When Should You Plant Dill?
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GardenSays
Sow dill plants outside May 5 – May 12 — after frost danger passes and soil has warmed.
- Sow from
- May 5 – May 12
- Last frost (typ.)
- May 5
Dill plants are frost-tender and germinate poorly in cold, wet ground — unlike peas or lettuce, you wait until AFTER the last frost (May 5) and until the soil warms. Sowing too early into cold spring soil rots the seed. The safe window in Minneapolis, MN opens around May 5.
Do this this week
- 1.The main sowing window closed May 12
Calculated result · 3 verified sources · Checked 2026-07-18 · How we decide
Why
Sow a short row every 14-21 days through the window for a steady harvest. Sow through the warm months; dill plants stop producing once nights turn cold.
- Warm-season crops need warm soil to germinate: cold, wet spring ground causes seed rot and poor stands, which is why they go in after frost, not before.
- Days-to-maturity versus your frost-free season sets how late you can keep sowing.
When this doesn't apply
- Direct-sow only. Sow in a spot sheltered from wind — the tall hollow stalks blow over easily if unstaked.
- A cold snap after sowing can still kill seedlings — hold off if a late frost is forecast, even inside the window.
How this was calculated
- 1. Last spring frostMay 5Source guidance
Minneapolis, MN: typical (50% probability) last 32°F frost
- 2. First sowing windowMay 5 – May 12Calculated result
Dill is frost-tender — sow only after frost danger passes AND soil has warmed (0-7 days after the last frost)
- 3. Succession sowingevery 14-21 daysSource guidance
Dill plants keep producing from repeat sowings every 14-21 days
Data sources
- University of Minnesota Extension — Growing dill in home gardens — Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in rows 2 feet apart; begin sowing after danger of spring frost has passed. Thin seedlings at 2 inches high to 10-12 inches apart. Sow every 2-3 weeks through midsummer for successive harvests. Full sun, 6-8 hours. Choose a spot sheltered from wind. (checked 2026-07-18)
- NOAA NCEI — 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals (freeze date probabilities) (checked 2026-07-15)
- National Gardening Association — frost date lookup (checked 2026-07-15)
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