Lentil, from seed to harvest

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A slender annual of 16 to 20 inches (40 to 50 cm), the lentil (Lens culinaris) belongs to the same family as broad beans, beans and peas, and is grown for dried seeds valued for their proteins, fibres and minerals. It asks only for full sun, light or even sandy soil and regular hoeing, and repays that with a July harvest.

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Sowing lentil

Green, red and even pink lentil, there are a great number of lentil varieties but they all share the same growing steps. These are similar to other plants of the bean family.

If you wish to grow a AOC-label variety, opt for the ‘Verte du Puy’ lentil. For Red Label varieties, go for the ‘Berry’ or the ‘Blonde de Saint Flour’ varieties.

Lentil sowing season

Lentil is sown in the plot directly in seed holes in spring and is harvested in summer.

Sprouting is quite swift, since it takes place about 10 days after sowing.

Spacing lentil seeds

This depends on the lentil variety.

• Space your sowing seed holes by 14 inches (35 cm) on all sides.
• Run the hoe along after sprouting to avoid letting weeds invade your sowing.

The lentil is part of the same family as broad beans, beans and peas.

Which lentil variety to sow

All lentils are grown in exactly the same way, so the choice comes down to seed colour, size and how the lentil behaves in the pan. Here are the varieties most often found in seed catalogues and on the shelf.

The lentil year, stage by stage

From sowing to the drying rack, lentil asks for very little, but each stage has its own moment. Here is what happens when, and what you have to do about it.

Once the harvest is in, pull the plants up and dig them into the earth, since lentil does not grow back the following year.

Growing and caring for lentil

Lentil is easy to grow and care for, the only compulsory task is to hoe the soil on a regular basis because it loathes weeds.

Lentil sprouts can be ridged when they reach a height of 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm), this will increase their root system and they will stand more upright when heavy with seed.

• Without the ridging, lentil risks collapsing in case of rain and wind.

Lentil doesn’t require fertilizer nor must the soil be amended.

Lentil also doesn’t require regular watering, and in particular only needs water in case of extended dry spell.

Excess water would tend to lead to more leaves growing instead of flowers, so you would have less seeds.

At the end of the harvest, you can pull out the plants and mix them into the earth, because lentil doesn’t grow back from one year to the next.

Harvesting the lentils

The average productivity of lentil is about 5½ oz (150 g) per sq. yard (m²). So since we can plant about 10 to 12 specimens to a square yard (1 m²), the average productivity of a single lentil plant is ½ oz (15 g).

One might say that producing lentils requires a great many plants in order to gather a significant harvest!

How can one determine when the right time to harvest lentils is, to ensure that they’re neither too ripe nor too young?

• We harvest lentil at the beginning of summer.
• The stems are cut before they’re completely mature.
• The stems are set in a dry and ventilated place, preferably head down, to ripen.

Keeping lentils

Lentil seeds keep for much longer when they are still in their pods.

It’s thus best to keep them in their pods and collect them only as you need them.

But lentil seeds can still be kept for several months in a dry spot, preferably in an airtight jar such as a mason jar.

Lentil doesn’t need to be stored in the refrigerator.

• For large seeds such as beans, peas and corn, test dryness before jarring: a seed that dents under the tooth still holds moisture, while a properly dry one shatters or splits cleanly.
• Watch the inside of the glass for misting in the days after filling, and spread the seeds out to dry again if it appears.
• Bruchid beetle larvae develop inside lentil seeds, so freezing thoroughly dried seed at about -18°C (0°F) for a week before jarring kills them, and well-dried seed generally survives freezing without losing viability.

Diseases and parasites that attack lentils

The main diseases that impact lentil are:

• Black spot disease is when brown spots appear on leaves.
• The aphid is the main parasite that attacks lentils.

The best treatment against these diseases is to spray Bordeaux mixture preventively and routinely when the weather is warm and moist (for example, after it rains in summer).

As for parasites, you’ll possibly discover aphids and slugs.

• Many aphid species favour tender new growth, so check growing tips and leaf undersides regularly; dislodging them with a jet of water or treating with insecticidal soap are standard, widely recommended controls.
• Seedlings are especially vulnerable in the days after emergence, when one night’s slug grazing can kill a plant outright, though slugs also damage mature foliage, fruit and tubers throughout the season.
• Avoid sowing lentil in ground that has just carried peas, beans or broad beans, since these relatives share the same soil-borne rots.
• Bordeaux mixture only protects while it stays on the foliage, so it has to be reapplied once heavy rain has washed it off.

Smart tip about lentils

Dried lentil seeds are recommended for their proteins, fibers and minerals that they provide.

• Health: Lentil gifts us with many health benefits