How to grow Dill
Updated October 2026
Dill is a fast, aromatic annual herb grown for its feathery leaves (dill weed), its seed for pickling and its flat yellow flower heads, which feed bees, hoverflies and tiny parasitic wasps. It is also a larval host of the black swallowtail butterfly. It grows best around 70°F (21°C), so it is a fall to spring herb in Florida and the South and a spring to summer one in the North.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Dill
Not to be confused with: Dill looks like fennel, but NC State notes dill can be told apart by its smell and its hollow stems.
Where to plant
Dill grows best in full sun in well drained, slightly acid soil, at temperatures around 70°F. It tolerates cold but bolts quickly in heat. Too much water or shade gives lanky plants that flop, and tall plants need shelter from strong wind.
UF/IFAS recommends sowing in Florida from September through December, with spring sowing also possible, and the same cool season timing suits the Gulf South, Texas, the desert and Southern California. In the North, the Midwest, the Mountain West and Alaska, sow in early spring a week or two before the last hard frost and every few weeks after, and again in late summer.
Choosing a variety
UF/IFAS names Long Island Mammoth as the variety that does best in Florida. Bouquet is tall and early with large seed heads, Delikat has dense foliage for high leaf yields, and Fernleaf is a dwarf that is slowest to bolt, good for pots and small spaces.
How to plant
- Sow seed directly where it is to grow; dill has a long taproot and transplants poorly.
- Sow about a quarter inch (6 mm) deep or less, as the seed needs light to germinate.
- Keep the soil moist; seedlings appear in about 10 to 14 days.
- Thin to about 10 inches (25 cm) apart.
- Sow again every 2 to 4 weeks for a steady supply of fresh leaves.
Watering and feeding
Water consistently; steady moisture helps delay bolting. Avoid overwatering, which, like shade, makes plants lanky and floppy.
Dill needs little fertilizer in a bed with compost dug in.
Pruning and care through the year
- Stake tall plants or grow them in a sheltered spot.
- Leave some black swallowtail caterpillars, which are green with black bands and yellow spots; plant extra dill for them.
- Let some plants flower to feed beneficial insects and to collect seed; dill self seeds readily.
Harvesting
Snip leaves once plants are 6 to 8 inches tall, taking the outer leaves first, and use them fresh.
For seed, let the flower heads mature until the seeds turn golden brown and the stems begin to dry, then cut the heads into a paper bag to finish drying and catch the seed. Flower heads are also used fresh in pickles.
Growing in pots
Fernleaf and other compact types grow well in a pot at least 8 inches (20 cm) deep for the taproot. Sow directly in the pot and keep it in full sun.
Companion planting
Dill's flowers feed beneficial insects, making it a useful neighbor in the vegetable garden.
Good companions
- Cabbage NC State notes dill is a good companion for brassicas such as broccoli; its flowers draw parasitic wasps that attack caterpillars.
- Onion A low, narrow neighbor that leaves dill room.
- Corn Shares the summer garden and gives tall dill some wind shelter.
Keep apart
Avoid planting these close to dill.
Pests and diseases
NC State reports no serious problems, though a few pests and diseases occur.
Pests to watch for
- Aphids Clusters on stems and flower heads.
- Tomato hornworm Large green caterpillars chewing foliage; do not confuse them with black swallowtail caterpillars.
Diseases to watch for
- Powdery mildew White powdery coating on leaves.
- Root rot Phytophthora blight and root rot: wilting and collapse in wet soil.
Common questions
Why does my dill go to seed so fast?
Heat and dry soil. Dill grows best around 70°F and bolts quickly in hot weather. Sow in the cool season, keep watering consistent, choose slow bolting Fernleaf and sow every few weeks.
When should I plant dill in Florida?
UF/IFAS recommends sowing seed from September through December, though spring sowing also works.
Can I transplant dill?
It transplants poorly because of its long taproot. Sow it directly where it will grow.
What are the striped caterpillars on my dill?
Usually black swallowtail caterpillars, green with black bands and yellow spots. Dill is one of their host plants; many gardeners plant extra so the butterflies can have some.
How do I harvest dill seed?
Wait until the seeds turn golden brown and the stems start to dry, then cut the heads into a paper bag to finish drying.
Sources we checked: UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Dill; NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Anethum graveolens.
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