How to Grow Lentils

Buy seeds or dry lentils. Packaged lentil seeds may be hard to find at garden centers. You may need to visit a specialized gardening supplier or buy from an online organic seed vendor. However, for planting purposes, any whole dry lentils available at a grocery store will work.

• Lentils with removed skins cannot be planted. You need to buy whole lentils with the skins intact.

Rinse and sort the seeds. Place the lentil seeds in a colander and rinse them with water. Discard any seeds that are broken, cracked, or discolored.

Plant the seeds in early spring. Lentils grow well in the cool and fresh weather of March. The plants will mature in the summer as temperatures rise. For the seeds to survive, the soil temperature must be at least 4°C when planting. If frost occurs after the plants have sprouted, don't worry, as most seedlings can survive and grow back from the roots.

• If you want more flexibility, you can grow lentils indoors as long as the room temperature is maintained around 20°C. In cold seasons, many people use indoor grow lights to maintain a stable temperature.

Choose a sunny location with good drainage. Lentils thrive both in the garden and in containers. The key is to ensure the plant gets plenty of full sunlight. You can plant lentils alongside low-growing plants, as they won’t shade the lentils. Ensure the soil is moist but not waterlogged, as waterlogged soil can rot the roots.

• If planting in a container, choose one that is at least 20 cm deep to allow the roots to grow fully.
• If you're concerned about soil acidity or alkalinity, you can buy a pH testing kit at a garden store. Lentils grow best in soil with a pH level between 6 and 6.5.

Treat with preventative products beforehand. Before planting, sprinkle or spray the lentil seeds with a beneficial bacterial mix that can be purchased from a garden store. The same preventative treatment used for other beans can also be applied to lentils. This pre-treatment will help the lentil seeds develop root nodules or extend the roots. This enhances the plant's ability to withstand weather changes and increases harvest yield.

Sow seeds at a depth of at least 2.5 cm. If the soil is moist and rich, you can sow seeds at a depth of 2.5 cm. If the surface of the soil is dry, it’s better to plant the seeds as deep as 6.5 cm. Do not sow the seeds deeper than this, as lentils will not germinate if buried too deeply.

Space the seeds correctly. When planting in pots, try to space lentil seeds at least 2.5 cm apart. If planting in rows, maintain the same distance and keep about 15 cm between the rows. This planting density will allow you to harvest 450 grams of seeds per 30 square meters.

Provide support for mature plants. Fully grown lentil plants can reach up to 76 cm in height. If they fall over, their flowers and pods may get damaged or touch the ground. It’s recommended to create a low trellis to support the plants and tie them through the gaps, or you can use fabric ties to secure the plants to bamboo stakes.

• For a quick trellis, gather some bamboo stakes, stick them into the ground near the lentil plants, and tie the plants to the stakes using fabric or nylon twine, then connect the stakes together with more twine or string.

Water the plants twice a week. Like other warm-weather plants, lentils are fairly drought-resistant. However, they will thrive best when kept adequately moist. When pressing your finger into the soil, it should feel damp but without water rising to the surface where you pressed.

Regularly remove weeds and thin out plants. Weeds can quickly overpower and kill lentil plants. To prevent this, it’s a good idea to spend some time weeding the planting area every week. If the lentil plants are crowded, it’s also a good practice to thin them out to ensure a good harvest.

• Good airflow helps reduce the risk of fungal infections and other diseases caused by stagnant soil.

Eliminate pests. Tiny pear-shaped insects known as aphids are often attracted to lentil plants and suck sap from them, potentially harming the plants. If you spot them, use a spray bottle or a strong stream of water to dislodge them. If you see grain weevils on the plants, remove the affected plants and dispose of them immediately.

• If animals are entering the lentil-growing area, consider building a protective fence or covering the plants with a light mesh net.

You can harvest lentils after 80 to 100 days of planting. Walk through the lentil rows and cut the plants at the base when you hear a rattling sound from the pods. These plants may also turn a yellow-brown color. Afterward, shell the pods to extract the seeds inside. Let them dry for a while before washing.

• You can store the harvested lentils in sealed jars until you're ready to use them.

• Lentils are versatile in cooking, featuring in various soups and tasty salads. They can also be used to improve soil quality by crushing and mixing them into the earth before planting other crops.

• Lentils grow best when planted alongside cucumbers or other summer crops. It is advisable to avoid planting lentils near strong-smelling plants such as onions or garlic, as their scent can negatively affect the flavor of the lentils.