Growing Dill

Anethum graveolens : Apiaceae / the umbelliferae family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                P P    

(Best months for growing Dill in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 50°F and 68°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 6 inches apart
  • Harvest in 8-12 weeks. Use leaves before flowering.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Cabbage, Coriander, Fennel, tomatoes, broccoli

Your comments and tips

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09 Jan 14, Mick (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
DILL can get mildew some years use bi -carb spray or milk sunny spot helps every year in Australia is different may be the same everywhere else I dunno
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26 Aug 13, hamish (Australia - tropical climate)
Dill is an amazing companion plant. Plant it amongst your brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower etc) and it will keep away the cabbage moths. Plant it a little earlier to set up the patch. It's wonderful to eat with any potato or cheese dish and has abundant seed to replant.
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31 Aug 12, Lee (Australia - temperate climate)
I wouldn't even bother with planting them in pots first. They grow like weeds! I didn't mean to grow them last year but the wind blew a packet of my seeds onto my gravel walk way and since then, they have flourish and seeded themselves. Now I have to actually pull them out otherwise they would take over. Mind you the gravel walkway is compacted and doesn't have any nutrients at all. Seriously, just throw some seeds out in your garden and let them take care of the rest.
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13 Dec 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
The simplest way would be to use a degradable pot and plant the whole thing. There are ready made peat ones available at nurseries, or if you prefer not to use peat you can make biodegradable pots out of newspaper (a quick google will reveal instructions). You plant the whole pot, which if the soil is kept moist will soon break down. Soil blocks are another solution (I use these, and they're great!) but require a soil-blocker to make them.
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07 Dec 11, Bekster (Australia - temperate climate)
Why does dill seem to not like being repotted? Every time I've tried it dies within a week. I've had very little success trying to grow from seed. Any tips for reducing shock and successfully repotting dill would be much appreciated:-)
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05 Jan 15, Michael Ruth (Australia - tropical climate)
Dill grows a taproot, therefore it does not transplant well. The reason for its intolerance is that the taproot is usually damaged during transplantation or is replanted such that the taproot can't grow, i.e. in packed soil.
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23 Nov 11, John Pannell (Australia - temperate climate)
I live near the ocean in Falcon, south of Mandurah, WA. I have tried to grow dill many times without success. I blamed the soil or the salty air. Three days ago my wife brought home a healthy dill plant about 25 cms tall in a pot. The next day the main stem was looking a little wilted. I cut it off and used it in a sauce. This morning the whole plant is frizzled. Any suggestions, please?
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27 Feb 11, Ben Jeansson (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The last few years we have been unable to raise dill anywhere in the garden. It has been ruined by what looks like mildew. A greyish powder that covers the whole plant. In the early 2000 we were very successful with growing dill, but now we have given up trying. Can you advice a remedy because we miss our favourite herb. Thanks
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28 Oct 10, Karina (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Whole flowered dill is also great for pickling cucumbers both in just salt water (salty gherkins made in Eastern Europe) or the traditional vinegar gherkins - yum!
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23 Sep 10, Jay (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Dill is an amazing companion plant. Plant it amongst your brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower etc) and it will keep away the cabbage moths. Plant it a little earlier to set up the patch. It's wonderful to eat with any potato or cheese dish and has abundant seed to replant.
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Showing 31 - 40 of 40 comments
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I sent a reply; and then thought about the complexity.... and as usual, I went over board. So here is my best advice for a complete beginner gardeners. If you have the space, a good garden to start with is a Mediterranean Herb garden (I say if you have the space because if you plant one of these in a small space, you might not have room to plant anything else - and perhaps other plants or vegetables would serve you better). Ok, so what is a Mediterranean herb garden. It is a garden comprised of herbs that don't need much water, can tolerate poorer soils and like sun and heat . When picking a location for this herb garden think about a few things: 1. it should be in the sun ( at least 6 hrs of sun per day) and 2. It does not have to be close to the water source. Generally you locate plants that require lots of water close to your tap, or within easy reach of your hose; because you will be watering them frequently. On the other hand, plants that don't require frequent watering can be located in "less prime" watering locations; since you don't have to water them frequently. Convenience is key here; put plants that like water in a spot that is easy to water, and plants that require less water further away in those difficult to get to zones. The Mediterranean herb garden is a great garden to start with; since it is pretty tough to kill these herbs; they are very useable in cooking, or even eaten raw; and some are great ingredients in salad dressings. There is lots of return for little effort here; as herbs are high in vitamins. Most herbs can be started easily from seeds; cuttings or even the smallest of garden center plant purchases (in other words; I would not bother buying the 1 liter plant when the basket stuff size will do. It should be noted that some people like to locate their dry herbs close to the kitchen, so they are more likely to snip a bit of this and a bit of that when they are cooking; it all depends on how you want to use your garden real estate; and what needs to be convenient for you. There are also herbs that are considered "wet" ;herbs, because they like to be moist; Basil, mint etc. Locate these herbs somewhere where it is easy to water them, and somewhere where you can easily keep an eye on them (and water them if they wilt) -- they might also like a break from the hot afternoon sun; so if the garden closest to your kitchen is shady in the hot afternoon (but still gets morning sun) - this is a good spot for them; making them easy to monitor, easy to water, and easy to snip a bit here and there when preparing a meal. What I gather from your question is you need to take a little more time thinking about how you will "group" your plants into garden beds; or zones within a bed. Again, my suggestion for complete beginners is the dry herb garden; it's the INTRO to gardening; and you know you are going when you start to use your herbs.....most people have an easy time getting the garden up and going, but have to force themselves to incorporate the herbs in their cooking in the beginning; it can be tough.

- Celeste

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