How to Grow and Care for Lentils

The lentil (*Lens culinaris*) is a bushy herbaceous plant that can grow to be 30 to 76 cm tall. Lentils are highly valued for their taste and nutritional value. This plant grows in temperate and subtropical regions throughout the world. It prefers sandy soil. Lentil crops can be harvested within 120 days of planting. It is a beneficial plant for crop rotation in farms and gardens because it is a nitrogen-fixer and will improve the soil where it is planted.

Lentil is a cultivated herbaceous plant known for its lens-shaped seeds that grow in pods, typically two seeds per pod. These edible seeds vary in color and are a staple in diets worldwide due to their high protein content. Thriving in temperate climates, lentil exhibits compound leaves with narrow leaflets and small, blue to white flowers. The plant's ability to fix nitrogen significantly enriches soil fertility, enhancing its growth environment.