How to Grow Black Lentils

Lentils are widely used in making lentil soup.

Lentils are highly nutritious legumes that are rich in protein. They resemble split peas and come in a variety of colors, including black, yellow, green, red and brown. Lentils cook in less time than a number of other dried legumes, and they store well for up to a year. Annual lentil plants have a mature height of 12 to 20 inches; the legume is contained in short pods that grow after flowers have bloomed. Lentils have been in cultivation for nearly 8,500 years, according to the Purdue University Cooperative Extension. You can grow black lentils in your home garden by observing the basic growth requirement of this grain legume.

Things You'll Need

• Seeds
• Shovel

Instructions

1. Prepare a site in an area of full sun. Lentils are a cool-season crop and do not thrive in regions with a very hot climate. The grain adapts to a variety of well-drained soil types. Lentils are intolerant of flooded or water-logged soil. For best harvest, a soil pH of 7.0 is recommended.

2. Level the planting bed and remove all residue from any prior crops. Also remove large rocks and clods of soil, as these hinder seeding and growth.

3. Sow the seeds at a depth of 1½ inches. If you are planting in excessively dry soil, increase the depth to 2½ inches. Avoid planting in crusted soil or planting very deep, as this will lead to poor germination.

4. Use 30 to 80 pounds of seed per acre, as recommended by the Purdue University Cooperative Extension. At this seeding rate, you will get about 20 plants for every square foot of ground. Space the rows 2 to 3 feet apart.

5. Water regularly and control weeds carefully, especially prior to planting and in the seedling stage of growth. Recommended herbicides include glyphosate and sethoxydim.

6. Harvest the legume when the plants start to turn yellow. The lower pods on the plant will begin to get brown to yellow-brown in color. Do not delay harvesting, as very dry pods are likely to shatter and release the legume.

References

• "The 200 SuperFoods That Will Save Your Life"; Deborah A. Klein; 2009
• Purdue University Cooperative Extension; Alternative Field Crops Manual - Lentil; E.S. Oplinger, et al.; May 1990
• "Growing Food"; Tony Winch; 2006