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Do you struggle to keep enough pickles in the house because your family loves them so much? Consider growing dill!
If you grow dill, then you’ll have plenty of it around for making homemade pickles and a lot more too. Plus, dill plants attract beneficial insects to your garden.
Dill (Anethum graveolens)
Apiaceae or Umbelliferae Family
Dill is an aromatic herb that belongs to the Apiaceae family, which also includes well-known plants such as parsley, celery, and fennel. It typically grows to a height of 3 to 5 feet (approximately 90 to 150 cm), developing slender, hollow stems that support delicate, feathery leaves of a vibrant dark green color. The leaves are finely divided and threadlike, giving dill its distinctive wispy appearance.
During its growing season, dill produces characteristic umbrella-shaped flower clusters called umbels. These umbels are composed of numerous tiny, yellowish-green flowers that bloom in flat-topped or slightly rounded clusters. After flowering, these umbels mature into a profusion of small, oval seeds. These seeds are light brown and ridged, and they can number in the hundreds or thousands per plant!
Both the fresh and dried forms of dill are widely used in culinary applications. The feathery leaves are commonly referred to as “dill weed” and are prized for their fresh, slightly bitter, and herbaceous flavor with a cooling undertone. Dill seeds have a stronger, more concentrated taste with warm, slightly sweet, and mildly bitter notes. As a result, dill is especially popular in pickling, lending its distinct flavor to cucumbers and other vegetables preserved in brine.
In addition to pickles, it is also frequently added to soups, sauces, and dressings for its bright and aromatic qualities. In cooking, dill pairs exceptionally well with seafood such as salmon and shrimp, as well as with chicken dishes. It complements vegetables like carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Additionally, the fresh acidity of lemon enhances dill’s flavor profile, making these ingredients a classic combination.
Growing Dill: The Basics
Starting Seeds
Dill seeds can be started indoors about 4 to 6 weeks before the last expected frost in your area. However, dill plants do not respond well to transplanting because their roots are quite sensitive and can be easily damaged. For this reason, it is generally recommended to sow dill seeds directly into the garden soil once the danger of frost has passed. Planting dill outdoors at the right time has an added benefit: the herb will be ready to harvest just as your cucumbers mature, making it a perfect companion for pickling (our favorite recipe here)!
Dill Growing Tips
Dill seeds can be slow and inconsistent to germinate. To improve success, plant multiple seeds generously in each spot where you want dill to grow. This “over-seeding” helps ensure that enough seedlings emerge to form a healthy crop.
Dill thrives best in rich, well-drained soils that retain moisture without becoming waterlogged. Although it prefers fertile soil, dill is quite adaptable and can manage to grow even in poorer or more marginal soils, making it suitable for a variety of garden conditions. (Fertilize dill sparingly, since too much nitrogen will actually reduce the flavor.)
This herb favors full sun exposure—at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day—to develop its best flavor and growth. Dill also requires consistent watering to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Regular watering helps prevent the plant from bolting (going to seed too quickly) and keeps the foliage lush.
Dill is an annual herb, meaning it completes its life cycle in one growing season. However, if left to flower and produce seeds, it can readily self-seed and come back year after year in favorable spots. This natural reseeding allows gardeners to maintain a steady supply of dill with minimal effort.
Growing Season for Dill
Dill grows best in cool to moderate temperatures but can struggle in extreme heat or frost. It is typically planted in spring after the last frost and continues growing until midsummer or early fall, depending on the climate.
- In warmer regions, succession planting every few weeks can ensure a continuous supply throughout the growing season.
- For cooler climates or shorter seasons, starting dill indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost can give plants a head start, though care must be taken when transplanting due to dill’s sensitive roots.
Dill can also be grown indoors in pots on a sunny windowsill year-round if provided with sufficient light and moisture. To extend the harvest period, remove flower heads promptly to prevent seed formation and bolting.
Companion Planting
Beneficial insects like ladybugs, parasitic wasps, praying mantises, and honeybees LOVE dill, making it a great choice. When growing dill in your garden, plant near crops in the cabbage family, cucumbers (imagine that?), lettuce, corn, and basil. Don’t plant dill next to carrots, as they’re in the same family. You should also avoid planting dill near cilantro, eggplant, and peppers.
Dill Pests & DiseasesÂ
Though dill is generally hardy, it can be affected by several pests and diseases. Common pests include aphids, which cluster on new growth and flower heads, feeding on plant sap and potentially spreading disease. Caterpillars may also feed on dill leaves but are usually manageable by handpicking or encouraging natural predators like ladybugs. Fungal diseases such as powdery mildew and downy mildew can appear when humidity is high or air circulation is poor. These diseases show up as white or gray powdery spots on leaves and can be controlled by ensuring good spacing between plants, watering early in the day to allow foliage to dry.Â
How to Harvest Dill
You can begin harvesting dill leaves once the plant is well established and has grown enough foliage to support cutting. This usually happens when the plant reaches at least 6 to 8 inches in height. To harvest, snip the feathery leaves from the stems using scissors or garden shears. It’s best to take leaves in small amounts regularly rather than cutting all at once, which allows the plant to continue producing fresh growth throughout the season.
After flowering, some of the dill flowers will develop into seeds. It is important to leave a portion of the flowers on the plant to mature fully and produce seeds. The seeds are ready to harvest when they change color from green to a brownish-tan shade and become dry to the touch. At this point, cut the seed heads and place them in a paper bag or on a clean surface in a dry, ventilated area. Once fully dried, the seeds can be separated from the seed heads by gently rubbing or shaking.Â
Medicinal & Nutritional Benefits of Dill
Dill has been used traditionally both as a culinary herb and for its medicinal properties. It contains compounds such as flavonoids and essential oils that exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. Dill is known for aiding digestion by reducing gas and bloating, often used in herbal teas for soothing the stomach.
Nutritionally, dill provides small amounts of vitamins A and C, calcium, iron, and manganese. Its seeds have been used in traditional medicine to help with colic in infants and to promote restful sleep.Â
How to Use Dill
To use fresh dill weed, chop finely. Once you harvest the fresh leaves, they may be stored carefully in the refrigerator, but they won’t last too long once picked.
How to Preserve Dill
Freezing is an excellent way to preserve dill for the winter. Just wash and dry the dill and freeze whole or chopped. (Whole leaves may preserve flavor better than chopped leaves.) Another option is to freeze chopped dill in ice cube trays with water.
While some sources say that drying dill dilutes its flavor, it is still a great traditional method. Like any other herb, once you dry it, you will have it available for a long time after, especially if you don’t use much dill.
To dry dill, hang branches in a cool, dark place such as a closet until the leaves crumble upon touch. Transfer into an air-tight container once completely dry. A similar method can be used to dry dill seeds, but you’ll want to hang the flower heads in a paper bag to catch the falling seeds! Like with dill weed, once the seeds have dried, store them in an airtight container.
Conclusion
Under the right conditions, dill produces prolifically and often reseeds itself, making it an excellent addition to your garden. A single packet of seeds could be enough to fulfill your dill dreams for years to come, if it’s a good year! Now go start growing dill in YOUR garden.
