Dill is an annual, self-seeding plant with feathery green leaves. It is used most commonly in soups and stews and for pickling. Dill weed is easy to grow and attracts beneficial insects such as wasps and other predatory insects to your garden.
If you’re planting dill for pickling, plant every few weeks into midsummer to ensure a constant supply!
To create a permanent dill weed patch, allow some of the seeds to self-sow each year—you’ll have plenty of early dill to start the season.
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Dill seed harvesting
I have a dill plant that went to seed. I want to harvest and plant the seeds, but I am not sure when to collect them from the plant. Also, do I have to dry the seeds first, before planting?. Please advise on this, Thank you!
saving dill seed
You can harvest the dill seeds when the flower head (umbel) turns brown but the stem is still slightly green (wait a day or two if it had rained–you don’t want the plant to be wet). Don’t wait too long, though, or the seeds will fall. Just clip the seed heads off the plant and over a container or bag, carefully rub the seed head so that the seeds fall into the container. Although some sources say that dill doesn’t need further treatment, to play it safe, you can then dry the seeds on paper towels for about a week (winnow out any chaff), before storing in a cool, dry location.
Using dill,
I have enjoyed some fresh dill but it is turning pale' My question , When I trim my dill for recipes/use, does it keep making new leaves? Is my dill season OVER? I have it planted in a large well drained planter with plenty of sun and water.
dill turning pale
If the leaves are turning pale, it could be due to several things. Make sure that it is getting enough light–at least 6 to 8 hours a day. Do not over-fertilize, which can cause yellowing. Also, check for pests, such as aphids. A few diseases may also cause the color change.
Getting rid of aphids
I use scot tape to get aphids off plants. Gently tap the plant with the sticky side of the tape and the aphids will be attached to the tape. While it is not the fastest method, it is effective.
Yeah it's sounds like a slow
Yeah it's sounds like a slow death, dehydrating whilst stuck to a piece of tape. Just buy lady birds I would suggest.
Slow death?
That would not be a slow death. You can very easily fold the tape in half and step on it after you are done collecting the bugs and poof, instant death. They are bugs, I don't know why you would be worried about them having a slow death anyway.
Slow death
Lol! Now that's funny! And practical, too. I don't know why anyone would be concerned about the feelings of insects. Hundreds of billions of insects die every day- that's just an essential part of the cycle of life. Plus, many insects, given half the chance, would gladly decimate our crops, starve us to death, then feast on our corpses. There's good bugs and there's bad bugs.
I have have attempted to
I have have attempted to start dill from seeds for the last 2 years, sowing directly into the ground, plenty of sun and water, bought seed in a packet one year then used seed harvested from another gardener last year. I could not get my seed to sprout, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, great article!
We are inclined to think the
We are inclined to think the problem is in the soil. Dill will grow in poor soil; but if you have not already, you could try well-drained/draining composted soil, and full sun. There seems to be enthusiasts of both camps (poor soil, composted soil). It does not do well when over watered or in rainy season. One other thought, going back to the soil: What is the pH of your soil? Dill likes a neutral pH of between 5.5 and 6.5. An extreme acid or alkaline soil could be the issue here, if all else is as it should be.
We hope this helps!
I purchased a miracle aero
I purchased a miracle aero system with dill. Works great.
Aphids on dillweed
I bought dillweed at the farmers market to make dill pickles. It had a lot of aphids on it we washed it in salt and vintages but we're still seeing them. How do you get them off of harvested dill weed?
washing dill
The aphids are sticky so you need a vinegar rinse to release them. Add a cup of white vinegar to a bowl of cold water and wash the dill in the water. Then rinse a few times in vinegar-free water. If it’s still too heavily invested, talk to the place where you got them. Also, for what it’s worth, eating an aphid is harmless protein, but we understand that you wouldn’t want to eat bugs!
Simulating Seeding
Hi there,
I'm trying to establish a solid dill patch that will reseed itself year after year. (I know it can be done in my climate because a relative of mine has a beautiful and dense patch that comes back on its own every year.) I had a couple plants that were flowering, but the flowers were all just destroyed by hail. I was thinking about scattering some dill seeds from a packet in the vicinity of the plants around the time that the seeds would have been falling themselves, in an effort to simulate the self-seeding process. Is there a time in the late summer/autumn when it would be best to do something like that?
Sowing Dill Seeds
The ideal time to sow dill seeds directly into the ground is late April through May. But given the fact that several crops can be harvested during the summer and fall by planting seeds every 2-3 weeks through midsummer, you might want to start a batch now.
dill turning yellow
I have a dill plant and part of the plant is turning yellow Is it still good to dry or is there a problem with the dill itself
yellowing dill
If the leaves are turning yellow early in the season, it could be due to several things. Make sure that it is getting enough light–at least 6 to 8 hours a day. Do not over-fertilize, which can cause yellowing. Also, check for pests, such as aphids. A few diseases may also cause yellowing.
Looking for Flower Match
Hi I'm thinking about getting into gardening this year and I wanted to try planting dill alongside lettuce and cucumbers. I'm also considering adding in some flowers but I'm not sure what to go with. Any suggestions?
There are so many flowers to
There are so many flowers to choose from. Here are a couple of annuals that you can start from seed. They are easy to care for and will work well with veggies and herbs. Cosmos, nasturtiums, and marigolds. You can check our growing guide for flowers at http://www.almanac.com/plants.
dill
thanks. i needed this cuz we just got stuff from school to plant
thankssss
Thanks!
Thanks!
I want to maintain my dill
I want to maintain my dill patch long term....year after year, so I want the dill to re-seed itself. At the end of the season, should I till the patch or just leave it?
As stated in the dill
As stated in the dill article, the soil should remain undisturbed. I had a dill patch that came back for years until we dug up the bed and very few plants survived that. Dill seeds need light to germinate so if they get too deeply buried they will not come up.
Can dill keep growing every
Can dill keep growing every year on it's own now for 70yrs.+
Dill is considered an annual
Dill is considered an annual herb but it self seeds at the end of the growing season if seed heads are left on the plants. One plant has many seeds so it will come back year after year.
It seems as though I did
It seems as though I did everything wrong: I started by planting my seeds in those little pellets. Then I transplanted them into a hanging basket (only thing I had left to put it in) and hung it high outside. We've had a really hot spring and . . . my basket is full of dill plants 6"-12". My goal is to harvest the dill for pickles.
Hi. I'm brand new to
Hi. I'm brand new to gardening. I started dill seeds in a container outside and I had about four nice green sprouts, maybe a half an inch to an inch tall. Brand new things, then they disappeared overnight! I'm guessing something ate them, but not sure what. I have basil, cilantro, mint, oregano and thyme sprouts nearby but they were not touched. What do you think ate my dill sprouts and how do I prevent this from happening again? I'm in grow zone 9 in the Central Valley in CA. Thanks for the help!
Hi, Heather, It's difficult
Hi, Heather, It's difficult to provide a specific answer but we can tell you that dill does not transplant easily; it is best sown in the ground. Your failure could have been lack of light. It doesn't seem likely that something ate the dill; if so, it may have been something in the soil, but that seems unlikely too, if you're using a soil-less seed-starting medium.
I tried herbs and got little
I tried herbs and got little green inch worms, they made little tents and went to sleep. One finally hatched, I think it was a hairstreak butterfly. They can have all the basil and oregano they want for the pleasure of watching their lifecycle. I live in So.Calif. Can I plant dill anytime or only in spring, summer, fall? Am I wrong, won't anything put on plants to kills bad bugs, kill the good ones, like bees and lady bugs?
You can plant dill seed
You can plant dill seed anytime as long as the soil is not frozen. There are organic sprays that will kill the bad bugs and not the good ones. Neem oil is one. Weekly use of neem oil spray will not hurt beneficial insects.
What kind of bugs does neem
What kind of bugs does neem oil kill and where can I find it. I also heard that sprinkling garlic powder around your garden deters bugs if that true?
Neem oil is sold at garden
Neem oil is sold at garden centers as well as through online stores, including Amazon.com. There are different products and formulas offered by several manufacturers. Neem oil is used to control a variety of insects, including whiteflies, aphids, mealybugs, Japanese beetles, mites, thrips, cabbage worms, fungus gnats, leafminers, moth larvae, and scale. For specifics, check the label on the product that you are purchasing to see the target insects and any precautions (such as using this away from ponds waterways, as neem oil can be toxic to fish).
Garlic powder itself has been used to repel weevils in stored grains and to deter certain fungal diseases in the soil. Many gardeners use garlic spray or garlic oil spray to repel certain insects and as a fungicide. There are several formulas.
I found lots of little green
I found lots of little green bugs on my dill. After soaking and rinsing it in gasoline, all the bugs came right off! You don't need to use premium, just regular gas works great! Rinse with cold water before using in pickles.
Gas? Really. Have you thought
Gas? Really. Have you thought that through? You will be ingesting traces of that. Rinsing or not. The green bugs sound like aphids.. A spray of warm soapy water is usually sufficient to rid yourself of those pests while it is also much safer to put into your food supply. Just a suggestion. Keep an eye out for them throughout the season so they cannot get out of control.
Um, I hope you were joking
Um, I hope you were joking when you suggested using Gasoline as a bug killer on your Dill plants! Not only is it dangerous to ingest as was pointed out to you already, but you are also poisoning the Earth when you pour Gasoline on the ground. It will not only kill the bugs, it will kill the plants and kill all the good things in the soil so that nothing will grow there the next year! Finally, Gasoline seeps into our water supply poisoning our water. Why do you think it's so important to make sure that the underground storage tanks at gas stations don't leak into the water supply?
O-M-G, people!!!!! This post
O-M-G, people!!!!! This post was so obviously a (mildly funny) joke. Lighten up!!!
Can I dry the seeds and
Can I dry the seeds and replant for next year.using the seeds I harvested.???
Yes, you can, Ginger. If you
Yes, you can, Ginger. If you need specifics on how to, here is the process in detail:
http://ucanr.edu/sites/scmg/Th...
I love Dill, Plant it, pick
I love Dill,
Plant it, pick it, let it go to seed and love it.
You better love it because little dill plants will pop up everywhere in the garden. : ) I have dill as a vegie.
I'm a vegetable gardener type of the 'grow everything and eat what grows well'.
My comments also work for silver beet, eat it and let it go to seed. Baby silver beets everywhere! Even growing in cracks in the concrete paths.
I have a dill-like plant
I have a dill-like plant growing like a weed in my vegetable garden. It smells like dill, tastes like dill, looks like dill.. But I did not plant any dill. it's showing up spontaneously throughout my flower garden as well. I'm very confused about it.
Dill growing like a weed
Hi did anyone answer your question. I have also just discovered something in my garden that smells and looks like dill and is growing prolifically but I have never planted any. I'm reluctant to eat it in case it's not dill!
Is it likely to be anything else amd any ideas how it got there?
Dill like plant
I think I have the same problem. I thought it was dill because I did plant some. But, these other ones are growing in different places. It smells like dill, but, smells horrible when I rub it or cut it up.
The leaves of my plant are
The leaves of my plant are getting white spots that are spreading to the upper leaves. The white spots almost look gray in color. Also, some pickles are turning yellow before maturation and do not continue to grow. Please advice as this is my first season planting dill pickles! Thanks :)
It could be powdery mildew, a
It could be powdery mildew, a fungus. Or it could be something else. See this coopoerative extension site: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG...
By the way, you know that pickles do not grow "dilled" on the vine, right? The dilling happens when you make them that way. Here are several recipes: http://www.almanac.com/search/...
Hello I am a beginner at
Hello
I am a beginner at planting herbs. I want to plant Dill and Garlic for my canning next year. I live in NW Arkansas. When is the right time to plant Dill/Garlic in this region.
Thanks So Much
Cathy
Hi Cathy, What a great idea.
Hi Cathy, What a great idea. In your area of Arkansas, you plant garlic in October, November, and December. Plant dill in April.
Hello- thanks for all the
Hello- thanks for all the great advice in the comments. My dill is turning yellow and some of them bright red. I live in the pacific north west. I had an aphid problem on my brussels sprouts planted near the dill but I did not see any on the dill. I water the dill once a day in the very early morning. Any thoughts? Thank you.
Yellow dill is crying for
Yellow dill is crying for fertilizer/nutrients. Check the pH; it likes 5 to 7, and composted soil. The red...may be screaming for help. We just don't have an answer for that. Sorry. Dill repels aphids, so that's not a cause.
Red dill leaves are often the
Red dill leaves are often the result of Carrot motley dwarf (CMD) which is spread from infected plants by aphids. All plants in the dill, carrot (umbelliferous) family are susceptible, hence the advice never to grow carrots and dill in close proximity. There is no cure. Plant something unrelated in that plot at next planting! I have it in my garden right now and am very sad that I'll lose both crops. Sorry you're going through this too.
My fresh dill has flowers
My fresh dill has flowers starting, can I cut them and store them for use when my veggies are ready?
If so, how would I store them to keep them fresh or should I just cut the flower heads off and toss them and just use the feathery weeds in the veggies to preserve?
Can I put the fresh dill weed in zip lock bags and freeze until ready to use?
Thank You
Mari Ann
If you allow dill to flower,
If you allow dill to flower, the plant will cease producing leaves. When the plant sets seeds (following the flower), the plant will die.
Dill leaves (foliage) stored i nthe refrigerator (not the freezer) has shelf life if about 3 weeks.
If you can, harvest leaves (foliage) before the flowers open. Cut the stems with scissors and group them in bundles loosely gathered with kitchen string or rubber bands. Hang the bundles upsidedown in a warm dark place that has good air circulation. They will be dried and ready for use when they are crisp and crumble at the touch. Crumble them and store them in an airtight jar. (If, in a week, you notice condensation on the jar, remove the dill and set it aside to dry completely.)
Hello, I have a dill plant
Hello, I have a dill plant that I bought at a local hardware store. After I got it home I transplanted it. It did fine for the first week or so but then it started to turn yellow. What would be doing that? Is it getting to much sun or to much water? It keeps sprouting new dill so I don't understand. And should I cut the yellow off and throw it away or can I use it?
Your dill may have root rot,
Your dill may have root rot, most likely something that was wrong when you bought it. (A type of root rot mentioned above.) If the plant has any green, healthy foliage, snip it while you can.
My dill grow well but the
My dill grow well but the main stem is huge while leaves are thin and sparce. What gives?? BTW. I have a corner lot with lots of breezes.
Dill's leaves are quite thin
Dill's leaves are quite thin and feathery. You just use the top 8 inches. The leaves are best when they are used fresh (though you can freeze and store). You can save the dill seeds, too.
I'm growing dill (3 seedling)
I'm growing dill (3 seedling) on a kitchen side table. They grew to about 6 inches each, and keep toppling over. Is there a way that I can brace them to stand upwards?
Some ideas are: You can buy
Some ideas are: You can buy small stakes at a garden nursery or make your own, such as using a popsicle stick, chopstick, plastic or wooden ruler, etc. Be careful not to injure the roots when inserting the stake; support the seedling loosely with string tied around the stake. Or, you can make a mini cage, sort of like a tomato or peony cage, using wire shaped into a cylinder with prongs to sink into the soil. As the dill grows larger, you'll need a larger support. If your seedlings are leggy, make sure that they are getting enough light, and that you turn the pot every so often, if the light is coming from one side rather than on top.
This is occurring because
This is occurring because your dill plant is not exposed to the elements. For proper growth to occur, your plant needs some artificial stimulation so it can grow strong enough to support itself. It is probably too late now, but next time spend a few seconds of your day tossling the leaves around to mimic the effects of wind. This will stimulate the growth of supportive cell types which will allow your plant to hold itself up.
Can I prolong the life of
Can I prolong the life of dill in my garden by pruning it before it produces flower heads?
Yes, pruning dills (and most
Yes, pruning dills (and most herbs) regularly promotes vigorous, sturdy growth. If you harvest herbs regularly, this should keep your plants pruned.
Actually, I am looking for
Actually, I am looking for plants that encourage ladybugs and it is my understanding that dill (as well as fennel) are in that catagory.
I am an avid gardener and feel my plants are an extension of my family, so when the aphids, spider mite and white fly invaid, I put on my warrior suit and attack with insecticides (my own organic soup of fels-naptha water). Alas, I am losing the battle. My hybiscus, and roses are taking the brunt of the attack and while I feel as tho I am gaining ground, the results are not pretty and my beautiful plants are withering. Sooooo, I wish to capatalize on the ladybugs culinary preferances to lure them into my garden for the purpose of eating the enemy. My growing zone is the neucular Phoenix Arizona. I feed, mulch and protect from the blazing sun as much as possible. The nurseries here sell ladybugs September thru March only, plus I feel that maybe we should have our own "home grown" natives help me out. Bringing in "outsiders" could defeat the purpose and add to diseases I don't have. Pests are bad enough. Suggestions Welcome and thanks.
Plants of the Asteraceae (aka
Plants of the Asteraceae (aka Compositae) family tend to attract ladybugs. These plants include sunflower, asters, goldenrod, daisies, yarrow, etc. Also, members of the Apiaceae (aka Umbelliferae), which includes dill, fennel, parsley, carrot, etc. You might want to check with your local nursery as to which native plants fall into these two families, or if they know of other native plants that are known to attract ladybugs in your area.
Many species of ladybugs eat
Many species of ladybugs eat aphids. They may be attracted to dill more to feast on aphids than the dill itself.
I have a small cluster of
I have a small cluster of dill and another of fennel close by that I've allowed to reseed every year and have left relatively untouched. I take cuttings for cooking and have trimmed the dying stalks back in the fall. They're starting to look cramped and am wondering if I should separate them at all. They've been doing as they please for about three or four years now. Or are they better left alone?
I absolutly love dill! I have
I absolutly love dill!
I have NEVER been able to cook with fresh dill and get any flavor. I love lemon dill and caper sauce for my fish but no joy. What am I doing wrong? I have tried tearing and cutting, adding the dill at the start and the end of cooking. Maybe there are better varieties? All I have used so far is store bought but I'm ready to grow if someone can suggest the best variety to grow here in Tennessee. Thanks in advance.
Fresh dill loses its flavor
Fresh dill loses its flavor quickly when heated. It is best to add it at the very end of cooking.
Thank you for your response,
Thank you for your response, I bought a package of fernleaf dill and will grow it and try adding to my dishes after I have removed them from the heat prior to serving.
Thanks again,
Don
I have had trouble growing
I have had trouble growing dill. I live in NW FL and put out plants after danger of frost. After a few weeks, it dies. I have a small raised bed that is on my sprinkler system and gets plenty of sun. The rest of my herbs grow just fine, but I want dill!! Can you tell me what I am doing wrong?
Make sure that the soil is
Make sure that the soil is allowed to dry completely before watering again. Could your sprinkler system be giving the dill too much water? Dill doesn't like overwatering, and tends to get diseases in that case.
Also be sure to thin the seedlings to about a foot or so apart. Soil should be loose, well-drained.
Dill also does not transplant well; direct sowing is usually more successful.
Hope this helps!
Dill does not transplant
Dill does not transplant well. It grows much better when sown directly into the soil. Contrary to a lot of published information, it will grow in most soils was long as it’s not soggy. I grow it in sand that has been enriched with manure and it always performs well. My only problem is getting to use it before the rabbits eat it!
I had planted my seeds 3
I had planted my seeds 3 weeks ago and I see nothing. I tend to it like a baby, I put it outside in the sun during the day and bring it inside at night, 3 weeks and nothing :( I live in Southwest FL and this is my first attempt to grow dill from seeds. I really want to learn to grow a garden and have my own food, please help me. I also planted chia seeds and they sprouted so fast and nice I am already putting it in salads, but my dill doesn't even have a speck of growth :( I would so appreciate the advice. Thank you.
Dill is a good choice as it
Dill is a good choice as it is a hardy South Florida herb. It usually grows very easily. October through March is a good time to seed dill in your area. One common issue is planting the seed too deeply. When you do seed, just scatter in the soil like grass seed (1/4-inch deep) and it should sprout in 10-14 days. Keep it outside. Do not overwater at dill is drought-resistant; just water in intervals twice a week. For growing dill in containers, choose those that are at least 10 inches deep to accommodate its taproot and have drainage holes.
Does dill grow in tropical
Does dill grow in tropical condition?
I have a 2 part question.
I have a 2 part question. 1)When my dill flowered I cut the flowers off and put them in brown paper bags, then fed the rest to my rabbit before the plant died. The flowers are now dry and brown and have darker, what I believe to be, seeds on them. Are these ok to save to plant next year or did I kill them all together? And if I can, what is the best way to get them off the dried plant? Next question, which I think technically makes it a 3rd. In the planters where the dill was, I now have what looks like grass stems with feathered like parts at the tops. I don't remember the dill looking like this before, but is it possible that's what it is? Don't want to pluck them out if they are young herbs.
Let's back up and explain how
Let's back up and explain how to save dill seeds. After dill flowers, you let the seed heads dry on the plant. Harvest early so the seedheads don't burst. Dry out in a brown paper bag. Once the seed heads are dried out, just remove the seeds from the seed heads. Store in envelopes or small glass jars until planting time! Once the dill flowers and goes to seed, it's time is done. Start anew.
Yes, dill seedlings look like
Yes, dill seedlings look like tiny sprigs of grass, and the leaves are feathery. Dill is very good at reseeding, so that's probably what they are! :) No wonder it's called dill "weed."
My dill is flowering, when do
My dill is flowering, when do I know it went to seed? Also, my dad wants the leaves and seeds to make pickles. Can I collect the leaves, chop them and dry them? Or do they have to be fresh?
Dill needs to be harvested
Dill needs to be harvested before its umbrella-like flower clusters open. For dill pickles, you can put the whole flower head and leaves in a jar with the pickled cukes or veggies. The head should still be green and flexible; flowers should have given way to seeds, but the seeds do not need to be fully mature.
I use my own home grown dill
I use my own home grown dill and dill seeds for pickling and it works well for me. What I do is harvest the seeds heads as they start to mature and dry them in paper bags. I save the seeds for next years crop and for pickling. Once I have a batch of cucumbers ready to pickle, pick fresh dill and use it with seeds from the previous year for my pickling spice mixture.
Why did my Dill die?
I recently moved to a new apt, and my dill is in a rectangular pot, it was happy for a day but then it died, with died i mean all the leaves have withered away> what could be the probable reason? is the temperature too warm for it? now only that there were other dill growing in few other pots all of them have gone bad.. my dill were lovely lush green about 8-10 inches :( can anyone suggest what happened? i had left it next to the heater vent for warmth also the sun did not shine for 3 days since i moved..did that cause it?
Not sure what happened. The
Not sure what happened. The temperature was maybe too warm next to the heater vent. Indoors dill needs at least 5 to 6 hours of direct sunlight or you can use a fluorescent light above the plant. Dill roots are long so your pots need to be deep.
Did the apartment complex
Did the apartment complex spray an herbicide? It could have blown onto your plants.
The exact same thing happened
The exact same thing happened to mine --- I had 4 plants the same age, 3were out in my garden and one inside on kitchen window sill along with some other plants ---they were all fine for a month or more, then one day the inside dill was limp and dying ....??
It was at the growth stage where the ones outside are starting to flower ----- is this a clue?
Yes, after the plant flowers,
Yes, after the plant flowers, it is done. You can either harvest the whole plant or let it go to seed to produce more plants in the spring.
You mentioned a heater vent.
You mentioned a heater vent. Dill will die when the weather gets hot or exposed to heat.
Dill root predator?
I don't have a bug pest problem - I have an animal problem. Something keeps digging into the roots of my dill. I have it growing in a tall pot among a lot of other herbs on top of a tall herb table. Whatever it is that is eating it passes up a lot of other plants, climbing up into my herb table at night to rip it apart, leaving dirt everywhere and dill stems/leaves. I've tried to watch for it, leaving lights on the area and staying up, but I can't seem to catch it. We sometimes have a skunk come through, but I didn't think skunks climbed. Any ideas what might like to dig up and eat dill roots?
Dill Diggers
Hi, Rowan, Thanks for your interest in The Old Farmer's Almanac. Strange as it might be, it sounds like pocket gophers (Thomomys bottae) are getting into your pots. These little critters like the roots of several plants—dill, potatoes, even ornamental bulbs. We found a couple of possible solutions: commercial animal urine (apply as directed) and/or wire mesh (put over the pot at soil level, around the base of the plant—easier said than done, to be sure). You might also try a few moth balls scattered on the surface of the soil.
FWIW, some caterpillars eat dill (and parsley and carrot) greens, but they are not like to beneath the soil. We hope this helps!
I have to give a BIG thumbs
I have to give a BIG thumbs down on the moth ball idea. Those things are exceedingly toxic and may render the dill toxic as well. They are also hazardous to even touch or breathe in the fumes. Seriously those things are toxic, so don't use it. (google it)
Yellow and Black worms on my Dill
I grew dill and basil between my tomatoes as a pesticide free alternative to keep tomato horn worms away. I have done so for two years with great success. Plants that didn't have dill, I had to use Seven Dust. Now, I've got a yellow and black worm all over my dill. Should I kill it? Is it a good worm? Should I leave it alone? Please help.
You have a black swallowtail
You have a black swallowtail butterfly caterpillar on your dill. Dill, carrot tops, parsley, and fennel are their favorite food and they will eat a lot. Don’t get rid of the caterpillar; just plant more dill.
Dill Food for Butterfly
Thanks for the info, buying more seeds.
Love your advice. Too many
Love your advice. Too many times I have read KILL IT...whatever it is because it is eating a few plants. I agree with sharing of the crop when it is an insect or animal that is looking for a meal that is not going to destroy the entire garden.
Thank you!! I've been
Thank you!! I've been searching for this as well, my little dill plant is full of them! So I just plant more dill? Would it be better potted with another plant/herb?
It was the last 4 words in
It was the last 4 words in your reply that reminded me of what an old peasant Portuguese woman once told me & this I'd like to share w/you:
"Always sow/plant 4 times (more) than what you need." I asked her why and this is what she said:
"Firstly you plant for yourself, what you think you will need. Then you plant the same amount for your Family & Friends, who have no land to plant. The third amount you have to plant counting with pests and climatic problems, like drought or excessive precipitation. The fourth amount you have to sow is for the thief."
"For the thief?" I exclaimed. "Yes" answered the old lady, "the thief does not till the earth, he is a thief. Growing/producing the food is your business and the thief, well, he has to eat, too..."
these are black swallowtail
these are black swallowtail caterpillars.they DO eat a lot, yes, but do not kill them. the butterflies they turn into are both beneficial and beautiful. I had these butterflies lay eggs all over my dill.I just let them grow up and soon(if birds don't get them)they will make their chrysalis and become butterflies