lentils

[nitiram]

Can I grow lentils do you think? As beans and peas are usually very easy to grow.   Have no idea what plant lentils come from have you?

[nitiram]

[Lauren S]

Hi Nitiram,
I found this lentil site. Thought you might find out all the info you need.

Lauren  :)

http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Lens+culinaris

[nitiram]

Very interesting Lauren, many thanks. They might grow in UK, wonder where i can get some seeds from?    Didn't know they were used as a laxitive though...lol      We are all vegetarians and eat lots of them without noticing any adverse affects...lol

[gordonsveg]

morning nitiram
  do other people notice any side effects though?

[nitiram]

Been a vegetarian since 1965..the digestive system gets use to the large intake of pulses and other roughage...lol     so there are no side effects..only with asparagus

[RosieMcPosie]

good morning- i have found a lentil seed wsupplier- seeds of italy- will dig out the website when i can. only thing is the seeds are £5 a packet- which i think is rather a lot!
does anyone else know of suppliers?
alternitavly, does anyone want to go halves with me and try some?
thanks!
Rosie

[nitiram]

I too found the seeds of italy seeds..expensive and don't want that many for a small back garden. They are the green lentils and not the red ones  too....All the info I am finding tends to be aimed at the commercial grower.

[debster]

if you soak dried lentils you can sprout them for eating would they not grow on if planted ?

[GINGER]

Hi Debs,
I think the green ones are called puy lentils and yes they do germinate OK although I have neve grown them in UK, only in our place in Hesdin in Pas de Calais. but I guess the climate is not much different Hesdin is usually about 3 weeks in from of Suffolk where I now live. I should think that Whipton is on about the same line as Hedin.
By the way I used to live in Hillyfield Rd and then Leypark Road where our garden ran down to the railway line.
Happy days
Ginge

[nitiram]

if you soak dried lentils you can sprout them for eating would they not grow on if planted ?

I wondered about this Deb and think this is what i am going to try

[RosieMcPosie]

i'll be trying this too, got a packet of organic ones yesterday frm tesco!
wish me luck!!

[alienwithaview]

Haven't tried lentils yet but am just experimenting with chickpeas, wondering if they have a "best season" or will they produce pods any time of the year? I  gather they have about 2 - 3 peas in a pod - I guess I need quite a big patch dedicated to them if I want to keep up with our consumption.

[RosieMcPosie]

oooooooh chick peas sound fun, are you growing from seed or from chickpeas mean for eating?

[alienwithaview]

the ones meant for eating - look exactly the same as in seed packets (just a lot cheaper), so I guess the chickpeas in my hummus are the seeds, aren't they?

[RosieMcPosie]

hi guys... wil be posting this on swap shop too, but i don't want anything in return!
i have bought a box of lentils
(merchant gourmet authentic French puy lentils) and am planning to experiment.
does anyone want to have a go with me? just pm me your addy and i'll send you a handful!
also... does anyone have any tips on growing them?
thanks!

[littlebabybird]

hi,
Thompson & Morgan do a packet of lentils for sprouting for £1.99.
i think they might work better than the supermarket ones.

[ksia]

my chickpeas only have 1 pea per pod - so yes you'll need a large area!
Good luck with the lentils. Might try too!