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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

<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 08/04/2014 - 12:21

Hi Cathy, What a great idea. In your area of Arkansas, you plant garlic in October, November, and December.  Plant dill in April.

 <span>Miha</span> Mon, 07/28/2014 - 14:03
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.
<span>Lyla Jill</span> Sat, 06/27/2015 - 11:41
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.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 07/29/2014 - 09:44

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.

 <span>Mari Ann</span> Sat, 07/12/2014 - 16:43
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
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 07/14/2014 - 13:29

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.)

 <span>Courtney S.</span> Sun, 06/29/2014 - 11:59
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?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 07/14/2014 - 13:43

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.

 

 <span>William Wasie</span> Mon, 06/16/2014 - 10:22
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.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 06/17/2014 - 08:05

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.