Herb · Apiaceae
Dill
Anethum graveolens
Sow it straight in the ground, keep it cool and evenly watered, and dill hands you leaves all season.
Full sun
Every 3–7 days
50–77°F · 10–25°C
40–90 days
Overview
Dill is a fast, feathery annual herb in the carrot family, grown for both its soft blue-green leaves and its flat heads of aromatic seed. It traces back to the Mediterranean and western Asia, and it has earned a spot in kitchens and gardens around the world for pickles, fish, and fresh salads. Sow it once and it often returns on its own, dropping seed that comes up the next spring.
It thrives in cool weather, which shapes everything about how you grow it. Spring and early fall suit it best, and summer heat tends to push it into flower, a shift gardeners call bolting. The trick is to keep young plants coming by sowing a fresh batch every couple of weeks.
Dill grows a deep taproot and dislikes being moved, so it is best sown right where it will grow. Give it full sun and steady moisture and it shoots up quickly, drawing in pollinators and butterflies once the yellow umbels open.
Care
The short version: full sun, cool weather, and evenly moist, well-drained soil. Sow it straight into the ground, pick the leaves often to hold off flowering, and sow a new row every few weeks for a steady supply.
Light
Dill wants full sun, ideally six or more hours a day, though it takes a little afternoon shade where summers run hot. Too much shade gives you thin, floppy plants that bolt early and yield far less leaf.
Water
Aim for steady, even moisture at about an inch of water a week, kept up most closely while seeds germinate and seedlings find their feet. Don't let it dry out, since drought stress is one of the fastest ways to send dill into early flowering.
Soil
Plant in well-drained, fertile loam with plenty of organic matter worked in. A slightly acidic pH of 5.5 to 6.5 suits it best, and loose ground lets that deep taproot run straight down.
Temperature
Dill grows best in cool conditions, roughly 50°F to 77°F (10°C to 25°C). Once the heat climbs past that range, the plant shifts its energy from leaf to flower and bolts.
Humidity
Average outdoor humidity, somewhere around 40% to 70%, is all dill needs, so there's no number to chase. Good airflow matters more than moisture in the air, since crowded plants stay damp and invite trouble.
Feeding
Dill is a light feeder and gets by with a single balanced feed or some compost worked in at planting. In moderately fertile soil it needs little more, and piling on nitrogen only grows soft, leggy stems that flop.
Pruning
Pinch or cut the foliage often to keep the plant bushy and delay bolting. Snip off forming flower heads if you're after leaves, or leave the umbels to mature when you want to harvest seed.
Repotting
Dill isn't really repotted. It's a direct-sown annual with a taproot that resents being moved, so sow it where it's to grow rather than potting it up, and watch for stunting or fast bolting if you do try it in a container.
Size & spacing
Plants reach 2 to 4 feet (60 to 120 cm) tall with a slim spread of 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45 cm). Set them close enough to lean on one another, which helps the tall hollow stems stay upright in wind.
When to plant
Dill runs on the cool end of the season and bolts fast once summer turns hot. Direct-sow it in early spring after the hard frosts pass, cut leaves through the cooler months, and let summer umbels mature into seed you can save.
Northern hemisphere
Southern hemisphere
Typical months for a temperate climate: start earlier in warm zones, later where spring frosts linger.
- Plant: Direct-sow in early spring after danger of hard frost; cool-season crop that bolts quickly in summer heat. Succession-sow every 2-3 weeks for continuous leaf harvest.
- Harvest: Cut leaves anytime once plants are established; yellow flower umbels form in summer, followed by seeds harvested as they ripen and turn brown.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones: 2–11
Temperature: down to -46°C
Troubleshooting
Most dill trouble comes down to heat or a few familiar garden pests. Catch the early signs and you can keep the leaves coming and the plants upright. Match what you see below, then act while it still helps.
Plants shoot up and flower before you get much leaf
This is bolting, and summer heat and lengthening days are what set it off. Drought and root stress speed it along, so the central stalk stretches up and forms flower heads while leaf growth stalls. Pick leaves early, keep the soil evenly moist, and sow a fresh batch every couple of weeks so you always have young plants coming on.
Fix:
- Harvest leaves promptly before flowering
- Succession-sow new plantings
- Provide consistent moisture and light afternoon shade in heat
Striped caterpillars chewing the feathery leaves
Those green caterpillars with black bands and yellow spots are black swallowtail larvae, and dill is one of their favorite host plants. The damage looks dramatic but rarely sets a healthy plant back. Move them to a spare clump if you want the leaves, or plant a little extra and let them feed, since they turn into butterflies.
Fix:
- Hand-pick and relocate caterpillars if foliage loss is a concern
- Plant extra dill to share with larvae as a pollinator host
Sticky clusters of tiny insects on the new growth
These are aphids, small green or gray insects that gather on shoots and leave a sticky honeydew behind. Knock them off with a strong jet of water, and reach for insecticidal soap only if they get out of hand. Easing off the nitrogen and welcoming ladybugs keeps the next wave in check.
Fix:
- Spray with a strong jet of water
- Apply insecticidal soap if severe
Tall stems flopping over after wind or rain
Dill grows tall on hollow stems, so a top-heavy plant in an open, windy spot bends or snaps near the base. Rich soil makes it worse by pushing soft, leggy growth. Stake the taller plants, give them a sheltered corner, and space them close enough to lean on one another.
Fix:
- Stake taller plants
- Plant in a sheltered location
Toxicity
Good news here: dill is a culinary herb that's safe for people and pets alike. Leaves and seeds are kitchen staples, and the ASPCA does not list the plant among pet toxins. The one minor note is that very heavy grazing of the foliage can cause mild photosensitivity in some livestock.
Safe for
People · Cats · Dogs · Horses · Rabbits · Livestock · Birds
Cats None
A nibble of dill won't hurt a cat. The ASPCA doesn't list it as a pet toxin, so there's nothing to clean up after a curious bite.
Dogs None
Dogs can chew the soft leaves without any worry, and some people even add a pinch to homemade treats.
Horses Safe
Dill foliage is harmless to horses and sometimes turns up in herbal feed blends.
Rabbits Safe
Rabbits enjoy fresh dill as a treat, and the feathery leaves make a fine occasional green.
Livestock Mild
Grazing animals can eat dill safely. The only quibble is that very heavy grazing of the foliage, which carries furanocoumarins, may bring on mild photosensitivity in some animals.
Birds Safe
Pet birds and backyard hens can peck at the leaves and ripe seeds without trouble.
People Safe
Dill is a kitchen herb, leaves and seeds alike, and entirely safe to eat. Rinse it before use as you would any fresh green.
Edible herb safe to handle and consume; wash before use. Sap and furanocoumarins can rarely cause mild skin photosensitivity in sensitive individuals.
Varieties
Most seed packets trace back to a handful of named dills, sorted mainly by height and how fast they bolt. These are the ones worth knowing.
Bouquet
A popular compact dill grown for its heavy crop of seed heads and its strong, classic flavor.
Fernleaf
A dwarf, slow-to-bolt type that fits a container and keeps producing leaves longer than most.
Mammoth (Long Island Mammoth)
A tall heirloom that gives the biggest yields of both foliage and seed.
Dukat
A slow-bolting variety with sweet, aromatic leaves that gardeners favor for fresh use.
Companions
Dill earns its keep near other crops by drawing in pollinators and the predatory insects that hunt garden pests.
How to propagate
Dill grows only from seed, and it could hardly be simpler, since the plant often sows the next generation for you.
SeedEasy
Direct-sow in early spring and succession-sow through the cool season · 7 to 21 days to germinate; harvestable leaves in about 40 to 60 days
Sow dill straight into the garden where it is to grow, pressing the seed in shallowly, since the taproot resents transplanting. Seeds break ground in 7 to 21 days, and you can start cutting leaves in about 40 to 60 days. Sow a fresh row every couple of weeks through the cool season, and let a few plants flower so they self-seed for next year.
Myths
Dill transplants easily like any other seedling.
Dill grows a deep taproot that resents being moved, and disturbing it often shocks the plant into bolting. Direct-sow it where it will grow rather than starting it in cells to transplant later.
Dill is toxic to cats and dogs.
Dill is a culinary herb regarded as safe, and the ASPCA does not list it among the plants that poison cats or dogs. A nibble is nothing to worry about.