Lentils are a form of edible legume. They are widely used as an ingredient in many dishes. They can also be cooked and eaten separately. Lentils have a very high nutritional value. These are very high in protein which makes them really good and healthy food.
A wide range of lentils is available throughout the world. All of them have different tastes and grow according to the region. You can cook lentils in a variety of different ways. Lentils are mainly grown through seeds.
Can You Grow Lentils From A Grocery Store?
An important thing to know about beans or lentils is that they basically grow from the very same seed found when they are bought dry from the grocery store. This raises the question of whether grocery-bought lentils can be grown? Unfortunately, the answer is more than just a yes or no.
This is why today; we will be explaining everything you need to know regarding growing lentils. So, in case you are wondering whether you can grow lentils from the grocery store, then we have the answer for you!
The Truth Behind Lentils Bought from Grocery Store
If you are here only for the gist of it, then yes you may be able to grow lentils bought from the grocery store. Is it recommended? No. The first problem that arises if you decide to grow these lentils is that they probably won’t germinate. Even if they do, it won’t be in the way as they should.
There are plenty of factors that come into play. In case the lentils in the grocery store are too old, there is no chance that they will grow into plants. However, if they are dry and fairly new, there might be a chance that you can grow them.
The lentils that you buy from a grocery store are usually hybridized, resulting in them not germinating at all. What you can do is to test whether they will germinate or not before you try planting them.
In order to properly test the lentils, you will have to make use of paper towels which can also be bought from local stores. Moist and make a few layers of paper towel. Spread a few beans on the moist paper towel and fold it in half afterward. Now you will have to store the paper towels in any plastic bag and put them in a warm place. After storing it for a week, you can check whether the beans have sprouted or not.
If even a few beans have sprouted, you may have a chance of growing these lentils, but only if you plant the same amount as done during the testing. If none of them do, then the lentils may be too old or may have lost the property of germination. Ideally, you would want to buy dry beans which can be found from nurseries or garden supply stores online.
The Bottom Line
Can you grow lentils from the grocery store? There are chances that you may be able to grow lentils bought from the store, but only if they are able to germinate. We have attached all the necessary information that you need regarding the topic in this article.