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When to Plant Dill in Dubois County, IN

Dubois County, Indiana Zone 6a April

April in Dubois County, Indiana — your action list

April rewards gardeners who work with the weather, not against it. Here's how to stay in step this month in Dubois County, Indiana.

Avg. last frost April 12
Avg. first frost October 21
Soil temp (4") 54°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 13 hrs
  1. Transplant dill outside

    Pick a cloudy afternoon or evening to plant. Less transplant shock, and your seedlings will barely blink.

Before May arrives, get these ready
  • Starting indoors: dill
  • First harvests: dill

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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.

Dubois County, Indiana is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 12 and the first fall frost is October 21, giving you a growing season of approximately 192 days.

At an elevation of 589 feet, Dubois County receives approximately 33.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, providing good warmth for Dill during the growing season.

Dubois County, IN (Zone 6a) Moderate season
192 days
Last Spring Frost April 12
192 growing days
First Fall Frost October 21

Dubois County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.1-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (96 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 2 Transplant: Mar 30 🍅 Harvest: May 11 – Jul 13
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (94 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 8 Transplant: Apr 5 🍅 Harvest: May 17 – Jul 19
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (93 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 24 Transplant: Apr 21 🍅 Harvest: Jun 2 – Aug 4

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 Dubois County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.1–7.3) overlaps with Dill's range (5.5–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Dubois County is excellent for Dill — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.9%) — Dill will thrive.

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

5
successive plantings in your 192-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 22 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 12.

Plant Water Budget

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

Water stress score is 6/10 — 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 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 3.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 3.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 3.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 2.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 2.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Dubois County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — 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" — every day above 50°F 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 ~800 GDD — county provides 3,072 GDD Excellent fit

Dill Planting Timeline — Dubois County, IN

Dill Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 8 Mar 8 – Mar 22
Transplant Outdoors April 5 Apr 5 – Apr 19
Direct Sow March 29 Mar 29 – Apr 19
Harvest May 17 May 17 – Jul 19
Fall Sowing August 12 Aug 12 – Aug 26

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing
September
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

40–60 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 5.5–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

192 days in Dubois County

Growing Tips for Dill in Dubois County

Direct sow Dill outdoors after April 12 in Dubois County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 192.0-day season in Dubois 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 Dubois County, IN?

Dubois County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 12. Plan your Dill planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Dubois County, IN?

Dubois County, Indiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 12 and first fall frost is October 21.

🌱

Your Dubois County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Dubois County (Zone 6a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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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 Dubois County, IN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.