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When to Plant Dill in Mendocino County, CA

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.

Mendocino County, California is in USDA Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 23 and the first fall frost is November 9, giving you a growing season of approximately 231 days.

At an elevation of 180 feet, Mendocino County receives approximately 24 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 87ยฐF, providing good warmth for Dill during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Dill will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients.

Mendocino County, CA (Zone 8b) Long season
231 days
Last Spring Frost March 23
231 growing days
First Fall Frost November 9

Mendocino County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

6.1-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Dill Planting Timeline โ€” Mendocino County, CA

Dill Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 16 Feb 16 โ€“ Mar 2
Transplant Outdoors March 16 Mar 16 โ€“ Mar 30
Direct Sow March 9 Mar 9 โ€“ Mar 30
Fall Sowing August 31 Aug 31 โ€“ Sep 14
Harvest April 27 Apr 27 โ€“ Jun 29

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 8" apart ยท Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Harvest
May Harvest
June Harvest
July โ€”
August Fall Sowing
September Fall Sowing
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

40โ€“60 days

Soil pH

5.5 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 8b

Growing Season

231 days

Growing Tips for Mendocino County

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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Carrots
  • Tomatoes

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Dill in Mendocino County, CA?

Mendocino County is in Zone 8b with an average last frost of March 23. Plan your Dill planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Mendocino County, CA?

Mendocino County, California is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 23 and first fall frost is November 9.

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Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Mendocino County gardeners in Zone 8b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Mendocino County, CA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.