How to Harvest Lentils

Rich in protein and easy to prepare, lentils (Lens culinaris) come in several varieties, with the three most common being yellow, pea-shaped and brown lentils. Lentil pods grow on vines that can reach 18 to 24 inches tall. Typically, the broad, flat pods contain one or two seeds. When fully mature, about 80 to 110 days after planting, lentils are ready to harvest. You can harvest them earlier, about 70 to 80 days after planting,when they are green, and use them as you would snap beans. Because lentils are annuals, you can simply pull the plants from the ground when it's time to harvest.

Drying rack
Paper towel
Rolling pin

Instructions

- 1
  Pull the plant up firmly by the base to harvest the entire plant if all the pods look mature. Wait until the plant begins to turn yellow and pods become hard and a brown to yellow-brown color. The pods mature quickly over the course of several days, so monitor them carefully because they may shatter. Put the plant on the ground, and continue pulling up the rest of the plants.
- 2
  Let the plants dry for one to two weeks on a drying rack or on the ground.
- 3
  Remove the pods from the plant when they are dry. Cover the pods with a layer of paper towel on both sides. Roll a rolling pin over them on a hard surface to break them open. Discard the broken pods, and use the unshelled lentils immediately.

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