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When to Plant Dill in Lander County, NV

Lander County, Nevada Zone 6b May

This month in Lander County, Nevada

We've pulled the most time-sensitive tasks for Lander County, Nevada this May and put them front and centre. Tackle them in order.

Avg. last frost May 27
Avg. first frost September 22
Soil temp (4") 39°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.2 hrs
  1. Get dill in the ground

    Bring a watering can to the bed. Each transplant gets a drink the moment it's in the ground, not ten minutes later.

  2. Seed dill outdoors

    Keep the top inch of soil moist until germination — a gentle morning watering for 5–7 days does the job.

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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.

Lander County, Nevada is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 27 and the first fall frost is September 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 118 days.

At an elevation of 6,987 feet, Lander County receives approximately 9.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 91°F, providing good warmth for Dill during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Dill will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Dill successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Lander County, NV (Zone 6b) Short season
118 days
Last Spring Frost May 27
118 growing days
First Fall Frost September 22

Lander County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

6.8-8.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (19 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 14 Transplant: May 12 🍅 Harvest: Jun 23 – Aug 25
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (20 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 22 Transplant: May 20 🍅 Harvest: Jul 1 – Sep 2
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (15 days to spare)
Start indoors: May 13 Transplant: Jun 10 🍅 Harvest: Jul 22 – Sep 23

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 Lander County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.8–8.4) is more alkaline than Dill prefers (5.5–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Lander County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Dill will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Dill.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (0.9%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Dill.

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

3
successive plantings in your 118-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 24 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Jul 14.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
0.3″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 398 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 10/10 — 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 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 0.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 0.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 2.2" 0.2" 2" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 2.2" 0.4" 1.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 2.2" 1.8" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Aug 2.2" 1.9" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Sep 2.2" 1.3" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Oct 0.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Lander 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 ~912 GDD — county provides 2,153 GDD Excellent fit

Dill Planting Timeline — Lander County, NV

Dill Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors April 22 Apr 22 – May 6
Transplant Outdoors May 20 May 20 – Jun 3
Direct Sow May 13 May 13 – Jun 3
Harvest July 1 Jul 1 – Sep 2
Fall Sowing July 14 Jul 14 – Jul 28

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

40–60 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 5.5–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

118 days in Lander County

Growing Tips for Dill in Lander County

Direct sow Dill outdoors after May 27 in Lander County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Lander County dries quickly — mulch Dill with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

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 Lander County, NV?

Lander County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of May 27. Plan your Dill planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lander County, NV?

Lander County, Nevada is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 27 and first fall frost is September 22.

🌱

Your Lander County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Lander County (Zone 6b). 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 Lander County, NV. 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.