When to plant dill in Chicago, Illinois
March 27 – April 3
Direct-sow outdoors · typical Chicago yearClimate basis: NOAA station Chicago Northerly Is, IL (USC00111550), 2 mi (3 km) from downtown Chicago (ZCTA 60602 centroid), elevation 583 ft, on the 1991–2020 climate normals. Direct-sow dill from approximately the dates above, anchored to the median last spring 32°F freeze (April 10). One year in ten still freezes after April 25.
The Chicago year
- indoors under lights
- in the garden
- frost-free season
- 1-in-10 years still freeze to Apr 25
Every method, with its sources
Direct-sow outdoors
Mar 27 – Apr 3Illinois: sow in spring one to two weeks before the last frost; Oklahoma State's Table 1 agrees (one or two weeks before). Anchored to the median last spring freeze (Apr 10). University of Illinois Extension · Oklahoma State University Extension
Start seeds indoors
Not calculatedDill is tap-rooted and resents transplanting; the cited guides time direct sowing only.
Transplant outdoors
Not calculatedThe cited extension guides do not time an outdoor transplanting window for this crop.
Fall planting
Not calculatedNo source-backed fall planting rule exists for this crop in the registry, so no fall window is calculated.
Variety assumption: Leaf harvest begins about 40–55 days from sowing.
These windows describe typical years (1991–2020 climate normals), not this year's forecast. Freezes happen outside them — especially in frost pockets, valleys, and urban edges. Watch the forecast before committing tender plants.
Crop rule sources (2)
- University of Illinois Extension: Dill (Herbs) (accessed 2026-07-24)"Sow the seeds in the spring one to two weeks before the last frost."
- Oklahoma State University Extension: Culinary Herbs for Oklahoma Gardens: Culture, Use and Preservation (accessed 2026-07-24)Table 1 planting times relative to last spring frost for common herbs.