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When to Plant Lentils in Millard County, UT

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.

Millard County, Utah is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 16 and the first fall frost is September 30, giving you a growing season of approximately 137 days.

At an elevation of 6,525 feet, Millard County receives approximately 24 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Lentils to ensure they mature before fall.

Millard County, UT (Zone 5b) Short season
137 days
Last Spring Frost May 16
137 growing days
First Fall Frost September 30

Millard County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (11 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 2 Transplant: May 7 🍅 Harvest: Jul 30 – Sep 10
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (11 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 11 Transplant: May 16 🍅 Harvest: Aug 8 – Sep 19
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (5 days to spare)
Start indoors: May 5 Transplant: Jun 9 🍅 Harvest: Sep 1 – Oct 13

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Lentils needs ~1,235 GDD — county provides 1,781 GDD Excellent fit

Lentils Planting Timeline โ€” Millard County, UT

Lentils Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 11 Apr 11 โ€“ Apr 25
Transplant Outdoors May 16 May 16 โ€“ May 30
Direct Sow May 2 May 2 โ€“ May 23
Fall Sowing July 22 Jul 22 โ€“ Aug 5
Harvest August 8 Aug 8 โ€“ Sep 19

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Low โ€” drought tolerant

Days to Maturity

80โ€“110 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 8

USDA Zone

Zone 5b

Growing Season

137 days

Growing Tips for Millard 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

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Lentils in Millard County, UT?

Millard County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 16. Plan your Lentils planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Millard County, UT?

Millard County, Utah is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 16 and first fall frost is September 30.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Millard County gardeners in Zone 5b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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