Blog

When to Plant Dill in Andrews County, TX

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.

Andrews County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 29 and the first fall frost is November 7, giving you a growing season of approximately 223 days.

At an elevation of 1,776 feet, Andrews County receives approximately 52.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 100ยฐF, so Dill may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Dill will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Dill root diseases.

Andrews County, TX (Zone 7b) Long season
223 days
Last Spring Frost March 29
223 growing days
First Fall Frost November 7

Andrews County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.5-8.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (129 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 12 Transplant: Mar 12 🍅 Harvest: Apr 23 – Jun 25
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (125 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 22 Transplant: Mar 22 🍅 Harvest: May 3 – Jul 5
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (122 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 14 Transplant: Apr 11 🍅 Harvest: May 23 – Jul 25

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 Andrews County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.5โ€“8.2) is more alkaline than Dill prefers (5.5โ€“7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Andrews County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Dill will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.1%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting 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 223-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 08 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 29.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Dill

Dill needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week (2.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Dill Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 3.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 2.2" 3.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Apr 2.2" 1.8" 0.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 2.2" 1.2" 1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 2.2" 1.8" 0.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 2.2" 8.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 9.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 6.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 5.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.2" 2.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Dec โ€” 3.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Dill Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Dill needs ~1,250 GDD — county provides 5,575 GDD Excellent fit

Dill Planting Timeline โ€” Andrews County, TX

Dill Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 22 Feb 22 โ€“ Mar 8
Transplant Outdoors March 22 Mar 22 โ€“ Apr 5
Direct Sow March 15 Mar 15 โ€“ Apr 5
Harvest May 3 May 3 โ€“ Jul 5
Fall Sowing August 29 Aug 29 โ€“ Sep 12

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

223 days in Andrews County

Growing Tips for Dill in Andrews County

Direct sow Dill outdoors after March 29 in Andrews County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Andrews County dries quickly โ€” mulch Dill with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

With summer highs reaching 100ยฐF in Andrews County, provide afternoon shade for Dill and water deeply in the morning.

Your generous 223.0-day season in Andrews 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

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Dill in Andrews County, TX?

Andrews County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 29. Plan your Dill planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Andrews County, TX?

Andrews County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 29 and first fall frost is November 7.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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