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When to Plant Dill in Placer 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.

Placer County, California is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is April 22 and the first fall frost is November 9, giving you a growing season of approximately 201 days.

At an elevation of 651 feet, Placer County receives approximately 25.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 85ยฐF, providing good warmth for Dill during the growing season.

Placer County, CA (Zone 8a) Long season
201 days
Last Spring Frost April 22
201 growing days
First Fall Frost November 9

Placer County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (102 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 10 Transplant: Apr 7 🍅 Harvest: May 19 – Jul 21
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (103 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 18 Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: May 27 – Jul 29
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (97 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 23 Transplant: May 21 🍅 Harvest: Jul 2 – Sep 3

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.9″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,656 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Dill needs ~688 GDD — county provides 2,763 GDD Excellent fit

Dill Planting Timeline โ€” Placer County, CA

Dill Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 18 Mar 18 โ€“ Apr 1
Transplant Outdoors April 15 Apr 15 โ€“ Apr 29
Direct Sow April 8 Apr 8 โ€“ Apr 29
Fall Sowing August 31 Aug 31 โ€“ Sep 14
Harvest May 27 May 27 โ€“ Jul 29

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
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 8a

Growing Season

201 days

Growing Tips for Placer 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 Placer County, CA?

Placer County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of April 22. Plan your Dill planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Placer County, CA?

Placer County, California is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is April 22 and first fall frost is November 9.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Placer County gardeners in Zone 8a 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 Placer County, CA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.