Lentils are an annual plant in the legume family. It has been mentioned since the Neolithic. It was grown in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. Lentil fruits have been repeatedly found in the ancient pyramids of Egypt and during excavations of civilizations with a thousand-year history. There is a mention of lentil stew in the Old Testament.

History of culture

Lentils are native to southern Europe and western Asia. The largest areas allocated for the cultivation of this crop are located in Turkey, India, Canada and Iran. The rest of the countries do not plant this plant on an industrial scale. In Asia, being one of the most important sources of protein and having good nutritional value, lentils can replace cereals, bread, and sometimes even meat.

What does lentils look like? In appearance, some of its varieties do not resemble an agricultural crop, but rather a weed.

The stem twists and reaches 70 cm in length, the leaf of the lentil has a double-pinnate alternate, with a curl at the end. It blooms with small flowers up to 0.5 cm in diameter in late June or early July. Then pods with 2-3 seeds are formed. The shape of the most common seed varieties is similar to "small plates" with a sharp edge.

On a note! Depending on which variety is cultivated, the fruit color of the ripe lentil pod will differ.

However, what are lentils? It is quite a pretty annual plant. Even if it is grown in a zone of environmental pollution, it tends to always remain "clean", since it does not accumulate radionuclides and nitrates. The main varieties are divided: Green, Red, Brown and Black. Such names come from the color of the plant's beans themselves.

Lentils

Beneficial features

Lentils are a treasure trove of vegetable protein. It is very easily absorbed by the body and does not cause gas formation, unlike peas or beans. An added benefit is that lentils replenish iron and folate stores. It is this acid that is involved in the formation of immunity, maintains the integrity of DNA and is responsible for cell growth. One portion of an agricultural crop contains up to 90% of the daily dose required by a person. No other product can boast of such a composition. Lentils are also high in fiber and carbohydrates. They are excellent at improving digestion and making it impossible for the development of rectal cancer.

Important! Lentil porridge improves metabolism, improves immunity and restores the normal functioning of the genitourinary system. Moreover, there is no need to pre-soak this type of legumes. They boil superbly, as it says in any recipe, within 35-45 minutes.

The composition of lentils is rich, like all legumes, trace elements. First of all, these are magnesium, calcium, iron and phosphorus. Their action strengthens the nervous system and improves heart function. In order for the iron in this culture to enter the body and begin to act, you need to know what lentils are eaten with. Red peppers or fresh tomatoes are consumed with it. Fresh greens will also become a conductor of iron into the body. For example, in India, a world supplier of lentils, dishes made from it are abundantly sprinkled with parsley or cilantro.

The amino acid tryptophan, found in lentils, is converted in the human body into serotonin, the hormone of joy. And since everyone knows that lack of serotonin leads to depression and depression, this problem can be easily solved by eating lentil porridge.

Those suffering from urolithiasis are recommended to systematically use lentil broth as a prophylaxis. The isoflavones in it help suppress breast cancer. A dish-shaped type of lentil helps diabetics lower blood sugar.

In Chinese medicine, it is believed that the use of lentil soup, and even with spices, has an excellent warming effect, which becomes especially important in the cold season. So, in order to achieve the desired result, it is extremely important to know what to eat lentils with.

Important!Despite the huge number of advantages, this culture can be harmful. It should not be used in your diet for gout sufferers. Also, this type of legume is contraindicated for people with diseases of the stomach, intestines, pancreas and skin.

Describing lentils, experts noted that this culture does not accumulate harmful substances in itself during growth. And with medicinal properties, as well as good nutritional value, it is a unique plant.

What does it look like

Lentils are a stunted plant, and their pods have seeds - beans, the size of which, depending on the variety, can vary from 2 to 9 mm.

There are 4 main varieties of lentils on sale:

  • Green lentils, or French lentils, are unripe beans. They brought it out in the French city of Puy, hence the second name. This variety is suitable for salads or as a side dish for fish and meat. After cooking, the grain itself is quite soft, and the taste is very delicate.

    Green lentils

  • Brown lentils are the most common of the other crop varieties. It boils well, therefore it is indispensable for cooking soups. According to experts, the brown variety has a nutty flavor. It requires soaking for 30 minutes before cooking, and then cooks very quickly.
  • Yellow lentils (red) are the same green lentils, but without a shell. Its second name is Egyptian. Accordingly, it cooks much faster. It reaches readiness in 15-20 minutes. and does not require pre-soaking. The taste is delicate and pleasant. The consistency is soft. Ideal for mashed potatoes and great with stewed vegetables.
  • Black lentils, also called Beluga, have small grains that resemble fish caviar. The beans of this variety do not boil over, retaining their shape, therefore they are also ideal in salad or in stews with meat or vegetables.

All of these types of lentils are available on the free market: both in supermarkets and in small stores. The most inexpensive of them is the brown variety, and the expensive and elite variety is Beluga.

Important! Yellow lentils are not found in nature. Its yellow color is obtained during the heat treatment, and initially these lentils are orange (other names are red or pink). It is obtained by peeling, that is, by removing the top layer of grain.

When asked whether lentils are legumes or not, scientists say the following. Crops eaten in the form of grains or beans are legumes. These include peas, beans, lentils, and soybeans.

By the way, nutritionists have proven that by constantly using legumes in your diet, you can get rid of excess weight. To do this, you need to eat 130 g of legumes (peas, chickpeas, beans or lentils) daily for 6 weeks.

How do lentils grow? It can withstand a slight and short-term frost down to -5 ° C during the growth of the plant. Also tolerates drought quite persistently. For this, she should say special thanks to her highly fibrous root system. It can be concluded that lentils are an unpretentious plant.

Note! At the end of the 9th century, ordinary lentils saved the inhabitants of tsarist Russia from hunger. For a period there was a terrible drought in the country and nothing but this agricultural crop was born.

Lentils, depending on the length of the stem, can grow upward or creep along the ground.Food lentils look especially beautiful at the time of their flowering.

How to plant

The description of the culture says that lentils have self-pollinated varieties and have cross-pollination. It is in the cross that bees are involved. Of course, varieties of the first type are more in demand in terms of yield. Since weak pollination with the help of bees can reduce the yield of lentils at times. It has been scientifically proven that the harvest harvested after pollination of a legume plant by bees is several times higher than the cost of honey and wax collected by them.

It should be noted that lentils, by their nature, are not a melliferous crop. And therefore, it is very important that pollinating bees flock to cross-pollination. Therefore, when planting cultivated agricultural plants, the level of their melliferousness should be taken into account. Because not all cross-pollinated crops can be pollinated by honey bees. Accordingly, instead of tied pods, it is quite possible to get a barren flower.

Bees pollinators

  • Popular varieties of lentils for her lovers is Anfia, suitable for all growing zones. The period from sowing to ripening averages 90 days. Drought tolerant, rarely crumbles and tolerates disease well. Smooth beans are green in color. The vegetable protein content reaches 31%.
  • Octava is also suitable for all growing areas, but is more early maturing. Ripening of beans takes 60 to 80 days and grows up to 50 cm. It also does not lie down, does not crumble and is resistant to dry times.
  • The Bride variety is mid-season. Ripens in 86-96 days from the moment of sowing. It is short, reaching a maximum length of 35 cm. Resistant to pests, drought and shedding.

This agricultural crop is very fond of loose soil or with admixtures of clay or sand. It happens that it survives in more difficult soils, but in this case it does not yield a crop. Also, lentils do not like acidic soil. Before sowing it on the site, you need to process it with lime.

To increase yields, this legume is best sown in an area exposed to sunlight. In shaded areas, it grows extremely poorly and yields a small harvest.

Important! Lentils are very fond of the places where corn, potatoes or winter crops grew in the previous season.

To achieve a good yield, it is not enough to decide on a planting site. It is worth considering fertilizing the soil. Potash and phosphorus fertilizers will be extremely relevant here. They need to be introduced either before winter, digging up the ground, or in the fall before planting. Here, as they say, the owner is the master. Fertilizers need 50 g per 1 m² of soil.

You can sow the crop in early spring, after the ground warms up 20 cm deep.

When starting sowing, you need to make small grooves up to 5 cm deep. The distance between them is maintained at a maximum of 15 cm.

Sowing lentils

Further care

After germination, weeding is required, preferably at lunchtime. Otherwise, the delicate sprouts of lentils can "clog" the weeds.

In the first 6 weeks of growth, the slowly growing crop is gaining strength for the upcoming flowering. And only after that does it grow and begin to branch out, turning into fluffy shrubs. And already at the beginning of autumn harvesting is possible.

It should be taken into account that lentils ripen, like all legumes, unevenly. First, you need to harvest from the lower level, and only later will the pods of the upper shoots ripen.

For all its survival, lentils require periodic watering in the first 6-8 weeks of their growth. It is imperative to ensure that the ground does not dry out and is moistened as needed. And after the specified time has elapsed, watering the plants twice a day will be enough.

If the gardener follows all the tips listed above regarding planting and care, and most importantly, the choice of a suitable variety, then the long-awaited harvest of legumes will not be long in coming!