Growing Lentils in Central Florida

Climate

• Lentils are adapted to Florida's subtropical climate, though the high humidity and rainfall of the region can limit their productivity. Lentils are a cool season annual, and grow well in spring and fall in all parts of Florida. They will tolerate the rare light frosts that hit central Florida, allowing them to be planted as a winter crop, as well. Growth becomes poor in temperatures above 80 degrees, precluding summer cultivation of the plant.

Planting

• Lentils do not require particularly rich soils to grow and the sandy loams of central Florida are ideal. They do require good drainage, so swampy land should be avoided. Lentils should be sown directly once the soil temperature has dropped below 70 degrees, usually in November in central Florida. The planting window continues until late February, after which it is too late for the plants to mature before hot weather hits. Plant seeds 1 inch apart and thin seedling to 5 inches apart

Cultivation and Pests

• Lentils may need supplemental irrigation to enhance germination rates and support the growth of seedlings. Afterwards, watering lentils is more likely to do harm than good when growing in the moist Florida environment. Keep the growing area free of weed competition as the crop develops. Lentils are prone to a variety of fungal diseases, which tend to be exacerbated by the humid conditions in central Florida. The best treatment for these is prevention by avoiding excessive irrigation.

Harvest

• Lentils mature in 80 to 110 days, depending on the variety. The seeds are mature when the plants begin to turn yellow and wither. They can be cut and left on the ground for 1 to 2 weeks so the seed can dry completely. Rainy weather during this period can cause mildew to form on the seed pods, ruining the crop. For this reason, gardeners in central Florida may wish to bring the cut plants indoors to dry in a less humid environment and away from the risk of rain.