Dill is an annual culinary herb, grown for the flavor it brings to the kitchen, ready to harvest about 50 days after planting. It's hardy across USDA zones 2 through 11, stands up to deer and grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Its summer flowers are a real draw for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies, even though the harvest is the prize. As a member of the carrot family, give it a fresh bed each year — away from where its relatives just grew — so the soil-borne pests and diseases of the family never get a foothold.
Zones
2-11
pH Range
5-8
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
50
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What Dill is
Dill grows as an annual and reaches around three feet at maturity. It blooms yellow in summer. It's also deer-resistant and well suited to containers.
How to grow Dill
Dill grows in USDA zones 2 through 11 and is ready to harvest about 50 days after planting. Dill does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 8, on well-drained ground. It needs around 800 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 100 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
2-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5 - 8
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
42.8°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
50 days
Dill; both leaf and seed harvest.
OSU-PNW; Johnny's
GDD Required
800+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
3 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
100+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant dill in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Dill prefers pH 5 to 8 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Dill is ready about 50 days after planting (OSU-PNW; Johnny's). Snip sprigs as you need them — regular cutting keeps the foliage tender and slows it bolting to flower.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — dill isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Dill is a standout pollinator plant — high value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Dill thrives
On hardiness alone, dill grows across most of the country — its range (USDA zones 2 through 11) is unusually wide. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 2–11·Where Dill growsOpen map →
Continental US shown — Alaska and US Pacific territories sit outside the federal map's polygon dataset.
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Dill can grow in these states:
See if Dill will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether dill actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Dill in my zone?
Dill grows in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Dill take to grow?
Dill is ready to harvest about 50 days after planting (OSU-PNW; Johnny's). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Dill?
Most growers plant dill after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 100-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Dill need?
Dill needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Dill need?
Dill prefers soil pH 5 to 8, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Dill attract pollinators?
Yes — dill's flowers are a strong nectar and pollen source for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Dill safe for pets?
Dill is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.