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When to Plant Lentils in Yamhill County, OR

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.

Yamhill County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is April 15 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 195 days.

At an elevation of 476 feet, Yamhill County receives approximately 54.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Lentils during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Lentils root diseases.

Yamhill County, OR (Zone 8a) Moderate season
195 days
Last Spring Frost April 15
195 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27

Yamhill County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.4-6.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Monthly Watering Guide for Lentils

Lentils needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Lentils Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 7.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 6.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 5.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 2.8" 1.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 2.1" 2.2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 0.9" 3.4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 1" 3.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 2.4" 1.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 4.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov โ€” 9.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 8.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Yamhill County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Lentils Planting Timeline โ€” Yamhill County, OR

Lentils Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 11 Mar 11 โ€“ Mar 25
Transplant Outdoors April 15 Apr 15 โ€“ Apr 29
Direct Sow April 1 Apr 1 โ€“ Apr 22
Harvest July 8 Jul 8 โ€“ Aug 19
Fall Sowing August 18 Aug 18 โ€“ Sep 1

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 6" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May โ€”
June โ€”
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September Fall Sowing
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

Low โ€” drought tolerant

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

80โ€“110 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“8 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

195 days in Yamhill County

Growing Tips for Yamhill County

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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Lentils in Yamhill County, OR?

Yamhill County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of April 15. Plan your Lentils planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Yamhill County, OR?

Yamhill County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is April 15 and first fall frost is October 27.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Yamhill County gardeners in Zone 8a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Yamhill County, OR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.