Lentil is grown for its pods, ready to pick about 100 days after sowing. It's hardy across USDA zones 2 through 11. Its flowers are a modest draw for honeybees, even though the pods are the prize. A nitrogen-fixer, it draws nitrogen from the air and feeds it back to the soil — turn it under or leave the roots in place, and the next planting inherits a richer bed.
Zones
2-11
pH Range
4.5-8.2
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
100
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What Lentil is
Lentil reaches around a foot and a half at maturity.
How to grow Lentil
Lentil grows in USDA zones 2 through 11 and is ready to harvest about 100 days after planting. Lentil does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.5 to 8.2, on well-drained ground. It needs around 1,500 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 70 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
2-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.5 - 8.2
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
41°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
100 days
Lentil; cool-season legume; harvest when pods dry.
OSU-PNW; ATTRA
GDD Required
1500+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
1.5 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
70+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant lentil in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Lentil prefers pH 4.5 to 8.2 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band. It fixes its own nitrogen, so skip the high-nitrogen feed and instead dust the seed with a matching rhizobium inoculant at sowing.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Lentil is ready about 100 days after sowing (OSU-PNW; ATTRA). Pick the pods young and tender, before the seeds inside fully swell.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — lentil isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Lentil offers low value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Lentil thrives
On hardiness alone, lentil grows across most of the country — its range (USDA zones 2 through 11) is unusually wide. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 2–11·Where Lentil growsOpen map →
Continental US shown — Alaska and US Pacific territories sit outside the federal map's polygon dataset.
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Lentil can grow in these states:
See if Lentil will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether lentil actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Lentil in my zone?
Lentil grows in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Lentil take to grow?
Lentil is ready to harvest about 100 days after planting (OSU-PNW; ATTRA). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Lentil?
Most growers plant lentil after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 70-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Lentil need?
Lentil needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Lentil need?
Lentil prefers soil pH 4.5 to 8.2, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Lentil attract pollinators?
Yes — lentil's flowers are a modest nectar source for honeybees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Lentil safe for pets?
Lentil is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.