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When to Plant Dill in Newport News City, VA

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.

Newport News City, Virginia is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 22 and the first fall frost is November 17, giving you a growing season of approximately 240 days.

At an elevation of 356 feet, Newport News City receives approximately 41.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Dill during the growing season.

Newport News City, VA (Zone 7b) Long season
240 days
Last Spring Frost March 22
240 growing days
First Fall Frost November 17

Newport News City Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (146 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 5 Transplant: Mar 5 🍅 Harvest: Apr 16 – Jun 18
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (142 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 15 Transplant: Mar 15 🍅 Harvest: Apr 26 – Jun 28
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (141 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: Apr 2 🍅 Harvest: May 14 – Jul 16

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
0.7″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 581 gal / 100 sq ft
Dill needs ~875 GDD — county provides 4,200 GDD Excellent fit

Dill Planting Timeline โ€” Newport News City, VA

Dill Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 15 Feb 15 โ€“ Mar 1
Transplant Outdoors March 15 Mar 15 โ€“ Mar 29
Direct Sow March 8 Mar 8 โ€“ Mar 29
Fall Sowing September 8 Sep 8 โ€“ Sep 22
Harvest April 26 Apr 26 โ€“ Jun 28

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 Harvest
May Harvest
June Harvest
July โ€”
August โ€”
September Fall Sowing
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 7b

Growing Season

240 days

Growing Tips for Newport News City

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 Newport News City, VA?

Newport News City is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 22. Plan your Dill planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Newport News City, VA?

Newport News City, Virginia is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 22 and first fall frost is November 17.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Newport News City gardeners in Zone 7b 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 Newport News City, VA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.