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When to Plant Dill in Rice County, KS

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.

Rice County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 16 and the first fall frost is October 18, giving you a growing season of approximately 185 days.

At an elevation of 1,019 feet, Rice County receives approximately 24.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Dill during the growing season.

Rice County, KS (Zone 6a) Moderate season
185 days
Last Spring Frost April 16
185 growing days
First Fall Frost October 18

Rice County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (86 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: Apr 6 🍅 Harvest: May 18 – Jul 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (87 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: May 21 – Jul 23
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (87 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 28 Transplant: Apr 25 🍅 Harvest: Jun 6 – Aug 8

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
0.6″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 872 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Dill needs ~875 GDD — county provides 3,237 GDD Excellent fit

Dill Planting Timeline โ€” Rice County, KS

Dill Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 12 Mar 12 โ€“ Mar 26
Transplant Outdoors April 9 Apr 9 โ€“ Apr 23
Direct Sow April 2 Apr 2 โ€“ Apr 23
Fall Sowing August 9 Aug 9 โ€“ Aug 23
Harvest May 21 May 21 โ€“ Jul 23

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing
September โ€”
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 6a

Growing Season

185 days

Growing Tips for Rice 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Dill in Rice County, KS?

Rice County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 16. Plan your Dill planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Rice County, KS?

Rice County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 16 and first fall frost is October 18.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Rice County gardeners in Zone 6a 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 Rice County, KS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.