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When to Plant Dill in Lane County, OR

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.

Lane County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is April 21 and the first fall frost is October 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 187 days.

At an elevation of 48 feet, Lane County receives approximately 50.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 81ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Dill to ensure they mature before fall. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Dill root diseases.

Lane County, OR (Zone 8a) Moderate season
187 days
Last Spring Frost April 21
187 growing days
First Fall Frost October 25

Lane County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-6.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (85 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: Apr 6 🍅 Harvest: May 18 – Jul 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (89 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 17 Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: May 26 – Jul 28
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (94 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 6 Transplant: May 4 🍅 Harvest: Jun 15 – Aug 17

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
1.1″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Dill needs ~538 GDD — county provides 2,010 GDD Excellent fit

Dill Planting Timeline โ€” Lane County, OR

Dill Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 17 Mar 17 โ€“ Mar 31
Transplant Outdoors April 14 Apr 14 โ€“ Apr 28
Direct Sow April 7 Apr 7 โ€“ Apr 28
Fall Sowing August 16 Aug 16 โ€“ Aug 30
Harvest May 26 May 26 โ€“ Jul 28

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 8a

Growing Season

187 days

Growing Tips for Lane 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 Lane County, OR?

Lane County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of April 21. Plan your Dill planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lane County, OR?

Lane County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is April 21 and first fall frost is October 25.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Lane 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 Lane County, OR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.