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When to Plant Dill in Wayne County, TN

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.

Wayne County, Tennessee is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost is October 26, giving you a growing season of approximately 200 days.

At an elevation of 1,680 feet, Wayne County receives approximately 52.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 92ยฐF, providing good warmth for Dill during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Dill root diseases.

Wayne County, TN (Zone 7a) Long season
200 days
Last Spring Frost April 9
200 growing days
First Fall Frost October 26

Wayne County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.4-6.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (104 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 24 Transplant: Mar 24 🍅 Harvest: May 5 – Jul 7
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (102 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: Apr 2 🍅 Harvest: May 14 – Jul 16
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (107 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 17 Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: May 26 – Jul 28

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 Wayne County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.4โ€“6.6) overlaps with Dill's range (5.5โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Dill.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.0%). 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

6
successive plantings in your 200-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 27 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 17.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.1″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Dill needs ~950 GDD — county provides 3,800 GDD Excellent fit

Dill Planting Timeline โ€” Wayne County, TN

Dill Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 5 Mar 5 โ€“ Mar 19
Transplant Outdoors April 2 Apr 2 โ€“ Apr 16
Direct Sow March 26 Mar 26 โ€“ Apr 16
Fall Sowing August 17 Aug 17 โ€“ Aug 31
Harvest May 14 May 14 โ€“ Jul 16

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing
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 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

200 days in Wayne County

Growing Tips for Dill in Wayne County

Direct sow Dill outdoors after April 09 in Wayne County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 200.0-day season in Wayne 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 Wayne County, TN?

Wayne County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 9. Plan your Dill planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Wayne County, TN?

Wayne County, Tennessee is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 9 and first fall frost is October 26.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Wayne County gardeners in Zone 7a 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 Wayne County, TN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.