Dill (Anethum graveolens) is an easy annual herb with feathery leaves and wide, flat flower heads. You can eat every part of it. The leaves flavor fish, eggs, and potatoes. The flower heads go into pickle jars. The seeds flavor bread and pickling brine.
Dill flowers also draw in beneficial insects, and the leaves feed swallowtail caterpillars. It earns its spot in a vegetable garden.
When to plant dill
Sow dill outdoors around your last spring frost date, once the soil starts to warm. Seeds sprout in 7 to 21 days. Soil around 60 to 70°F (16 to 21°C) speeds things up.
Dill grows a long taproot and does not like to be moved. Sowing seed right where it will grow works best. If you want a head start indoors, use soil blocks or paper pots you can plant whole.
Where to plant dill
- Full sun, 6 to 8 hours a day
- Well-drained soil
- A spot sheltered from strong wind
Dill does not need rich soil. Tall varieties can topple in wind or heavy rain, so stake them or plant them near a fence.
Keep dill away from fennel. The two can cross-pollinate, so seed you save may not grow true.
How to sow dill
- Loosen the top few inches of soil.
- Scatter the seeds and cover them with 1/4 inch (6 mm) of soil.
- Water and keep the soil moist until seedlings come up.
- Thin plants to 12 inches (30 cm) apart for big plants with flower heads.
- For leaves only, you can leave plants closer, about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) apart.
Sow again every 2 to 3 weeks until midsummer. Dill goes to flower fast in hot weather, and new sowings keep fresh leaves coming.
Growing dill in containers
Dill grows well in a pot if you pick a compact variety. ‘Fernleaf’ is the best choice for containers. Use a pot at least 12 inches (30 cm) deep to make room for the taproot. Keep it in full sun and water when the top inch of soil is dry.
Best dill varieties
| Variety | Height | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| ‘Fernleaf’ | About 18 inches (45 cm) | Containers and leaves, slow to bolt |
| ‘Bouquet’ | 2 to 3 feet (60 to 90 cm) | Early flower heads and seeds |
| ‘Mammoth Long Island’ | 3 to 5 feet (1 to 1.5 m) | Flower heads for pickling |
How to harvest dill
Leaves
Start picking once the plant has 4 or 5 leaves. Snip leaves at the stem with scissors. Take no more than one-third of the plant at a time. Leaves have the best flavor right before the flowers open.
Flower heads for pickles
Cut flower heads when the yellow flowers are open, or when green seeds start to form. Both work in pickles.
To have dill heads ready when your cucumbers are, sow dill the same day you plant cucumbers. Then sow again 2 to 3 weeks later. See my post on how to grow cucumbers for timing.
Seeds
Leave some flower heads on the plant until the seeds turn tan to brown. Cut the heads with a few inches of stem. Put them upside down in a paper bag and hang the bag in a dry spot for 1 to 2 weeks. Shake the bag to free the seeds, then store them in a jar.
How to store dill
Fresh dill wilts fast. Use it within a few days. Stand the stems in a glass of water in the fridge, or wrap them in a damp paper towel inside a bag.
Dried dill leaves lose much of their flavor. Freezing keeps more of it. Chop the leaves and freeze them in ice cube trays with a little water or oil. Or freeze whole sprigs flat in a bag and snap off what you need.
Dill and swallowtail caterpillars
If you find plump green caterpillars with black bands and yellow or orange spots on your dill, leave them be. They are swallowtail butterfly caterpillars.
In eastern and central North America, the black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) lays its eggs on dill, parsley, and fennel. In the west, the anise swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon) uses dill and fennel too. Young caterpillars are small, dark, and look like bird droppings.
Plant a few extra dill plants so there is enough to share. Dill pairs well with other host plants in these butterfly garden ideas.
Dill and beneficial insects
Dill’s flat flower heads are easy landing pads for small beneficial insects. Ladybugs, lacewings, hoverflies, and tiny parasitic wasps all visit. Many of them eat aphids or lay their eggs inside pest insects.
Let a few dill plants flower near your vegetable beds. For more ideas, see my post on planting a pollinator garden.
Common dill problems
- Aphids on stems and flower heads. Spray them off with water. Read more about aphids.
- Plants flowering fast. Hot weather and long days trigger it. Sow again, and grow a slow-bolting variety like ‘Fernleaf’.
- Plants falling over. Stake tall varieties or grow them in a sheltered spot.
- Dill coming up everywhere next year. Dill drops its seeds and comes back on its own. Cut the heads before the seeds fall if you do not want volunteers.
More herbs to grow
Dill grows well alongside other easy herbs. Try these next:
Seed companies I like
These are the seed companies I order from for my own garden.
- Botanical Interests: beautiful packets with growing notes printed inside
- High Mowing Organic Seeds: certified organic, grown in Vermont
- True Leaf Market: big selection of hybrids, microgreens, and cover crops
Some links earn me a commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Leave a Reply