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When to Plant Dill in Weakley County, TN

Weakley County, Tennessee Zone 7b May

Top priorities for Weakley County, Tennessee gardeners in May

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

Avg. last frost April 5
Avg. first frost October 27
Soil temp (4") 68°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.9 hrs
  1. Start dill under lights

    Give them 6–8 weeks indoors before the last frost and you'll transplant into warm soil with seedlings that are already leaping.

  2. Start harvesting dill

    Morning harvests are best — cooler temperatures mean crisper produce and longer fridge life.

Looking ahead to June
  • 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.

Weakley County, Tennessee is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 5 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 205 days.

At an elevation of 1,314 feet, Weakley County receives approximately 45.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 94°F, providing good warmth for Dill during the growing season.

Weakley County, TN (Zone 7b) Long season
205 days
Last Spring Frost April 5
205 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27
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Weakley County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (107 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 22 Transplant: Mar 22 🍅 Harvest: May 3 – Jul 5
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (107 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 1 Transplant: Mar 29 🍅 Harvest: May 10 – Jul 12
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (109 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 16 Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: May 25 – Jul 27

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 Weakley County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3–7.1) overlaps with Dill's range (5.5–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.8%). Annual compost additions will help 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

6
successive plantings in your 205-day season

Sow every 4.6 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 28 to harvest before frost.

For a dedicated fall crop, sow by Aug 18.

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 3.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 3.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 5.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 3.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 2.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Weakley 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 ~1,025 GDD — county provides 4,202 GDD Excellent fit

Dill Planting Timeline — Weakley County, TN

Dill Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 1 Mar 1 – Mar 15
Transplant Outdoors March 29 Mar 29 – Apr 12
Direct Sow March 22 Mar 22 – Apr 12
Harvest May 10 May 10 – Jul 12
Fall Sowing August 18 Aug 18 – Sep 1

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Fall Sowing
September Fall Sowing
October
November
December
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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 7b

📆 Growing Season

205 days in Weakley County

Growing Tips for Dill in Weakley County

Direct sow Dill outdoors after April 05 in Weakley County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your generous 205.0-day season in Weakley 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 Weakley County, TN?

Weakley County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 5. Plan your Dill planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Weakley County, TN?

Weakley County, Tennessee is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 5 and first fall frost is October 27.

🌱

Your Weakley County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Weakley County (Zone 7b). 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 Weakley County, TN. 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.