Dill.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Annual herb

Light

Full sun

Indoor light

Direct sun

Water

Every 3 to 5 days

Mature size

2 to 4 feet

Growth rate

Fast

Hardiness

USDA 2 to 11

Bloom time

Mid to late summer

Care

Plant your dill in a spot that gets plenty of sunshine and keep the soil consistently moist. Watch for yellowing leaves which can indicate overwatering or poor drainage. Since it grows quickly, you might need to stake the taller varieties to keep them from flopping over in the wind.

Watering

Keep the soil evenly moist but never soggy.

Feeding

Use a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during the growing season.

Pruning

Regularly harvest the outer leaves to encourage the plant to keep producing.

Repotting

As an annual, dill is typically grown from seed each season and does not require repotting.

Soil

Well draining, fertile loam

Soil pH

5.8 to 6.5

Temperature

5 to 30°C

Humidity

40 to 60%

Drought tolerance

Moderate

Lifespan

Annual, typically 1 season

Fragrance

Strong

Deer and rabbits

Moderate

Safety

People

This plant is non-toxic to humans.

Pets

Dill is generally considered non toxic to cats and dogs.

Children

The plant is safe for children, though the fine foliage can be a minor choking hazard if ingested in large amounts.

Contact allergens

Handling the foliage may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals due to furanocoumarins.

Airborne allergens

Pollen from the flowers can trigger mild hay fever symptoms in those with specific sensitivities.

Edibility

Dill is generally safe, but avoid consuming large quantities if you are pregnant or sensitive to apiaceae.

How to identify it

• Feathery, thread like green leaves
• Tall, hollow, upright stems
• Yellow flowers in flat umbels
• Distinctly aromatic, pungent foliage

Height

0.6 to 1.2m

Spread

0.3 to 0.45m

Leaves

blue-green, deciduous

Flowers

yellow, 10 to 15cm

Fruit

brown, Late summer to early autumn

Problems to watch for

• AphidsCommon
• BoltingCommon
• Damping OffCommon
• Powdery MildewUncommon

Growing it

Propagation

seed

When to plant

spring, early autumn

Overwintering

Dill is an annual and will die back with the first hard frost, so simply clear the spent foliage.

In containers

Dill grows well in pots, provided the container is deep enough for its taproot and has excellent drainage.

Plant dill near brassicas to draw in beneficial insects that manage common garden pests.

Grows well with

• Cucumber · Dill is a classic companion that helps improve the flavor and health of cucumbers.
• Cabbage · It attracts predatory wasps that help control cabbage pests.

Keep away from

• Carrot · Mature dill can stunt carrots, and the two compete for similar nutrients when grown too close.

Similar species

• Fennel · It has a similar feathery appearance but a distinct anise flavor.

Science

Family

Apiaceae

Genus

Anethum

Order

Apiales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Mediterranean and Southern Russia

Conservation

This plant is common and not of conservation concern.

It thrives in open, sunny fields and disturbed soils where it can easily reseed itself.

Value to wildlife

larval host plant, nectar source

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, beetles

Uses

culinary herb, pickling spice, companion planting, pollinator garden

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Why is my dill turning yellow?

It may be suffering from overwatering or a lack of nitrogen in the soil.

Can I grow dill in a pot?

Yes, it grows well in containers at least 30 centimeters deep.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Anethum is derived from the Greek word for dill, while graveolens refers to its strong, heavy scent.

Good to know

• Dill is a member of the carrot family.
• The name comes from the Norse word dilla, meaning to lull.
• It is a primary larval host for the black swallowtail butterfly.
• The leaves are often called dill weed, while the seeds are simply called dill seed.