Planting Lentil
Lentil is a cool season vegetable in the Fabaceae family. Getting the timing right is the difference between a strong stand and a disappointing one, so the windows below are given relative to your own last spring frost and first fall frost rather than a generic calendar date. Look up your local frost dates and count back or forward from there.
You can sow Lentil directly into the garden 0–2 weeks before your last frost.
Spacing and Planting Depth
Give Lentil room to mature. The figures below come from verified extension and seed-supplier data for typical varieties.
| Spacing in row | 1 inches |
|---|---|
| Row spacing | 18 inches |
| Plants per sq ft | 8 |
| Planting depth | 1 inches |
| Sun requirement | Full sun |
Days to Maturity
Lentil reaches maturity in 80–110 days from sowing.
Lentil is ready to harvest after about 95 days. Harvest before summer heat or, for fall crops, before a hard freeze, to keep quality high.
Conditions and Care
As a cool-season vegetable, Lentil does its best growing in the cooler weather of spring and fall and tends to bolt or turn bitter in summer heat. It is half-hardy — it withstands light frost but should be protected from a hard freeze.
Lentil needs full sun — give it at least six hours of direct light a day for the best growth and flavor. Sow seed about 1 inch deep, then keep the soil evenly moist until seedlings establish.
Lentil belongs to the Fabaceae family; rotating where you grow members of this family each year helps limit the build-up of soil-borne pests and disease. Lentil is generally grown as a single planting each season rather than succession sown.
Companion Plants
Pairing Lentil with the right neighbors can improve growth and deter pests; a few combinations are best avoided.
Grows well with: Cucumber