Planting Dill
Dill is a cool season herb in the Apiaceae family. Getting the timing right is the difference between a strong stand and a disappointing one, so the windows below are given relative to your own last spring frost and first fall frost rather than a generic calendar date. Look up your local frost dates and count back or forward from there.
You can sow Dill directly into the garden 0–2 weeks before your last frost.
Spacing and Planting Depth
Give Dill room to mature. The figures below come from verified extension and seed-supplier data for typical varieties.
| Spacing in row | 12 inches |
|---|---|
| Row spacing | 12 inches |
| Plants per sq ft | 1 |
| Planting depth | 0.125 inches |
| Sun requirement | Full sun |
Days to Maturity
Dill reaches maturity in 40–60 days from sowing.
For a continuous harvest, sow a new batch every 14 days. Use the succession planting scheduler →
Dill is ready to harvest after about 50 days. Harvest before summer heat or, for fall crops, before a hard freeze, to keep quality high.
Conditions and Care
As a cool-season herb, Dill does its best growing in the cooler weather of spring and fall and tends to bolt or turn bitter in summer heat. It is half-hardy — it withstands light frost but should be protected from a hard freeze.
Dill needs full sun — give it at least six hours of direct light a day for the best growth and flavor. Sow seed about 0.125 inches deep — small seed is sown shallow and barely covered, then keep the soil evenly moist until seedlings establish.
Dill belongs to the Apiaceae family; rotating where you grow members of this family each year helps limit the build-up of soil-borne pests and disease. Because it matures relatively quickly, Dill rewards succession sowing: small, repeated plantings keep a steady supply coming rather than one short glut.
Companion Plants
Pairing Dill with the right neighbors can improve growth and deter pests; a few combinations are best avoided.
Grows well with: Cabbage, Lettuce (Loose-leaf), Cucumber, Broccoli