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When to Plant Dill in Douglas County, WA

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.

Douglas County, Washington is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 8 and the first fall frost is October 4, giving you a growing season of approximately 149 days.

At an elevation of 2,920 feet, Douglas County receives approximately 15.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Dill during the growing season. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Dill successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Douglas County, WA (Zone 6b) Short season
149 days
Last Spring Frost May 8
149 growing days
First Fall Frost October 4

Douglas County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (62 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 15 Transplant: Apr 12 🍅 Harvest: May 24 – Jul 26
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (51 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 3 Transplant: May 1 🍅 Harvest: Jun 12 – Aug 14
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (48 days to spare)
Start indoors: May 6 Transplant: Jun 3 🍅 Harvest: Jul 15 – Sep 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
0.5″/week
You supply
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 883 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Dill needs ~875 GDD — county provides 2,607 GDD Excellent fit

Dill Planting Timeline โ€” Douglas County, WA

Dill Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 3 Apr 3 โ€“ Apr 17
Transplant Outdoors May 1 May 1 โ€“ May 15
Direct Sow April 24 Apr 24 โ€“ May 15
Fall Sowing July 26 Jul 26 โ€“ Aug 9
Harvest June 12 Jun 12 โ€“ Aug 14

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Start Indoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June Harvest
July Fall Sowing Harvest
August Fall Sowing Harvest
September โ€”
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 6b

Growing Season

149 days

Growing Tips for Douglas County

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 Douglas County, WA?

Douglas County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of May 8. Plan your Dill planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Douglas County, WA?

Douglas County, Washington is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 8 and first fall frost is October 4.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Douglas County gardeners in Zone 6b 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 Douglas County, WA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.