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When to Plant Lentils in Sarpy County, NE

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.

Sarpy County, Nebraska is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 23 and the first fall frost is October 11, giving you a growing season of approximately 171 days.

At an elevation of 502 feet, Sarpy County receives approximately 27.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 86°F, providing good warmth for Lentils during the growing season.

Sarpy County, NE (Zone 6a) Moderate season
171 days
Last Spring Frost April 23
171 growing days
First Fall Frost October 11

Sarpy County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Lentils Planting Timeline — Sarpy County, NE

Lentils Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 19 Mar 19 – Apr 2
Transplant Outdoors April 23 Apr 23 – May 7
Direct Sow April 9 Apr 9 – Apr 30
Harvest July 16 Jul 16 – Aug 27
Fall Sowing August 2 Aug 2 – Aug 16

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Low — drought tolerant

📅 Days to Maturity

80–110 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–8 · Your soil: N/A

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

171 days in Sarpy County

Growing Tips for Sarpy 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 Sarpy County, NE?

Sarpy County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 23. Plan your Lentils planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Sarpy County, NE?

Sarpy County, Nebraska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 23 and first fall frost is October 11.

🌱

Your Sarpy County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Sarpy County (Zone 6a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.