Dill in Zone 8a & 8b
Anethum graveolens
Yes, dill grows in zones 8a and 8b. Plant it outside Mar 18–Mar 25.
When to plant dill in zone 8b
Zones 8a and 8b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. It doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Mar 18–Mar 25 |
| Estimated harvest | May 12–May 19 (~55 days after direct-sowing) |
Spacing: 4 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2-3 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 8b
These go outside within two weeks of dill in zone 8b, so one planting day can cover them.
- BorageMar 25–Apr 1
- American GinsengMar 25–Apr 1
- AniseMar 25–Apr 1
- Anise HyssopMar 25–Apr 1
- CatnipMar 25–Apr 1
- Chamomile (German)Mar 25–Apr 1
Dill is an easy, low-maintenance herb that mostly takes care of itself once it's in the ground, the main thing to get right is where you plant it, since mature dill doesn't get along with one of the garden's most common root crops.
How dill fits zone 8's season
Zone 8b's frost-free window runs about 230 days, from March 25 to November 10. Dill needs about 55 days from sowing to first harvest.
Dill planting windows in every zone
Zone 8b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Not usually | May 13–May 20 | Jul 7–Jul 14 |
| 3a & 3b | Not usually | May 23–May 30 | Jul 17–Jul 24 |
| 4a & 4b | Not usually | May 8–May 15 | Jul 2–Jul 9 |
| 5a & 5b | Not usually | May 3–May 10 | Jun 27–Jul 4 |
| 6a & 6b | Not usually | Apr 18–Apr 25 | Jun 12–Jun 19 |
| 7a & 7b | Not usually | Apr 3–Apr 10 | May 28–Jun 4 |
| 8a & 8b (your zone) | Not usually | Mar 18–Mar 25 | May 12–May 19 |
| 9a & 9b | Not usually | Feb 8–Feb 15 | Apr 4–Apr 11 |
| 10a & 10bFall window | Aug–Nov | Oct–Jan | ~55 days after transplanting |
Harvest dates are about 55 days after the sow or plant-out date.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
- Cabbage: Attracts beneficial predatory insects that protect brassicas.
Where to buy dill seeds
Botanical Interests · True Leaf Market · Burpee · High Mowing Organic Seeds (each supplier's dill seeds)
Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:
- Dukat (also sold as SuperDukat): Wisconsin Horticulture Extension notes Dukat and SuperDukat have strong flavor and high oil content and are slow to bolt, a better pick than standard dill if you're growing mainly for leaves (dill weed) rather than seed heads. Buy: True Leaf Market Full notes
- Bouquet: Wisconsin Extension notes this is the variety bred for seed production, 2-3 feet tall with abundant seed heads. Buy: Botanical Interests · Burpee · High Mowing Organic Seeds Full notes
- Fernleaf: A compact type, only about 18 inches, slow to bolt and bred for containers per Wisconsin Extension, delaying flowering by 10-14 days compared to Bouquet. Buy: Burpee Full notes
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing dill" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 8b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Dill in USDA zone 8b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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