Lentils, Black Beluga

Quick facts *Low Impact Food ALERT* No energy intensive food processing necessary for winter eating *Short Season ALERT* Matures quickly and is frost tolerant *Heat/Drought ALERT* Adapted to thrive in tough conditions, heat, and drought *Low Impact Food ALERT* This crop gets by on less. It needs less water and nutrient inputs than other foods. *Marginal Soils ALERT* Bloom where you’re planted! This crop is resilient and adapted to thrive on marginal soils with lower fertility Prefers drier soils Tiny plants Rich in anthocyanins and antioxidants Lens culinaris These small plants can be planted closely together in a drier part of the garden. These lentils are small and buttery like caviar! A smaller variety of black lentil, add cooked lentils to salads, toast, or solo as you really savor this rare variety. Fun fact, all "black" beans and vegetables are really very dark purple. This pigment, also found in other superfoods like bluberries, blackberries, and purple cabbage, indicates foods rich in anthocyanins and antioxidants. You can grow a surprising amount of lentils in a small space. Give growing lentils a try! How to grow it: Germ Temp Indoor Start Germ Days Frost Tolerant Sun Seed Depth Plant/Row Spacing 60-80 2-4 w. 3-14 d. Yes Full .5” 4”/12” Though starting indoors is not generally advised, we have had success with that and it can be a good choice for getting an extra head start on the growing season. If you start them inside, don't allow them to become pot-bound and transplant carefully. Lentils thrive in cooler weather, so if planting outside plant them around the time you would plant peas. Planting densely will allow the plants to help hold each other up, and will make harvest and cleaning much easier. Harvest dry plants and shake into a bag to free beans from pods. Stomping on the bag can also help free lentils from plant material. Use a fan to blow off chaff. Seed specs: Packet size: 85 seeds min.