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Planting and Growing Dill

Fresh dill Anethum graveolens growing on the vegetable bed. Annual herb, family Apiaceae.

Learn how to plant, grow, and harvest dill with The Old Farmer’s Almanac’s plant guide.

Image Credit:
Skrypnykov Dmytro
Botanical Name
Anethum graveolens
Grown as
Annual
Toxicity
Non-toxic
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Water Needs
Moderate
Height
1–3 feet
Spread
1–3 feet
Soil pH
Acidic
Neutral
Bloom Time
Summer
Flower Color
Yellow
Special Features
Container-Friendly
Cut Flower
Fragrant
Low Maintenance
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Pollinators
Attracts Songbirds
Deer-resistant
Rabbit-resistant
Resilience
Cold Hardy
Plant Type
Herbs
Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

With its delicate fronds, tangy flavor, and natural pest-repelling powers, dill is the herb that does it all. Whether you’re crafting crunchy pickles, tossing together a creamy potato salad, or looking to attract pollinators to your garden, this feathery favorite is a must-grow. 

Best of all? It lives up to its nickname “dill weed”—because it practically grows like one! Let’s dig into how to plant, grow, and harvest dill with ease.

Native to Eurasia and the Mediterranean, dill is most at home in warmer climates. It’s an annual herb, so to create a permanent patch of dill, allow some of the plants to flower and go to seed each year—you’ll have plenty of early dill to start the next growing season. 

Buy Seeds Now

Dill attracts beneficial insects such as wasps and other predatory insects to your garden and is a host plant for the caterpillar of the black swallowtail butterfly.

Black swallowtail butterfly caterpillar on dill flowers.
Black swallowtail caterpillar on dill flowers.

Planting

Where to Plant Dill

Dill plants grow best in full sun (6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight). Also, choose a location that is protected from strong winds, as dill’s tall foliage can be blown over easily.

Choose a planting site with well-draining soil rich in organic matter. The soil’s pH should ideally be between slightly acidic and neutral (6.5–7.0).

Plant dill near cabbage, brussels sprouts, broccoli, and other brassicas; dill is thought to improve their growth and protect them from pests. Keep it away from carrots, however, as it can decrease yields. Learn more about companion planting! 

According to Jill MacKenzie and Shirley Mah Kooyman of the University of Minnesota Extension, “Growing dill indoors is possible, as long as you provide enough light.”

When to Plant Dill

  • Dill seeds should be sown directly into the garden (dill puts down a taproot, so, like carrots, it doesn’t transplant well) after the threat of frost has passed in the spring. See local frost dates.
  • For the best germination results, the soil temperature should be between 60° and 70ºF (15° and 21°C). Seedlings should appear in 10 to 14 days.
  • If you’re planting dill for pickling, sow dill seeds every few weeks until midsummer to ensure a constant supply into fall.

How to Plant Dill

  • Sow dill seeds about ¼ inch deep.
  • Seedlings should appear after 10 to 14 days. Wait another 10 to 14 days, then thin the plants to about 10 to 12 inches apart (if they aren’t already spaced well enough).

Check out our video to learn more about the benefits of growing dill in your garden:

Growing

  • Water the plants freely during the growing season, ensuring that they don’t dry out excessively.
  • In order to ensure a season-long fresh supply of dill, continue sowing seeds every few weeks. For an extended harvest of the leaves, do not allow flowers to grow on the plants.
  • If dill is allowed to go to seed and the soil isn’t disturbed too much, more dill plants will likely appear next spring.

Dill foliage, flower, and seed

Harvesting

  • As soon as the plant has four to five leaves, you can start harvesting. Harvest older leaves first. Pinch off the leaves or cut them off with scissors.
  • If you have a lot of plants, you can take entire stalks.

Pests and Problems

  • Leaf spot and occasionally a few other types of fungal leaf and root diseases

Types

  • ‘Fernleaf’ dill is a compact variety that works well in containers and is not prone to bolting.
  • ‘Bouquet’ is a larger variety that produces a lot of seeds.
  • ‘Mammoth’ is another tall variety and is considered one of the best for pickling and other culinary uses, such as in potato salads, cucumber soup, and fish dishes.

Wit and Wisdom

  • For sweeter breath, chew dill seeds.
  • If you grow your own dill and cucumbers, you can make dill pickles!
  • Have you ever wondered, what exactly is a “kosher” dill pickle? Kosher is from a Hebrew word meaning “right,” “proper,” or “fit.” It is usually applied to food, especially to meat that has been slaughtered and prepared according to the prescribed manner. Kosher salt is not treated with additives and is as close to pure solar salt as you can get. If you taste a kosher dill pickle, you’ll know it has been prepared in the best possible way.

Herbs

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana.

Read more from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<span>Rowan Fitzgerald</span> Tue, 09/04/2012 - 09:19
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?
<span>Janice Stillman</span> Wed, 09/05/2012 - 12:03
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!
<span>Beekeeperjoy</span> Sun, 03/23/2014 - 23:08
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)
<span>Skinfan</span> Thu, 06/14/2012 - 18:43
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.
<span>Rachy Ray</span> Wed, 07/02/2014 - 14:32
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
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Fri, 06/15/2012 - 11:57
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.
<span>Rene Martin</span> Sun, 06/08/2014 - 17:53
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..."
<span>Tanith</span> Tue, 07/16/2013 - 18:42
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?
<span>Yukon Gal</span> Wed, 05/29/2013 - 11:37
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.
<span>Skinfan</span> Sat, 06/16/2012 - 01:21
Thanks for the info, buying more seeds.