If you already «bitten the bug» to know how to grow lentils at home, then it is time for us to tell you the simplest technique to start planting at home without being an expert in agriculture.
Maybe you are part of the many lovers of this legume in the world. Lentil cultivation has increased in recent times because its nutritional benefits are well known and this means that more and more people are consuming it in omnivorous, vegetarian and vegan diets.
In case you want to learn how to grow mushrooms at home or you want to know the best way to start a home cultivation of lentils, we share the step by step so you can do the process and fill your pantry with this super food:
How to grow lentils at home
Before getting down to work, we want to give you a very special piece of advice: sow it outdoors and directly in the ground to favor its rapid germination and subsequent growth. Take note and get ready to harvest the best harvest of lentils, with the pride of saying that you did it yourself:
Set up
First, you need to prepare both the soil and the seeds. You can organize the soil with soil rich in organic matter, so you should previously mix it with fertilizer such as earthworm humus or compost (we teach you here how to make compost). Also, you should use soil with a pH between 5.5 and 9 that has excellent drainage. The seeds (the lentil grains) can be left to soak the night before sowing.
Sow
Set up an outside space for planting and add the enriched soil there. Now, bury the seeds to a depth equivalent to about three times the original size of the seed; try to leave a space of about 15 cm between them so that they can germinate quietly. You can cover them with newspaper to protect them until the seeds show their germination buds.
To water
To finish, irrigate the entire planting area with water, avoiding at all costs flooding the land so as not to damage the process.
Recommendations to care for the lentil plant
- This type of plant supports some cold but not frost, it should be in temperatures between 6º C and 28ºC.
- Try to plant it in the sunniest places you can and where it gets a good amount of air.
- Normal watering should be done only when the soil looks dry.
- The first harvest should be 3-4 months after sowing.
We also want to tell you how to plant garlic at home. It’s very simple and you can continue to grow your own garden quickly.