How Are Lentils Harvested. Step by Step

How are lentils harvested is a great subject matter to know especially if you are about to start having your own greenhouse. According to garden specialists and farmers, lentils are edible legumes with Calcium, Iron, Vitamin B6, and Magnesium when grown in the garden and then cultivated for the kitchen. 

In this edition on our blog, you will learn more about lentils and how they are grown, side effects for your health, and more questions mostly asked online, before concluding how you can have lentils at home. 

How Are Lentils Harvested

How Are These Harvested Individually And Commercially?

Lentils: Individual Harvesting

These lentils are swathed and cut into windows around a week before harvesting them dry down their weeds, as the lentils are offering uneven crop maturity and heavy infestation from weeds. The technique of swathing enhances the uniformity of moisture among the lentil seeds, thus reducing the amount of seed discolouration.

Commercial Harvesting

To harvest lentils commercially, these are straight combined when its seeds and pods are fully mature. Gardeners often use their threshing equipment with the flex header, pick-up reel or air reels, automatic height controls, and vine lifters to make this even more possible. 

Take note though the excessively drying the seed may chip and peel during the time of threshing.

How Do You Pick Lentils?

Picking or harvesting lentils involves various steps that beginners may follow by the dot, but advanced farmers have already been familiarized with this so this comes to them as a review. Let’s take a look. 

  • Apple your desiccant around a week before harvesting in order to hasten the drying.
  • You may also go and pull these lentil plants from the ground once they are ready for harvesting.
  • Prepare the harvested plants to dry under the sun for such an organic approach.
  • Begin to have these lentils dried indoors if the weather may be too wet or cloudy, not ideal for your lentils.
  • You can also choose to thresh the crops in order to have them shaken loose from their plants.
  • Then, you must be able to remove the lentils’ pods by hand should there be anything that will remain after the threshing.
  • A process known as winnowing the lentils should be done in order for you to take away the chaff and other elements.
  • Then, store your lentils in a cool, dry area.

Side Effects

At home, lentils are great ingredients for the kitchen. These lentils are great sources of protein, so if you need to supplement your workout for better muscle formation, then you may need to have these in your diet.

However, not every time that lentils could offer these health benefits. It has been said that intaking larger amounts of fibre from the lentil may bring about flatulence and constipation. They are also having the FODMAPs or fermentable carbohydrates, which may cause digestive problems for those who have IBS or irritable bowel syndrome.

You also have to take note of lentils that you purchase in grocery stores since these are processed and preserved. It is best to have them from farm-to-table or the fresh produce from your greenhouses. 

Can You Eat Lentils Raw?

No, you may not be able to eat these lentils raw, and there is a need to have them processed in cooking.

Unlike other crops that may be consumed raw, lentils should not be eaten in this form. Lentils are categorized as legumes such as beans, but they are also not eaten raw unless, of course, they have sprouted in the first place. 

The nutritional value of lentils are amazing, and cooking these lentils and having them served with your dishes will add more value to soups, salads, and vegetable stir-fries. 

To get started cooking the lentils, you may need to rinse off these before having them prepared to remove the dirt and other debris. Then, you can also soak them in water for approximately seven hours before letting them sprout.

The lentil’s sprouting process is also very interesting to note. It has been said that they can take two to three days, but then again, you will never have to soak these lentils before having them boiled. Choosing this method recommended having these boiled for about 30 minutes until you reach their ideal tenderness. 

Do Lentils Make You Gain Weight?

Aside from knowing about how lentils are harvested, there are individuals who are particular about the health advantages of these lentils. Fitness enthusiasts and those interested in weight loss have always been in search of products and food they can add to their diet.

This time, it is the opposite. Those who want to gain weight may take a look at lentils and manage them right into their diet. 

It has been said that you can have lentils to your weight loss program without guilt. These crops are popular for their fibre and protein content. Foods high in fibre may take longer for anybody to chew, thus giving the body and the anatomy with plenty of time to prepare for digesting the lentils. In these instances, you are less likely to commit yourself to overeating.