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How to Grow Dill: Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Guide

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.

Photo Credit
Skrypnykov Dmytro
Botanical Name
Anethum graveolens
Plant Type
Herbs
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Soil pH
Slightly Acidic to Neutral
Bloom Time
Summer
Flower Color
Yellow
Special Features
Attracts Butterflies

An Easy, Fragrant Herb That Pairs Well with Pickles and Pollinators

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.

About Dill

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 flower
Black swallowtail caterpillar on dill flowers.

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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

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.

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.

Gardening Products

Pests/Diseases

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

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’s been prepared in the best possible way.

Recipes
Quick and Easy Refrigerator Dill Pickles
Dilled Green Beans
Pickled Green Beans (Dilly Beans)
Dill and Potato Cakes

Cooking Notes

Many people love to make dill pickles with their fresh dill. Learn how to make dill pickles. You can also add dill as a seasoning in countless recipes.

Herbs
About The Author
Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann is the Executive Digital Editor of Almanac.com, the website companion of The Old Farmer's Almanac. She covers gardening, plants, pest control, soil composition, seasonal and moon c...
Read More from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<span>Gardening Noobie</span> Sun, 06/08/2014 - 07:29
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?
<span>Biologist</span> Mon, 06/09/2014 - 19:55
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.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 06/09/2014 - 14:20

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.

 <span>Debra A Smith</span> Tue, 06/03/2014 - 12:41
Can I prolong the life of dill in my garden by pruning it before it produces flower heads?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 06/04/2014 - 02:02

Yes, pruning dills (and most herbs) regularly promotes vigorous, sturdy growth. If you harvest herbs regularly, this should keep your plants pruned.

 <span>Chatty Cathy</span> Sat, 05/24/2014 - 16:34
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.
<span>Roy Mueller</span> Mon, 08/24/2015 - 15:47
Many species of ladybugs eat aphids. They may be attracted to dill more to feast on aphids than the dill itself.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 05/27/2014 - 14:15

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.

 <span>Lara</span> Thu, 05/08/2014 - 14:02
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?
<span>Don Schwartz</span> Tue, 04/08/2014 - 23:55
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.