Dustin
Will
Justin@scandigonian
@adam any input on this?
there is beauty in simplicity@scandigonian I am primarily familiar with the lentil growing that goes on in the Palouse region, so perhaps the dryness is important? Or it could be just good quality volcanic soil.
Solarbird 
@kinsale42 @scandigonian It's gonna be difficult, I think. I haven't tried lentils but they need warmth early and we are the opposite of that.
It feels like raised-and-covered-bed territory to me, with all the southern exposure you can get, just to get the temperature up in April and May. By June, you should be okay. I _have_ done food gardening like that, and had success with it.
But I've also had that fail, e.g., with peppers, which started great and just absolutely went into shock when I took off the cover.
Thanks for the info! Yeah, I thought it might be too cool in the spring here. I'm going to do some research to see if I can find any varieties that are somewhat more tolerant of cooler temps.
@scandigonian Well, our cool spring won't... well, shouldn't, given well-drained soil... kill them. They're temperature-hardy down way further than we get. It's more about good growth and reasonable production.
From what I'm reading that "well drained soil" is really important, too, and I'd think even moreso in our springs.
But again, I've never tried lentils in particular. I think with the right soil and really, really good southern exposure and a clear cover you _should_ be able to do it, but it's all theory.
Getting a variety that handles cool springtimes, however, would _definitely_ make it easier and if such a thing exists I'd absolutely go with it.
@scandigonian Grow Northwest (which I remember in print) has an article from 2013 where they mention lentils as possible, with a planting date of April - but as per your impulse, they strongly recommend finding the right variety:
https://grownorthwest.com/2013/04/growing-dry-beans-and-grains/
Sadly, they don't tell you _how_ to find it. Not as helpful. But that does mean they're out there! They exist! So there's real hope :D
@moira
I'm definitely going to look into this more. Though, it will be a gardening experiment for next year.
I *did* plant some olive trees, last year. Trying to adapt my gardening to dryer, warmer climates (unfortunately).
@scandigonian Nice! I planted an asian pear and moved another asian pear from an absolutely terrible location two years ago and got fruit _already_. I really want to add some sort of citrus next.
@moira
This is what I have my eye on:
clewJeez, you’d think so but if neither Adaptive nor Uprising carry lentils? Other little durable legumes tho..; I’m thinking of trying tepary beans this summer.
My dry-bean problems here have been gophers, actually. Clearly the roots are deliiiiicious and the long season gives the gophers time to really move in.