is rare. Lentils grow best when planted alongside cucumbers or summer savory vegetables. Most lentil production in North America takes place in the Pacific Northwest, eastern Washington, northern Idaho and up into western Canada, grown since the 1930’s as a rotation crop with wheat. In our household, if we allow for a pound per week, we'd need about 5,000 square feet of growing area. You can grow lentils in containers, but it takes several plants to get a decent crop. Lentils are usually grown on large farms and harvested using expensive equipment. How to use lentils? In summary, lentil plant care requires good drainage, cool temperatures (but not cold), a minimum of irrigation, and a soil pH of near 7.0. The pods are very small, each containing only one or two seeds, so you will need 4 to 8 lentil plants per person. There is a downside to this nutritious little legume, however, as lentils contain substances that can contribute to — ahem, flatulence. Approved. It is planted at a similar time as peas and oats and it is worth remembering that the delay affects the productivity.Lentils usually germinates after 6 – 12 days of seed sowing. Plus, this pantry staple is incredibly versatile. Can I just grow a lentil seed with water and without any soil? Sow the seeds in late April to early May, three weeks before the last frost date. Lentil plants grow relatively fast -- you should be able to harvest your lentils 80 to 100 days after planting the seeds! Like all beans, lentils need a little trellising to grow well. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Very informative.". If you are concerned about the acidity or alkalinity of your soil, get a quick pH test from the garden store. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. If deer or other animals begin to intrude on your lentil patch, them create a fenced in area or place a light netting on top of the plants. However, for planting purposes, any whole, dry lentils that you find in the grocery store will work just fine. Green lentil plants make for a terrific green manure and lentil seeds can be used as a commercial starch in textile and paper processing. Lentils are a form of crop which can be grown from Lentil seeds in the garden below the workyard known as the Kitchen Garden.To grow they require the Garden bed with sticks.Alternatively they can be purchased from the Farmer.Lentils are an improvable crop, meaning they have a variety of quality levels and can be improved with fertilizer. More air circulation will also lessen the possibility of fungus and other disease that thrive on stagnant soils. This allows for early spring planting dates. Lentils grow best in a soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. Lentils are more drought tolerant than other beans. Lentil plants are typically short but can range from 20 to 75 centimetres (8 to 30 inches), with a relatively shallow root system (0.6 metres or 1.97 feet). Last Updated: March 23, 2020 Lentils are a super food that can give you a huge protein boost. Plant lentil seeds 1/2 to 1 and 1/2 inches deep, with 1 inch of spacing between seeds and 18 to 24 inches of space between rows. By using our site, you agree to our. How long does it take for a lentil seed to start growing? It will take about 80 to 110 days for lentils to come to harvest. Lentils usually only get to be about 20 inches tall, so the trellis does not have to be very big. SOIL Lentils do well in loose, well drained soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH (6.0 – 8.0). A highly nutritious food legume primarily cultivated for seed and frequently eaten as dhal, lentils are grown as an annual crop during cool seasons and in areas of limited rainfall. Lentils prefer well drained soil planted on south or east exposures to better utilize the sun’s warmth and get the little seedlings to erupt. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Sow the seeds to a depth of 4 – 6 cm, 6 – 8 cm in rows and leave space of 15 – 30 cm between each row. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. A temperate climate is required for summer crops or lentils can be grown as a winter annual in subtropical climes. Good drainage is of primary concern, as even short periods of flooded or waterlogged soil will kill lentil plants. (Picture taken February 27) Cover the lentils with a moist towel or paper towel. Yes, lentils can grow with water, but the taste of lentils cultivated with water can be blander. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b2\/Grow-Lentils-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Lentils-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b2\/Grow-Lentils-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid8969524-v4-728px-Grow-Lentils-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"