How to Grow Dill: Learn the Basics
When to Plant
Dill is an easy herb to grow. In warm winter areas that don’t experience a hard frost, you can plant dill in autumn or winter. In cooler areas, plant dill a week or two before your last hard frost. After the first sowing, plant again every 10 days or so for a continuous crop.
When growing in containers, use a deep container to accommodate the long roots, and remember that you will eventually have a plant that is three feet tall. Plants grown in containers may require staking.
Cultivation
Here are a few suggestions to start you on your way to a healthy crop of dill:
- Dill, like most herbs, loves to bask in the sun, but will tolerate afternoon shade.
- Dill grows up to 3 feet tall, so plant it in the back of your flower, vegetable or herb garden.
- Sow seeds close together. This will allow the plants, which blow over easily to support each other.
- Cover the seeds lightly, and allow a week or two for them to germinate.
- For a continuous crop, sow repeatedly from mid spring to early summer.
- Don’t plant near caraway, fennel or angelica.
- Caterpillars are fond of dill, and can be handpicked if they become a nuisance.
Harvesting and Preserving
The best way to use dill is fresh from the garden, so during the growing season, cut your dill to use fresh as you need it. If not kept cut, your dill will go to seed, so cut often until you are ready to switch to seed production.
If you find that you have cut more than you can use, dry the excess in the microwave. Spread the dill in a single layer on a paper towel and microwave on high for 3 minutes. The result is beautiful and tasty – much better than dried dill you buy in the grocery store. After microwaving, remove and discard the hard stems, crumble the leaves, and store in an airtight container protected from light.
Once seedheads begin to form, it’s time to stop cutting dill for fresh use. Allow the seedheads to develop and dry completely, then cut them. You’ll be able to remove the seeds easily with your fingers.
Medicinal Uses
To brew a stomach-soothing tea, use two teaspoons of mashed seeds per cup of boiling water. Steep for ten minutes. Drink up to three cups a day. In a tincture, take 1/2 to 1 teaspoon up to three times a day. To treat colic or gas in children under two, give small amounts of a weak tea. Many herbalists recommend combining dill and fennel to ease colic in infants.
Culinary Uses
The taste of dill leaves resembles that of caraway, while the seeds are pungent and aromatic. Freshly cut, chopped leaves enhance the flavor of dips, herb butter, soups, salads, fish dishes, and salads. The seeds are used in pickling and can also improve the taste of roasts, stews and vegetables. Try grinding the seeds to use as a salt substitute. Both the flowering heads and seeds are used in flavored vinegars and oils.
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My dill came to seed now, in December. Should I saw it now or wait for Spring.?
I live in Brisbane
Hi Marcela
I have found Queensland summers too hot for any dill in my patch.
You could try sowing now but would have to keep the water up as the seed is so little they can dry out so easily…I would save the seed and wait till spring myself.
I have some dill seed in brown paper bag that I’m saving just for spring!
Nat
Thanks for the information. I had this plant with me since 2 yrs., but i mistook her for “Lady Lace” flower and discarded the seeds and plants, when they started yellowing. This morning i saw two plants coming up in my planter, and also i happened to see about this plant in Pinterest…. I shall preserve and look after her, hence forth. Thanks once again.
Vilu
wondering how “deep” is a deep pot for growing Dill on south south east balcony on Sunshine Coast please?
Also, can i plant Dill alongside/with my lemongrass in 30cm deep rectangular planter box on first floor balcony?
Hi Garr
Sorry for the delay in the reply!
I personally wouldn’t grow lemongrass and dill in the same pot. Lemongrass can be quite vigorous in its growth and may overtake the delicate dill. Also, when harvesting the lemongrass (if you pull the whole stalk out) you may disturb the dill roots.
In saying that though, if you have a rectangular plant and keep the two plants on either side, the lemongrass may behave and stay on that side…who knows unless you try!
30 cms is the minimum depth that you would want in a pot when growing dill as it does have a long tap root.
and thanks for letting us know about the broken link….
Happy dill growing 🙂
Nat
hey, my dill is So tall. Around 5 foot high. Should i be staking it to keep it up straight, or should i let it do is thing?
Hi Daniel
I find with any tall plants (especially if they have a delicate stem) then it is best to stake.
otherwise they just flop over and the stem can break at that point.
Nat
I live in Melbourne near the beach and the soil is very sandy. I just planted some seedlings of dill and wonder if I should be fertilizing them. i have bag of cow manure, and another bag of the mix of sheep, chicken cow …etc.
Hi Lida
Growing in sandy soil can be a challenge.
Here is a link to useful tips on how to improve and grow in your sandy soil. 🙂
https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s2515177.htm
Tanks
Thanks
Would planting dill in early summer be too hot to germinate. As we’re getting mid to height 30s at the moment?
Hi Jo, the dill seed will germinate provided that it is kept moist at all times.
However, what I have found for me, is dill will bolt in very hot weather and as tiny seedlings if I forget to water them even once, they shrivel up and die really quickly.
Nat
when the dill is cut, will the plant continue to produce new growth/
Hi Kay
Yep, giving dill a ‘haircut’ still allows the plant to keep growing! 🙂
Nat
I vacuum seal fresh dill weed, freeze, and use throughout the year. Much better than dried dill and easy, too.
Is it too late to plant dillseeds in early november>? I live in melbourne
Hi Judith, shouldn’t be too late…according to Eden seeds, Oct to Apr is a good time to sow dill seed in Melb…soil will be warmer by then as well helping your little seeds to germinate 🙂
Thank you very helpful
Thanks Cherie! Have a fantastic day 🙂