Blog

When to Plant Dill in Henry County, GA

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.

Henry County, Georgia is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 25 and the first fall frost is November 8, giving you a growing season of approximately 228 days.

At an elevation of 379 feet, Henry County receives approximately 52.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly clay loam soil. Summer highs average 93ยฐF, providing good warmth for Dill during the growing season. Clay soil retains moisture well for Dill, but amend with compost to improve drainage and prevent root rot. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Dill root diseases.

Henry County, GA (Zone 7b) Long season
228 days
Last Spring Frost March 25
228 growing days
First Fall Frost November 8

Henry County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Clay Loam

Soil pH

5.6-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (133 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 8 Transplant: Mar 8 🍅 Harvest: Apr 19 – Jun 21
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (130 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 18 Transplant: Mar 18 🍅 Harvest: Apr 29 – Jul 1
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (129 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 13 Transplant: Apr 10 🍅 Harvest: May 22 – Jul 24

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.

Soil Compatibility in Henry County

How your county's soil matches Dill's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.6โ€“6.7) is within Dill's preferred range (5.5โ€“7.0).

Soil Texture

The clay loam soil in Henry County is excellent for Dill โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.5%). Annual compost additions will help Dill.

How to Plant Dill

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Dill

6
successive plantings in your 228-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 09 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 30.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Dill

Dill needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week (2.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Dill Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 4.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 4.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 2.2" 5.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Apr 2.2" 3.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 3.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 4.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 5.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 5.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 4.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 3.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.2" 4.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Dec โ€” 4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Henry County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Dill Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Dill needs ~988 GDD — county provides 4,503 GDD Excellent fit

Dill Planting Timeline โ€” Henry County, GA

Dill Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 18 Feb 18 โ€“ Mar 4
Transplant Outdoors March 18 Mar 18 โ€“ Apr 1
Direct Sow March 11 Mar 11 โ€“ Apr 1
Harvest April 29 Apr 29 โ€“ Jul 1
Fall Sowing August 30 Aug 30 โ€“ Sep 13

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 Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow Harvest
May Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing
September Fall Sowing
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.5"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

40โ€“60 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 5.5โ€“7 ยท Your soil: ideal

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

228 days in Henry County

Growing Tips for Dill in Henry County

Direct sow Dill outdoors after March 25 in Henry County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

With Henry County's clay soil (30% clay), work in 3-4 inches of compost before planting Dill. Avoid tilling when soil is wet to prevent compaction.

Your generous 228.0-day season in Henry County allows multiple plantings of Dill. Sow every 20.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Dill in this region include carrot rust fly and parsleyworm. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Dill in Henry County, GA?

Henry County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 25. Plan your Dill planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Henry County, GA?

Henry County, Georgia is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 25 and first fall frost is November 8.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Henry County gardeners in Zone 7b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

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