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When to Plant Dill in Franklin County, NY

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.

Franklin County, New York is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 18 and the first fall frost is September 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 132 days.

At an elevation of 739 feet, Franklin County receives approximately 47.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 82ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Dill to ensure they mature before fall.

Franklin County, NY (Zone 4a) Short season
132 days
Last Spring Frost May 18
132 growing days
First Fall Frost September 27

Franklin County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

4.8-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Monthly Watering Guide for Dill

Dill needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Dill Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 2.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 3.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 4.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May 4.3" 4.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 4.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct โ€” 3.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 3.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 3.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Dill Planting Timeline โ€” Franklin County, NY

Dill Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 6 Apr 6 โ€“ Apr 20
Transplant Outdoors May 11 May 11 โ€“ May 25
Direct Sow May 11 May 11 โ€“ Jun 1
Harvest June 22 Jun 22 โ€“ Aug 24
Fall Sowing July 5 Jul 5 โ€“ Jul 19

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

40โ€“60 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 5.5โ€“7 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

132 days in Franklin County

Growing Tips for Franklin 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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Dill in Franklin County, NY?

Franklin County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 18. Plan your Dill planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Franklin County, NY?

Franklin County, New York is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 18 and first fall frost is September 27.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Franklin County gardeners in Zone 4a 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 Franklin County, NY. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.