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When to Plant Dill in Acadia Parish, LA

Acadia Parish, Louisiana Zone 9a May

This month in Acadia Parish, Louisiana

Here's what deserves your attention in Acadia Parish, Louisiana this month. Everything below is tailored to Zone 9a and timed around your local frost dates.

Avg. last frost February 12
Avg. first frost December 6
Soil temp (4") 78°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.5 hrs
  1. Start harvesting dill

    Don't tug. Use scissors or pruners for clean cuts — torn stems invite disease.

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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.

Acadia Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 12 and the first fall frost is December 6, giving you a growing season of approximately 297 days.

At an elevation of 259 feet, Acadia Parish receives approximately 61.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 103°F, so Dill may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — 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.

Acadia Parish, LA (Zone 9a) Year-round
297 days
Last Spring Frost February 12
297 growing days
First Fall Frost December 6

Acadia Parish Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

5-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (205 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 2 Transplant: Jan 23 🍅 Harvest: Mar 6 – May 8
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (199 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 15 Transplant: Feb 5 🍅 Harvest: Mar 19 – May 21
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (186 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 10 Transplant: Mar 3 🍅 Harvest: Apr 14 – Jun 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.

Soil Compatibility in Acadia Parish

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.0–6.5) overlaps with Dill's range (5.5–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Acadia Parish 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 moderate (2.3%). Annual compost additions will help Dill.

How to Plant Dill

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 8 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Succession Planting Dill

9
successive plantings in your 297-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Oct 07 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Oct 11.

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

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 5.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.2" 4.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Mar 2.2" 5.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 2.2" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 5.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 6.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 6.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 5.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 3.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.2" 4.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Dec 2.2" 5.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient

Water needs are for active growing months only (Feb–Dec in Acadia Parish). 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 ~1,362 GDD — county provides 8,120 GDD Excellent fit

Dill Planting Timeline — Acadia Parish, LA

Dill Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 15 Jan 15 – Jan 29
Transplant Outdoors February 5 Feb 5 – Feb 19
Direct Sow January 22 Jan 22 – Feb 12
Harvest March 19 Mar 19 – May 21
Fall Sowing October 11 Oct 11 – Oct 25

Plant 0.5" deep · 8" apart · 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
July
August
September
October Fall Sowing
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 9a

📆 Growing Season

297 days in Acadia Parish

Growing Tips for Dill in Acadia Parish

Direct sow Dill outdoors after February 12 in Acadia Parish when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Acadia Parish dries quickly — 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 103°F in Acadia Parish, provide afternoon shade for Dill and water deeply in the morning.

Your generous 298.0-day season in Acadia Parish 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 Acadia Parish, LA?

Acadia Parish is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of February 12. Plan your Dill planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Acadia Parish, LA?

Acadia Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 12 and first fall frost is December 6.

🌱

Your Acadia Parish Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Acadia Parish (Zone 9a). 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 Acadia Parish, LA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

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