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When to Plant Dill in Clearfield 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.

Clearfield County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 2 and the first fall frost is October 18, giving you a growing season of approximately 169 days.

At an elevation of 69 feet, Clearfield County receives approximately 47 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.

Clearfield County, PA (Zone 5b) Moderate season
169 days
Last Spring Frost May 2
169 growing days
First Fall Frost October 18

Clearfield County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

4.9-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (68 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 23 Transplant: Apr 20 🍅 Harvest: Jun 1 – Aug 3
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (71 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 28 Transplant: Apr 25 🍅 Harvest: Jun 6 – Aug 8
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (65 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 18 Transplant: May 16 🍅 Harvest: Jun 27 – Aug 29

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.

Soil Compatibility in Clearfield County

How your county's soil matches Dill's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (4.9โ€“6.5) overlaps with Dill's range (5.5โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Clearfield County is excellent for Dill โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.2%). Annual compost additions will help Dill.

How to Plant Dill

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 10 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Dill

5
successive plantings in your 169-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 19 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 09.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.2″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Dill needs ~612 GDD — county provides 2,070 GDD Excellent fit

Dill Planting Timeline โ€” Clearfield County, PA

Dill Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 28 Mar 28 โ€“ Apr 11
Transplant Outdoors April 25 Apr 25 โ€“ May 9
Direct Sow April 18 Apr 18 โ€“ May 9
Fall Sowing August 9 Aug 9 โ€“ Aug 23
Harvest June 6 Jun 6 โ€“ Aug 8

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.5"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

40โ€“60 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 5.5โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

169 days in Clearfield County

Growing Tips for Dill in Clearfield County

Direct sow Dill outdoors after May 02 in Clearfield County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 169.0-day season in Clearfield County allows multiple plantings of Dill. Sow every 20.0 days for continuous harvest.

Common pests for Dill in this region include carrot rust fly and parsleyworm. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

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 Clearfield County, PA?

Clearfield County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 2. Plan your Dill planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Clearfield County, PA?

Clearfield County, Pennsylvania is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 2 and first fall frost is October 18.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Clearfield County gardeners in Zone 5b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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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 Clearfield County, PA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.