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reba_nc

lentils in a SFG?

reba_nc
15 years ago

I would like to try this but I can't find any info on it. My veggie books don't even discuss lentils so I don't know how much space they need. Any ideas?

Comments (11)

  • duhast
    15 years ago

    From Wiki:

    "The lentil or daal or pulse (Lens culinaris) is a bushy annual plant of the legume family, grown for its lens-shaped seeds. It is about 15 inches tall and the seeds grow in pods, usually with two seeds in each."

    Two lentils per pod?

    Sounds like a pain in the @ss...

  • reba_nc
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    :) I want to try it because they're so high in protein. I googled 'growing lentils' and got info on everything but how far apart to plant them! If they generally grow 12-18 inches tall I figure they should be planted 8-12 inches apart, but it would be nice to know for sure!

  • cynthia_h
    15 years ago

    Just for fun, I planted wheat (whole wheat berries) in some soil by the street. I figured it wouldn't look "sexy," so the neighborhood kids/passersby would probably leave it alone.

    They have! But the only source I found, an old edition of Jeavons' "More Vegetables," recommended 5-inch spacing. I've got to say that, next year, I'll use 2-inch spacing for wheat. It's an incredibly skinny plant, and mine are anywhere from 12 to 30 inches tall. A few grass leaves, then some straw-ish stems, then the wheat "ears." Two inches will be plenty of space for them to "do their thing" next year.

    If you can find a picture of a growing lentil plant, look at how much breadth it has.

    But growing lentils *does* sound like a lot of work. If you're looking for protein in your garden, maybe soybeans would be more rewarding for your effort?

    in el cerrito

  • reba_nc
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    I read that the phyto-estrogens in soybeans are iffy when it comes to children's nutrition. And I really like lentil soup and stew! Found an article on Wikipedia that said 400,000 plants per acre, which translated to 20 per square foot! Think I'll go with 9 per foot and see how they do.

  • duhast
    15 years ago

    Still no one doing the math on the 2 (two) lentils per pod, huh?

  • reba_nc
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    Well it makes more than one pod per plant! : ) I broke down the ag specs and came to 1/4 lb per plant = 2 1/4 lbs per square foot. That'll make me a lot of soup......

  • duhast
    15 years ago

    I came across this PDF, It gives seed weights for lentils between 6,500 and 19,700 per pound. That's roughly 3,250 to 9,850 pods to get a pound of lentils.

    I'm not discouraging you from trying to grow them, it just seems like a HELL of a lot of work for a bowel of soup....

    Here is a link that might be useful: Growing Lentils in Montana

  • duhast
    15 years ago

    Um, that's BOWL of soup......

  • reba_nc
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    : ) I wasn't going to say anything. : )
    I sprouted a few lentils, enough for one square and I'll just see what happens. It'll be a change from the beans, peas, leeks, shallots, onions, garlic, celery, celeriac, beets, chard, broccoli, escarole, lettuce, mache, spinach and carrots I'm already growing! :)

  • anniesgranny
    15 years ago

    duhast, in many cases it only takes a cup of lentils for a pot of soup, especially if other veggies are added.

    Healthy Lentil Soup
    Serves 4

    2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    1/2 cup chopped onion
    1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
    2 cloves garlic finely chopped
    7 cups water
    1 cup dried brown lentils
    4 Vegetable Flavor Bouillon Cubes
    1 teaspoon vinegar
    1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach or kale
    1/2 cup quick-cooking brown rice

    HEAT oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

    ADD water, lentils, bouillon and vinegar; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cover. Cook for 18 to 20 minutes or until lentils are tender.

    STIR in spinach and rice; cover. Return to boil. Reduce heat to low; uncover. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes or until rice is tender.

    I haven't made this recipe yet, but had it in my "try" file.

    Granny

    Here is a link that might be useful: Annie's Kitchen Garden

  • Patty K
    3 years ago

    This post is from forever ago, but I'm hoping to find out about lentils in a SFG. @reba_nc How did your 9 per SF work out?

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