Domakihub How to Grow Lentils at Home: A Step-by-Step Guide
From sowing to harvest — everything you need to grow lentils in your garden or container.
Reviewed by Domakihub garden pros · 2026-06-23 · 5 min read
Lentils are one of the most rewarding crops you can add to a Greek garden — they tolerate the warm, dry summers, need very little fertiliser, and reward patient growers with a nutritious, shelf-stable harvest. Whether you are tending a private home garden, a holiday rental with a kitchen plot, or a hotel herb garden, lentils earn their space with minimal fuss. The video above walks through the full process visually; the guide below breaks it down into clear, ordered steps so you know exactly what to do from day one.
Why Lentils Suit the Greek Climate
Greece's mild winters and long, dry springs are almost ideal for lentil cultivation. Lentils are cool-season legumes that germinate best when soil temperatures sit between 10 °C and 20 °C, which maps neatly onto a Greek late-winter or early-spring sowing window (February to April depending on elevation). They also fix their own nitrogen through root nodules, which means they actively improve the soil they grow in — a real bonus for gardens that rotate vegetables each year.
Container growing works well too, making lentils accessible on apartment balconies, rooftop gardens of rental properties, or any space where raised beds are not an option. A 30 cm deep pot holds enough plants to produce a useful handful of fresh pods, and the plants themselves stay compact — rarely exceeding 60 cm in height.
Choosing the Right Variety and Seed Source
Green, brown, and red lentil varieties are all viable in Greece. Green and brown types (such as the celebrated Lentils of Eglouvi from Lefkada, or standard supermarket brown lentils) tend to be hardier and easier for beginners. Red lentils sold for cooking are usually dehulled and will not germinate — buy whole, undamaged dried lentils from a health-food shop or agricultural supplier to ensure viable seed.
If you are based in a warmer coastal area or on an island, opt for a drought-tolerant variety and plan to irrigate only lightly once plants are established. Inland and highland gardens can sow a little later and will generally need even less supplemental water.
How to Grow Lentils: 5 Steps
- 1
Prepare the soil and choose your spot
Lentils need well-draining, loamy soil with a slightly alkaline pH (6.5 to 7.5). Till the bed to a depth of 20 cm, remove weeds and stones, and avoid adding nitrogen-rich fertiliser — lentils manufacture their own. A sunny location receiving at least six hours of direct light per day is essential. If your soil is heavy clay, work in coarse sand or perlite, or switch to a deep container filled with a 50/50 blend of potting mix and garden soil.
- 2
Sow the seeds correctly
Press individual lentil seeds about 2.5 cm deep into the soil, spacing them 5–10 cm apart in rows set 30–45 cm apart. Sow in late winter to early spring (February–April in most of Greece) when soil has warmed slightly but the weather is still cool and mild. Water gently after sowing to settle the soil, then keep the bed consistently moist until seedlings emerge — typically within 7 to 14 days. Do not let the surface dry out completely during germination.
- 3
Support and weed the growing plants
Once seedlings reach 10–15 cm tall, insert lightweight pea sticks or a simple trellis of horizontal strings along each row. Lentil vines are delicate and benefit from something to lean against, especially as they begin to flower. Keep the bed weed-free during the first four to six weeks, as young lentil plants compete poorly with weeds. After that, the dense foliage suppresses most unwanted growth on its own. Water lightly but consistently — about once or twice a week in warm spells — and stop irrigating once the pods begin to dry on the plant.
- 4
Monitor for pests and disease
Aphids are the most common pest on lentil plants in Greece. Inspect the undersides of leaves weekly; a jet of water or a dilute neem oil spray handles most infestations without chemical input. Powdery mildew can appear in humid coastal areas — improve airflow between rows and avoid overhead watering. Root rot is rare in well-drained soil but can devastate waterlogged beds; if stems darken at the base, reduce watering immediately and improve drainage. Avoid planting lentils in the same bed two years running to reduce soil-borne disease risk.
- 5
Harvest and store your lentils
Lentils are ready to harvest when around 90 % of the pods have turned tan or brown and the plant begins to dry from the base up — typically 80 to 110 days after sowing. Pull or cut the entire plant at ground level and hang it upside down in a dry, airy space for one to two weeks. Thresh the dried plants by beating them against the inside of a large tub, then winnow away the chaff. Store clean, dry lentils in an airtight glass jar in a cool pantry; they keep for up to a year with no quality loss.
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FAQ
- Can I grow lentils from supermarket dried lentils?
- Yes, as long as the lentils are whole and undamaged — not split or dehulled. Buy whole green or brown lentils from a health-food shop or bulk aisle. Soak them in water for 12 hours before sowing to test viability: seeds that sink and begin to swell are likely to germinate; floating seeds can be discarded.
- How much water do lentils need in a hot Greek summer?
- Very little once established. Lentils are drought-tolerant and actually prefer a drier finish to their growing season, which helps the pods to dry on the plant. During the cool germination and early-growth phase (February–April), water lightly once or twice a week. As temperatures rise and pods form, reduce watering and stop entirely once the plants begin to yellow and dry.
- Can lentils be grown in containers on a balcony or terrace?
- Absolutely. Use a pot at least 25–30 cm deep with good drainage holes. Fill it with a well-draining mix and sow 4–6 seeds per pot. Place the container in the sunniest spot available. Container-grown lentils may need slightly more frequent watering than bed plants because pots dry out faster, but they otherwise follow the same growing steps.