How Long Does It Take to Grow Lentils?
Growing your own food is a rewarding and empowering experience. Not only does it give you a sense of accomplishment, but it also ensures that you know exactly what goes into the food you eat. Lentils are one such crop that’s easy to grow and packed with nutrients. But how long does it take to grow these little legumes?
The Basics of Growing Lentils
Lentils thrive in cool seasons and do best when planted in early spring or late summer. They prefer well-draining soil and don’t require much water, making them perfect for dry climates. Typically, lentil seeds germinate within five to ten days after planting.
The Growth Cycle of Lentils
Once the lentil plant has sprouted, it takes around 90-110 days for them to mature fully. However, this timeline can vary depending on various environmental factors like temperature, soil quality, moisture levels and sunlight exposure.
During their growth cycle, lentil plants will flower before producing pods which contain two or three small beans each.
Harvesting Your Crop of Lentils
When the plants have reached maturity (indicated by yellowing leaves), it’s time for harvesting! Unlike other crops that need heavy machinery or specialized tools at harvest-time; collecting lentils doesn’t involve much manual labour as they easily come off by just shaking or pulling them from the plant stem.
Afterward remove any remaining dirt from your freshly harvested lentils before storing them in an air-tight container away from light sources until ready for consumption!
In conclusion: The process of growing lentils may seem daunting at first glance but with some basic knowledge about ideal conditions & timelines required during different stages (germination vs maturation), anyone can successfully cultivate this nutritious crop!
