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When to Plant Dill in Liberty 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.

Liberty County, Texas is in USDA Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is February 14 and the first fall frost is December 1, giving you a growing season of approximately 290 days.

At an elevation of 141 feet, Liberty County receives approximately 60.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 97ยฐF, 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.

Liberty County, TX (Zone 8b) Year-round
290 days
Last Spring Frost February 14
290 growing days
First Fall Frost December 1

Liberty County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

5.2-6.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (193 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 2 Transplant: Jan 30 🍅 Harvest: Mar 13 – May 15
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (192 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 10 Transplant: Feb 7 🍅 Harvest: Mar 21 – May 23
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (189 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 30 Transplant: Feb 27 🍅 Harvest: Apr 10 – Jun 12

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 Liberty County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.2โ€“6.2) overlaps with Dill's range (5.5โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Liberty 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 (1.7%). 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

8
successive plantings in your 290-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Oct 02 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Sep 22.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Dill needs ~1,138 GDD — county provides 6,620 GDD Excellent fit

Dill Planting Timeline โ€” Liberty County, TX

Dill Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 10 Jan 10 โ€“ Jan 24
Transplant Outdoors February 7 Feb 7 โ€“ Feb 21
Direct Sow January 31 Jan 31 โ€“ Feb 21
Fall Sowing September 22 Sep 22 โ€“ Oct 6
Harvest March 21 Mar 21 โ€“ May 23

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January Start Indoors Direct Sow
February Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
March Harvest
April Harvest
May Harvest
June โ€”
July โ€”
August โ€”
September Fall Sowing
October Fall Sowing
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 8b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

290 days in Liberty County

Growing Tips for Dill in Liberty County

Direct sow Dill outdoors after February 14 in Liberty County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Liberty 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 97ยฐF in Liberty County, provide afternoon shade for Dill and water deeply in the morning.

Your generous 291.0-day season in Liberty 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 Liberty County, TX?

Liberty County is in Zone 8b with an average last frost of February 14. Plan your Dill planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Liberty County, TX?

Liberty County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is February 14 and first fall frost is December 1.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Liberty County gardeners in Zone 8b 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 Liberty County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.