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When to Plant Dill in Adair County, MO

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.

Adair County, Missouri is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 17 and the first fall frost is October 17, giving you a growing season of approximately 183 days.

At an elevation of 1,327 feet, Adair County receives approximately 34.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 86ยฐF, providing good warmth for Dill during the growing season.

Adair County, MO (Zone 5b) Moderate season
183 days
Last Spring Frost April 17
183 growing days
First Fall Frost October 17

Adair County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.8-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (85 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: May 16 – Jul 18
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (85 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 13 Transplant: Apr 10 🍅 Harvest: May 22 – Jul 24
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (83 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 29 Transplant: Apr 26 🍅 Harvest: Jun 7 – Aug 9

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
0.8″/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

Dill needs ~725 GDD — county provides 2,653 GDD Excellent fit

Dill Planting Timeline โ€” Adair County, MO

Dill Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 13 Mar 13 โ€“ Mar 27
Transplant Outdoors April 10 Apr 10 โ€“ Apr 24
Direct Sow April 3 Apr 3 โ€“ Apr 24
Fall Sowing August 8 Aug 8 โ€“ Aug 22
Harvest May 22 May 22 โ€“ Jul 24

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 5b

Growing Season

183 days

Growing Tips for Adair 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 Adair County, MO?

Adair County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 17. Plan your Dill planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Adair County, MO?

Adair County, Missouri is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 17 and first fall frost is October 17.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Adair County gardeners in Zone 5b 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 Adair County, MO. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.