Dill Planting Guide
Your May guide to dill
Some notes on dill care that hold up no matter where you garden — then check your zone for specifics.
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How to water dill
About an inch of water a week keeps dill happy. Check your weather forecast before watering — skip if rain is coming.
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Where to put dill
South-facing beds are ideal for dill. Shade from nearby trees or fences costs real production.
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Check your local forecast before planting
Your zone determines the exact week to plant dill. Pick your county below and we'll line everything up against your frost dates.
Dill is a feathery annual herb with aromatic leaves and seeds. Its fine foliage and umbrella-shaped flower heads attract beneficial insects to the garden.
Anethum graveolens · Herb · Apiaceae family · 40–60 days to maturity
Get Your Personalized Dill Planting Dates
Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.
Where Can You Grow Dill?
Dill Growing Regions
Click any state to see the Dill planting schedule for that location.
Planting Dates by Zone
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 2a | Apr 18 | May 23 | May 23 | Jul 4 – Sep 5 |
| Zone 2b | Apr 10 | May 15 | May 15 | Jun 26 – Aug 28 |
| Zone 3a | Apr 3 | May 8 | May 8 | Jun 19 – Aug 21 |
| Zone 3b | Mar 29 | May 3 | May 3 | Jun 14 – Aug 16 |
| Zone 4a | Mar 25 | Apr 29 | Apr 29 | Jun 10 – Aug 12 |
| Zone 4b | Mar 20 | Apr 24 | Apr 24 | Jun 5 – Aug 7 |
| Zone 5a | Mar 21 | Apr 11 | Apr 18 | May 30 – Aug 1 |
| Zone 5b | Mar 14 | Apr 4 | Apr 11 | May 23 – Jul 25 |
| Zone 6a | Mar 6 | Mar 27 | Apr 3 | May 15 – Jul 17 |
| Zone 6b | Feb 27 | Mar 20 | Mar 27 | May 8 – Jul 10 |
| Zone 7a | Feb 18 | Mar 11 | Mar 18 | Apr 29 – Jul 1 |
| Zone 7b | Feb 11 | Mar 4 | Mar 11 | Apr 22 – Jun 24 |
| Zone 8a | Feb 1 | Feb 22 | Mar 1 | Apr 12 – Jun 14 |
| Zone 8b | Jan 21 | Feb 11 | Feb 18 | Apr 1 – Jun 3 |
| Zone 9a | Jan 13 | Jan 20 | Feb 3 | Mar 17 – May 19 |
| Zone 9b | Dec 28 | Jan 4 | Jan 18 | Mar 1 – May 3 |
| Zone 10a | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Dec 25 | Feb 5 – Apr 9 |
| Zone 10b | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Dec 25 | Feb 5 – Apr 9 |
| Zone 11a | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Dec 25 | Feb 5 – Apr 9 |
| Zone 11b | Dec 4 | Dec 11 | Dec 25 | Feb 5 – Apr 9 |
How to Plant Dill
🍂 Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.
Growing Conditions
☀️ Sun
Full Sun (6-8+ hours)
💧 Water
0.5"/week
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.
🧪 Soil pH
5.5 – 7
Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.
🗺️ Hardiness Zones
Zone 2a – 11b
📅 Days to Maturity
40–60 days
Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.
👪 Plant Family
Apiaceae
Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Apiaceae family crops grew last year.
Succession Planting Dill
Dill matures in just 40–60 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 5 successive plantings by sowing every 4.6 weeks.
Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.
Companion Planting for Dill
✅ Good Companions
❌ Keep Away From
Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →
Growing Tips for Dill
Direct sow in spring as dill has a taproot and dislikes transplanting. Succession sow for continuous leaf harvest. Allow some plants to flower for seeds and to attract beneficial insects.
💧 Watering: Dill needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week during active growth. Adjust based on your local rainfall — check your county page for a monthly watering guide specific to your area.
Saving Dill Seeds
Recommended for Your Garden
Breathable fabric pots that promote healthy root growth and prevent overwatering.
Built-in reservoir keeps herbs and greens consistently watered with less effort.
Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.
Seed Saving & Storage Guide
Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.
- 200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
- Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
- Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant
Dill by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to grow Dill?
Dill (Anethum graveolens) takes 40 to 60 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.
What zones can Dill grow in?
Dill can be grown in USDA zones 2a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.
How much sun does Dill need?
Growing Dill requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 5.5 to 7.