When to Plant Lentils in Louisiana
Lentils are an ancient pulse crop producing small, lens-shaped seeds packed with protein and iron. They grow on short, bushy plants and are surprisingly easy to cultivate.
Louisiana spans USDA hardiness zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b (with planting data available), so planting dates vary by your location within the state. Click your zone below for the most accurate dates.
Find Your County
Click your county for exact Lentils planting dates based on your local frost dates.
Hover over a county to see details. Click to view planting guide.
Lentils Planting Calendar for Louisiana
▸ Zone 8a ~255 day growing season · Full guide →
Last frost: March 8 · First frost: November 18 · 255 day season
| Activity | When | Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| Start Indoors | February 1 | Feb 1 – Feb 15 |
| Transplant Outdoors | March 8 | Mar 8 – Mar 22 |
| Direct Sow | February 22 | Feb 22 – Mar 15 |
| Fall Sowing | September 9 | Sep 9 – Sep 23 |
| Harvest | May 31 | May 31 – Jul 12 |
▸ Zone 8b ~276 day growing season · Full guide →
Last frost: February 25 · First frost: November 28 · 276 day season
| Activity | When | Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| Start Indoors | January 21 | Jan 21 – Feb 4 |
| Transplant Outdoors | February 25 | Feb 25 – Mar 11 |
| Direct Sow | February 11 | Feb 11 – Mar 4 |
| Fall Sowing | September 19 | Sep 19 – Oct 3 |
| Harvest | May 20 | May 20 – Jul 1 |
▸ Zone 9a ~303 day growing season · Full guide →
Last frost: February 10 · First frost: December 10 · 303 day season
| Activity | When | Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| Start Indoors | January 13 | Jan 13 – Jan 27 |
| Transplant Outdoors | February 10 | Feb 10 – Feb 24 |
| Direct Sow | January 20 | Jan 20 – Feb 10 |
| Fall Sowing | October 15 | Oct 15 – Oct 29 |
| Harvest | May 5 | May 5 – Jun 16 |
▸ Zone 9b ~329 day growing season · Full guide →
Last frost: January 25 · First frost: December 20 · 329 day season
| Activity | When | Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| Start Indoors | December 28 | Dec 28 – Jan 11 |
| Transplant Outdoors | January 25 | Jan 25 – Feb 8 |
| Direct Sow | January 4 | Jan 4 – Jan 25 |
| Fall Sowing | October 25 | Oct 25 – Nov 8 |
| Harvest | April 19 | Apr 19 – May 31 |
Growing Tips for Louisiana
Direct sow in early spring as lentils tolerate frost. Provide short supports as plants tend to lodge. Harvest when lower pods turn brown. Pull entire plants and dry in bundles.
Lentils in Other States
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Alberta
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- British Columbia
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Manitoba
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Brunswick
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Nunavut
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Ontario
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Prince Edward Island
- Quebec
- Rhode Island
- Saskatchewan
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Yukon
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant Lentils in Louisiana?
Planting dates for Lentils in Louisiana depend on your USDA zone. Louisiana spans zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b. Check the planting calendar above for your specific zone's frost dates and planting windows.
What zone is Louisiana for planting?
Louisiana contains USDA hardiness zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b. Your specific zone depends on your location within the state — northern and higher-elevation areas are in colder zones, while southern and coastal areas are warmer.