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When to Plant Dill in Cameron County, PA

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.

Cameron County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 17 and the first fall frost is October 9, giving you a growing season of approximately 145 days.

At an elevation of 440 feet, Cameron County receives approximately 47.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Dill to ensure they mature before fall.

Cameron County, PA (Zone 5a) Short season
145 days
Last Spring Frost May 17
145 growing days
First Fall Frost October 9

Cameron County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

4.9-6.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (48 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 3 Transplant: May 1 🍅 Harvest: Jun 12 – Aug 14
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (47 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 12 Transplant: May 10 🍅 Harvest: Jun 21 – Aug 23
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (49 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 27 Transplant: May 25 🍅 Harvest: Jul 6 – Sep 7

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
1.4″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Dill needs ~612 GDD — county provides 1,776 GDD Excellent fit

Dill Planting Timeline โ€” Cameron County, PA

Dill Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 12 Apr 12 โ€“ Apr 26
Transplant Outdoors May 10 May 10 โ€“ May 24
Direct Sow May 3 May 3 โ€“ May 24
Fall Sowing July 31 Jul 31 โ€“ Aug 14
Harvest June 21 Jun 21 โ€“ Aug 23

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 Harvest
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
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 5a

Growing Season

145 days

Growing Tips for Cameron 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 Cameron County, PA?

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

What planting zone is Cameron County, PA?

Cameron County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 17 and first fall frost is October 9.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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