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When to Plant Dill in Avoyelles Parish, LA

Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana Zone 9a May

May in the garden — Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana

Each item below is timed to Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost February 25
Avg. first frost November 26
Soil temp (4") 74°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.6 hrs
  1. Start harvesting dill

    Taste as you pick. The first ripe produce is the best feedback loop you'll get all season.

To set up a strong June, finish these tasks
  • 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.

Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 25 and the first fall frost is November 26, giving you a growing season of approximately 274 days.

At an elevation of 231 feet, Avoyelles Parish receives approximately 48.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 93°F, providing good warmth for Dill during the growing season.

Avoyelles Parish, LA (Zone 9a) Year-round
274 days
Last Spring Frost February 25
274 growing days
First Fall Frost November 26

Avoyelles Parish Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (178 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 17 Transplant: Feb 7 🍅 Harvest: Mar 21 – May 23
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (176 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 28 Transplant: Feb 18 🍅 Harvest: Apr 1 – Jun 3
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (180 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 12 Transplant: Mar 5 🍅 Harvest: Apr 16 – Jun 18

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 Avoyelles Parish

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3–6.7) is within Dill's preferred range (5.5–7.0).

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Avoyelles Parish is excellent for Dill — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.9%). 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

8
successive plantings in your 274-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 27 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Oct 01.

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

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 4.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.2" 4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Mar 2.2" 4.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 2.2" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 4.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 4.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 3.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 2.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.2" 3.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Dec 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Feb–Nov in Avoyelles 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 ~988 GDD — county provides 5,431 GDD Excellent fit

Dill Planting Timeline — Avoyelles Parish, LA

Dill Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 28 Jan 28 – Feb 11
Transplant Outdoors February 18 Feb 18 – Mar 4
Direct Sow February 4 Feb 4 – Feb 25
Harvest April 1 Apr 1 – Jun 3
Fall Sowing October 1 Oct 1 – Oct 15

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January Start Indoors
February Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
March Transplant Outdoors
April Harvest
May Harvest
June Harvest
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: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9a

📆 Growing Season

274 days in Avoyelles Parish

Growing Tips for Dill in Avoyelles Parish

Direct sow Dill outdoors after February 25 in Avoyelles Parish when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 275.0-day season in Avoyelles 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 Avoyelles Parish, LA?

Avoyelles Parish is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of February 25. Plan your Dill planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Avoyelles Parish, LA?

Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 25 and first fall frost is November 26.

🌱

Your Avoyelles Parish Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Avoyelles 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 Avoyelles 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.