Harvest lentils when the plants begin to yellow and the pods on the lower third of the stem turn tan. Shake a plant. If the seeds rattle, pull it and dry it.
Harvest when the lower pods tan and the seeds rattle
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | Wait until the plants yellow and the lower pods are tan to brown, about 80 to 110 days from sowing | Waiting until every pod at the top is dry |
| Test | Shake the plant. The seeds should rattle in the lower pods | Guessing from the calendar alone |
| Water | Stop watering once the pods start to dry | Keep soaking the bed as the crop dries down |
| Cut | Pull or cut the whole plant on a dry day | Leaving ripe plants out through a wet week so pods shatter |
lentil dries from the bottom up. The lower pods tan first, and if you wait for the top pods the ripe ones shatter and spill seed on the ground. [1] A dry crop often lands about 80 to 100 days after sowing. Stop watering once the pods begin to dry so the plants can finish. [2] Sun and watering during the growing season stay on How to Grow Lentils.
- Watch the lower third of each plant. When those pods are tan to brown and the foliage is yellowing, shake a stem. [3]
- If the seeds rattle, pull or cut the whole plant. Do not wait for the last green pods at the tip. [4]
- If rain is coming, bring the plants under cover the same day so the pods do not split in the wet.
When do I harvest lentils?
When the plants yellow and the lower pods are tan. The seeds should rattle inside.
Pick green pods earlier if you want them like shell peas
If you want green lentils, pick plump pods while the seeds are still soft, before the plants dry down. That is a harvest date, not a kitchen recipe. Dry lentils wait until the lower pods tan.
Dry the plants, then thresh the seed
Hang the plants upside down, or spread them on a sheet in a warm, dry, airy place, until the pods are brittle. Then release the seed and blow off the chaff.
- Hang the plants or lay them in a single layer until the pods crackle when you squeeze them.
- Shake the plants in a bag, or crush them in a pillowcase, so the seeds fall free of the pods.
- Pour the seed from one bowl to another in front of a fan. The heavier seeds drop; the chaff blows aside.
- Spread the seed a few more days, then store it in an airtight jar. Properly dried seed keeps about 10 to 12 months.
How do I dry lentils after harvest?
Hang the plants or spread them until the pods are brittle, then thresh and winnow the seed. Dry the seed a few more days before you jar it.
If the lower pods rattle, pull the plants the same day. Waiting for the last green tips is how seed spills on the ground.
FAQ
How long do dried lentils keep?
In an airtight jar in a cool, dry place, about 10 to 12 months. Pantry insects can chew plastic bags, so a jar is safer.
Can I freeze the plants to dry them?
No. Freeze damage spoils the seed. Dry the plants in moving air, warm and out of the rain.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Gardening Know How -
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/lentils/harvesting-lentils.htm - [2] Montana State University Extension -
https://www.montana.edu/extension/nutrition/nutrition-cooking-culture/food-fact-sheets/lentils.html - [3] University of Wisconsin and University of Minnesota Extension -
https://corn.aae.wisc.edu/Crops/Lentil.aspx - [4] NRCS Plant Materials Center, Pullman -
https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/DocumentLibrary/plantguide/pdf/pg_lecu2.pdf
This note is part of Lens Guides.
More harvest timing notes by plant live in Harvesting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors