Time of sowing of lentils is often a compromise. Early sowing increases the risk of disease development as a result of excessive vegetative growth and lodging. Risk of frost damage may also be increased. Sowing later than normal runs the risk of low plant growth compromising harvest and high temperatures and dry conditions during flowering and pod fill.

Lentils can be sown dry to ensure timely sowing, but factors like disease and frost risk must also be considered. Growers tend to have more confidence in early sowing where new systems of inter-row sowing into standing stubble using wider row spacing are used to ensure that canopy closure is delayed and the lentils remain more erect at harvest.

* preferred sowing time for Spring-sown lentils is August-September

** Sow later if a more susceptible variety (eg. Northfield), or in districts with milder Winter temperatures where botrytis grey mould (BGM) is a regular problem (e.g. Yorke Peninsula, Lower Eyre Peninsula, Upper SE of SA), to reduce the disease risk.