Dill is an easy, fast-growing herb with feathery leaves for fish, salads and dips and seed heads for pickling. It also attracts beneficial insects and is a favorite food of swallowtail caterpillars. It grows best sown directly in the garden and often reseeds itself. This page covers when to sow, how to space it, how to care for it and how to harvest leaves and seeds.
Dill at a glance
| Type | Herb |
|---|---|
| Season | Warm-season |
| Sun | Full sun |
| Plant spacing | 12 in |
| Row spacing | 18 in |
| Per square foot | 1 |
| Seed depth | ¼ in |
| Days to maturity | 40–60 from seed |
| How to start | Direct sow around last frost |
| Water | 1 in per week |
These are the same numbers our plant spacing, square foot and harvest date calculators use. See every crop in the plant database.
When to plant dill
Sow dill directly outdoors around your last spring frost; it tolerates light frost. Dill has a taproot and does not transplant well. For a steady supply of leaves, sow a short row every 3 to 4 weeks until midsummer, because each sowing flowers within a couple of months.
Find your last frost with the frost dates by ZIP code tool, and plan repeat sowings with the succession planting planner.
How to plant dill
- Choose full sun. Dill needs 6 to 8 hours of sun and a spot sheltered from strong wind.
- Sow shallow. Dill seed needs light to germinate, so cover it with only about 1/4 inch of soil. Thin to the spacing in the table above.
- Remember the height. Standard varieties reach 3 to 4 feet and may need staking. Compact varieties such as Fernleaf suit containers and small beds.
- Keep it away from fennel. Dill and fennel cross-pollinate, which spoils the seed of both.
Caring for dill
Water about an inch a week, keeping the soil moist while seedlings establish. Established dill handles short dry spells, though drought speeds flowering. The garden watering calculator turns this into gallons.
Dill needs no extra fertilizer in reasonable soil. Stake tall plants in windy spots. If you want leaves rather than seed, pinch off flower heads as they form to keep leaves coming a little longer. If you see striped green, black and yellow caterpillars, those are black swallowtail larvae; many gardeners plant extra dill to share.
Companion plants
| Grow nearby | Cabbage-family crops, lettuce, onions, cucumbers, corn |
|---|---|
| Keep apart | Fennel (cross-pollinates); carrots (mature dill can stunt them); tomatoes once dill is flowering |
Dill flowers attract hoverflies, ladybugs and parasitic wasps, which control aphids and cabbage worms. It is a classic companion for cucumbers, which are often pickled with it. Check other pairings with the companion plant finder.
Common problems
| Problem | What you see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Bolting | Plants flower quickly with few leaves | Normal in heat and long days. Sow every 3 to 4 weeks for a steady supply of leaves. |
| Swallowtail caterpillars | Striped green, black and yellow caterpillars on leaves | These become black swallowtail butterflies. Move them to a spare plant or grow extra. See the pest identifier. |
| Aphids | Clusters of small insects on stems and flower heads | Spray off with water; ladybugs drawn to dill usually control them. |
| Falling over | Tall stems lean or snap | Stake plants or grow in a sheltered spot. Grow compact varieties. |
| Poor transplant results | Transplanted seedlings stall or bolt | Dill has a taproot. Sow directly where it will grow. |
Not sure what you are looking at? The plant problem identifier ranks likely causes from the symptoms you see.
When and how to harvest
Pick leaves, often called dill weed, as soon as the plant has 4 or 5 leaves, about 40 to 60 days after sowing. Snip leaves close to the stem, taking no more than a third of the plant at once. Leaves have the best flavor just before flowers open.
For seed, let plants flower. When seed heads turn brown and the seeds are dry, cut the heads and hang them upside down in a paper bag to catch the seeds. For pickling, cut flower heads when they are just opening. Store fresh dill in a glass of water in the fridge, or chop and freeze. Use the harvest date calculator to plan.
Plan your dill
- Plant spacing calculator: how many plants fit your bed
- Planting calendar: sowing and transplant dates for your frost dates
- Frost dates by ZIP code: your last spring and first fall frost
- Harvest date calculator: when your crop will be ready
Frequently asked questions
How far apart should I plant dill?
Space dill 12 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart. In a square foot garden, plant 1 per square foot.
How deep do I plant dill seeds?
Sow seeds ¼ inch deep. Dill seed needs light to germinate, so cover it only lightly.
How long does dill take to grow?
Most varieties are ready 40–60 days from seed. Check the seed packet, because early and late varieties differ.
How much water does dill need?
About 1 inch of water a week, from rain and watering combined. Keep the soil moist while seedlings establish; drought speeds flowering.
Can I transplant dill?
Dill has a taproot and often stalls or bolts after transplanting. Sow it directly where it will grow.
Does dill come back every year?
Dill is an annual, but if you let it go to seed it often reseeds itself and comes up again the next spring.