How to Grow and Care for Dill

Dill is a culinary herb grown as an annual for its leaves, seeds, and flowers, which are used in seasoning pickled foods, often jarred, canned, and stored for winter. Its feathery foliage tastes like a cross between celery and fennel. Dill is native to Europe and Asia and attracts pollinators and butterflies, especially the Eastern black swallowtail butterfly. It self-sows, so keep its seeding in check by deadheading flower heads.

Dill is a reasonably cold-hardy plant when kept above freezing. Sow it from seed in early spring after the chance of frost has passed; it will grow quickly, with seedlings usually appearing in about 10 days.

How to Plant Dill

Although potted nursery starts are available, it's usually best to sow dill seeds directly in the garden because it has a long taproot that doesn't like to be disturbed.

When to Plant

Plant in the spring or fall. It will germinate best at soil temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Seedlings will appear in 10 to 14 days, and for continued harvest, you can sow additional seeds every two weeks.

Selecting a Planting Site

Pick a sunny location with fertile, free-draining soil. Also, consider growing it in a large container with ample drainage holes. It dislikes cold, soggy conditions.

Several plants, including basil, corn, and asparagus, are good companion plants for dill. Other plants, like carrots, pepper, potatoes, and lavender, are not good to plant near dill.

Spacing, Depth, and Support

Sow seeds about 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep; cover lightly with soil. Plant seeds 1 to 2 inches apart. If planting in rows, plant the rows 1 foot apart.

Depending on the variety, dill can grow up to 5 feet tall. Use a bamboo cane to support the stem if your dill gets floppy from the heavy seed head. Also, consider removing the heavy flowerhead to promote more foliage and branching.

Dill Care

Light

Plant your dill in a garden location that gets full sunlight for at least six to eight hours each day. If you live in an especially hot climate, some afternoon shade is OK and appreciated during the sweltering summer.

Soil

Dill plants prefer rich, loose, and well-draining soil. They are not particular about soil pH but thrive best in slightly acidic soil. Keep in mind that dill plants have a taproot (a central dominant root from which smaller roots grow), so compacted soil could be a problem. Because dill can self-sow, it's important that you either plant it in a spot where it's allowed to roam or where you can harvest it before it goes to seed.

Water

Keep your dill plant consistently moist without making the soil soggy or soaked. The soil should never be allowed to dry out entirely between waterings because that can cause the plant to prematurely bolt to seed.

Temperature and Humidity

Dill plants are very cold-hardy and can tolerate temperatures as low as 25 degrees Fahrenheit. That being said, the optimal temperature for your dill plant is when the soil is about 70 degrees Fahrenheit, which will happen during the late spring and summer in most USDA hardiness zones. Dill has no special humidity requirements.

Fertilizer

Similar to most herbs, dill is not a heavy feeder. If your garden soil is rich in organic matter, your dill should require no additional fertilizer. Keeping the soil slightly lean will produce more aromatic plants.

Harvesting Dill

You can harvest the leaves at a later stage of growth, though dill generally reaches maturity and blooms about eight weeks after sowing.

Once the flowers develop, the plants stop producing foliage and focus on seed development. The seeds can be harvested as they begin to turn brown. Keep a close watch, or they'll disperse on their own. Seeds can be used fresh or stored in the refrigerator for two to three weeks.

Dill leaves can be used fresh, frozen, or dried later in breads, salads, soups, and dips. They can also be used on potatoes, salmon, other fish dishes, lamb, and many vegetables, including peas, beets, and asparagus. Here's how to use it:

• Use fresh: Cut the leaves, branches, and flowers and use them fresh to flavor dishes. The flowers can also be used in pickling or floral arrangements.
• Drying dill: Hang the leaf sprigs upside down in a well-ventilated, dark place for several weeks. When dried, strip the leaves and save them in an airtight container.
• Using seeds: Harvest the seeds once they have turned brown on the plant. Put the seed head into a bag, allow it to dry for two weeks, remove the seeds, and store them in an airtight container. Save the seeds for planting next year, or use them whole or ground for flavoring food throughout the year.
• Pickling dill: For intense dill flavor, use leaves, flower heads, and seeds. Put the dill in a jar with the vegetables you plan to pickle and mix it with hot water, vinegar, salt, and sugar.
  

Types of Dill

Mature plants are multi-branched and upright with finely dissected leaves. The wide, flat flowers can make the plant top-heavy and cause it to bend over. The entire plant is highly fragrant. Here are several common varieties of dill, including dwarf varieties that are better suited to container gardening.

• 'Dukat': A standard variety, it is popular for its abundant leaves.
• 'Fernleaf': A dwarf variety (less than 18 inches), it's ideal for containers.
• 'Long Island Mammoth': This variety is most commonly grown commercially and good for harvesting seeds and leaves.
• 'Mammoth': This is an exceptionally tall variety (36 inches or more) with attractive, finely cut leaves.

Dill vs. Fennel

Dill is often confused for fennel when growing in the wild. Above ground, the two have feathery, delicate, wispy foliage. Dill grows from a long taproot; fennel grows from an underground bulb. The two are in the same Apiaceae family, including carrots, parsley, and celery.

The two are aromatic herbs. Fennel tastes nothing like dill; it has more of an anise or licorice flavor, while dill has a distinctive "green" flavor, popularly used for giving flavor to pickled cucumbers or dill pickles.

How to Grow Dill in Pots

Dill can grow well in a large container or a felt growing bag, at least 1 foot wide and deep. Ensure the container has ample drainage holes. It's best to use compost-enriched soil. Thin out seedlings to give at least 4 inches between plants. Once established, do not transplant into another container. Disturbing the long taproot can cause the plant to go into shock.

Pruning

Prune often and regularly to encourage more leaf production. Cut off the flower stalks as soon as you notice them to prolong leaf production throughout the season.

As soon as flowers form, the plant goes into flower and seed production mode and stops making leaves. To keep your dill bushy and leafy, trim regularly, especially long shoots that form.

How to Grow Dill From Seed

Dill is propagated easily from seed. It can be grown for cuttings rooted in water but grows faster and more vigorously from seed. The water-cutting method is not reliable.

1. Direct sow dill seeds after the danger of frost has passed in spring, or start the seeds indoors about four to six weeks before planting outdoors.
2. Don’t wait too long to transplant the seedlings. Their long taproot system makes them unhappy growing in small pots.
3. Plant the seedlings about one inch deep, spacing them 12 to 15 inches apart.
4. Dill responds well to pinching the growing tip—pinching results in a bushier plant, so pinch and use your dill often.

Overwintering

Dill does not survive winter temperatures and will not continue growing indoors without full sun. As the cooler temperatures set in, harvest seeds from this tender annual for sowing during the next growing season.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Don't be alarmed if you see one or more yellow, green, and black caterpillars eating your dill. It is probably an Eastern black swallowtail caterpillar. Adult females lay their eggs on dill plants, giving the hatchlings a ready-made food source. Dill, along with other members of the carrot family, is a favorite food of theirs. The caterpillars won't stay long, so instead of fighting to rid your garden of them, plant some extra dill to share.

Otherwise, dill is virtually problem-free. It attracts beneficial insects to your garden—lacewings and syrphid flies feed on the plant's pollen and lay their eggs nearby. The larvae, in turn, feed on aphids, which can cause problems for many plants.