Buying a Lentil Plant

Types of Lentil Plants

• Before buying, learn about what types of lentil plants you want to grow. Try a variety of lentils or focus on growing one main type. Red lentils have a reddish orange color, but sometimes this lentil looks more like other types because it can have a black, grey, light green or tan color. Red lentils grow 8 to 26 inches tall and produce lentil seeds by late spring. Most lentil plants look similar to other bean plants, growing less than 2 feet tall. Choose other common varieties, such as yellow, white, split black, green, brown and black lentils.

Soil Preparation and Care

• Prepare the soil in advance before buying your lentil plants. Lentils need fertile, well-draining soil in order to grow properly. The University of Perdue states that lentils grow well in different types of soil, such as clay or loamy, but the plant doesn't tolerate flooded soils. Prevent this problem by making sure your soil has good drainage and a pH of around 7.0. You can grow lentils directly in the ground or allow them to flourish in containers or ceramic pots. The lentils can grow indoors as long you place the plant near a sunny window and fill the pots with fertile soil or potting mix.

When to Buy

• Buy lentil seeds or transplants in the early spring if you plan on planting them directly in the ground, rather than growing indoors. Plant the seeds or transplants soon after buying. You can purchase seeds or transplants at other times during the year, if you are growing the plants indoors. When planting transplants outdoors, cover the entire root system with soil and pack the soil tightly around the plant. Perdue University recommends planting lentil seeds 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches deep in the ground. Lentil seeds are small, so planting them too deep may inhibit the seed from sprouting up through the ground.

Where to Buy

• You can buy lentil plants and seeds at your local plant nursery, home improvement store or online. Prices vary depending on what's available in your area -- along with demand, season and type of lentil plant you select. However, seeds often cost less than transplants. Choose transplants if you want to get a good start on your garden or select seeds if you want to save money.