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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17 Jun 18, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Thanks for this, Simon.I'm not growing dill at present but love it so your post is going to be very helpful for me. J.
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27 Jul 18, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I've been following a lot of advice from Gardenate and now have two garden beds filled with various and different vegies and herbs.The amaranth seeds I saved from last year are coming along nicely and tomorrow I will sow the dill seeds at the back of one garden near some tomatoes and coriander. So thanks for your advice on Gardenate. J.
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01 Jun 16, simon (Australia - temperate climate)
after many times of trying to grow a good patch of dill, I finally have see the light. the secret is out, good soil,compost, manure ,sun and not too much water. planted direct in garden amazing, in 2nd. April and it grows faster than I can use. even the new growth is coming on now in june. may be we had good weather? Dill is about 30 cm. now.
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05 Mar 16, Deborah (Australia - tropical climate)
I am growing my first Dill. They were green and lush until 2 days ago when they began to fall over a bit and today they are almost all bent over and looking wilted. They have had plenty of water.
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22 Sep 19, Kieran (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Sounds like too much water
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03 Mar 16, simon (Australia - temperate climate)
I grow dill in pots , they grow well up to 10cm but most of them start to wilt. reason ?
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21 Oct 15, Dashiell Qwerty (Australia - temperate climate)
Don't bother growing dill in Sydney coz da stuff grows everywhere like a weed anyway. Just dry em in a foil tin aye and have dill for a whole year
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01 Oct 15, Mad Bastard (Australia - temperate climate)
Dill is a favorite snack for snails - beware.
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04 Oct 14, Judi (Australia - tropical climate)
I an in the Carribean and hope the dill will grow. Very warm and humid here. Sunny and bright mostly.
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15 May 14, Molyles (United Kingdom - warm/temperate climate)
Dill should never be grown near fennel. Cross polination will result in both plants tasting of fennel!
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Showing 21 - 30 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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