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farmer and son growing lentils

How Lentils are Grown?

Learn to Cook With Lentils Learn About Different Kinds of Lentils How Lentils are Grown?

In Canada, lentils are planted in early May. The plants grow approximately 12 to 24 inches tall, with the seeds being produced in pods attached to the plant. There are between one to three lentils per pod. The lentils are then harvested in their dry form typically in mid-August. The common practice in Canada is to seed the crop directly into the stubble of the previous crop. By doing that, we’re always maintaining a protective cover over the land to protect the topsoil.


lentil_field
Close up of a lentil field

Lentils and all pulses (beans, chickpeas, dried peas) are a key crop in lowering the environmental footprint of food production, food consumption, and are an ingredient for a sustainable diet. Lentils are able to fix nitrogen which means they form a relationship with bacteria in the soil that then enables them to draw nitrogen out of the atmosphere and put it into the soil, both for the use of that plant that’s growing and also leaving nitrogen in the soil for subsequent crops. Crops need nitrogen to grow. So, having lentils in our crop rotation lowers the overall greenhouse gas imprint of the whole farming system. Lentils actually have a negative carbon footprint because they sink more carbon into the soil than is emitted. 

lentil_seed_hand
Farmer showing unripened lentil seed after removing from the pod.

Want to learn more? Corey and his son, Aidan are lentil, canola, wheat and barley farmers in northwestern Saskatchewan. Click below to learn more.

Meet Corey and Aidan and read about how they grow lentils in Saskatchewan

farmer and son growing lentils
Corey and Aidan are lentil, canola, wheat, oat and barley farmers from Saskatchewan.
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