Harvest Type:  Continuous or single

Transplant/Direct Sow:  Direct sow

When to Plant:  1-2 weeks after the average last frost date.

Days to Germinate:  10-14 days

Days to Maturity:  90 days

Planting Depth:  ¼” deep

Germination Temp:  60-70°F.

Seed Spacing:  2-4” apart. Thin seedlings to 18" apart.

Rows:  2' apart

Light:  Full sun

Soil pH:  5.8-6.5 pH

Water:  1-2” of water per week.

Soil Temperature:  Optimal is 60-70°F,

Fertilizer:  5-10-5 N-P-K ratio. Fertilize lightly, 2-3 ounces for every 10' of soil Rotation:  Annually

Harvest Type

Dill is a single harvest plant, though you harvest from the plant throughout the season. Some cultivars are biannual and will come back next year.

TIP: Prune the flowers on dill plants to avoid seed production. Doing so helps extend the harvest period. 

Transplant / Direct Sow

Direct sow seeds in the garden. Dill has a massive taproot and does not like transplanting. You can start seeds in a container and transplant them later, but the dill plants must be large to do so.

TIP: Dill is a tall plant, so plan to stake the taller plants to prevent wind damage.

When to Plant:

Dill loves warm weather. The soil temperature should be 60°F-70°F before sowing seeds.

Days to germinate

It takes dill seeds 10-14 days to germinate.

Days to maturity

It takes about 90 days for dill to mature. You can snip leaves before then, and you want to make sure the plants do not flower and produce seeds until after the harvest period is over.

Planting Depth

Plant seeds deeply at 1/4" deep.

Germination Temperature Range

The soil must be warm for dill seeds to germinate. Aim for 60-70°F soil temperatures and warm days above 80°F for best results.

Spacing Between Plants

Space seedlings about 18" apart. Plant seeds 2-3 inches apart and then thin as needed. The rootball of dill is nearly a foot wide.

Growing conditions

Dill is a heat-loving crop. It grows best when the soil temperatures are above 60°F. Dill loves acidic soil in the 5.8-6.5 pH range. Prep the growing area with compost and aim for a loamy soil that is well-drained but that holds moisture. Dill requires 1-2" of water per week, so the earth will need to hold water but not remain soggy.

Companion Plants

Corn, cucumber, pole beans, onions, and basil are all excellent companion plants for dill.

Rotation

Rotate dill crops each year. If you plant in a container, amend the soil at each planting.

Anticipated yields

TIP: One tablespoon of fresh dill is the same as one teaspoon of dried dill.

Plan your garden yield at two plants per person for daily consumption. Ten dill plants will keep a family of four well-supplied with fresh dill. Fifteen Dill plants should be enough for a family of four if you plan to dry dill and consume it fresh or use it for pickling.