Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the windowsill, or anywhere else, dill is a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing dill.
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Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Does Dill Belong To?
Dill (Anethum graveolens) belongs to the Apiaceae family, also known as the carrot family.
Some of its relatives include parsley, celery, and carrots.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Dill?
The minimum container depth recommended for dill is 12 inches.
Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Dill?
Some of dill's best companions are as follows:
- Cucumber
- Cabbage, tatsoi, and other Brassicas
- Lettuce
- Onion
- Corn
- Peas
- Beans like green beans
- Basil
- Tulsi
- Echinacea
- Peppers like poblano and bell pepper
- Thyme
- Lemon balm
- Cherry
- Quinoa
- Spinach
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Dill?
Dill is not compatible with every plant. Some things to avoid planting with dill are as follows:
What Soil Conditions Does Dill Need?
Dill prefers rich, well-draining soil.
How Long Does Dill Take to Germinate?
Dill takes 10-21 days to germinate at a temperature of 60-70°F.
How Much Sun Does Dill Need?
Dill prefers full sun.
It will also tolerate dappled shade, though it may grow more slowly. Shade-grown dill is also more prone to disease and pests due to its longer, slower growing time.
Sun recommendations can vary by region, and dill grown in hot areas or in warmer conditions than the ideal temperature range noted below may need more shade.
How Much Water Does Dill Need?
Dill should be watered when the top 1 inch of the soil is dry. This usually amounts to 1 inch of water per week, but it depends on weather conditions.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Dill?
Dill grows fastest in temperatures of 60-70°F.
This is its ideal temperature range. Although it will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, the growth could be slower or even stunted.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by variety. Some dill varieties are bred for later harvests and others for warmer climates.
Most dills are hardy to 25ºF.
How Tall Does Dill Get?
The average height of dill is 2-4 feet.
Is Dill Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Dill is a biennial herb, meaning that its life cycle spans 2 years, and it flowers, produces seed, and dies in its second year.
But it is often grown as an annual, meaning that it starts and ends its life in the same year, especially in Hardiness Zones 7 and below.
Dill leaves are still usable until the plant bolts, at which time they become tough and bitter. However, the seeds and flowers that are produced when it bolts are edible.
How Does Dill Reproduce?
Dill reproduces by seed.
How Much Dill is Produced Per Plant?
For dill, how much is produced per plant (also called the yield) largely depends on the type and variety of dill, weather conditions, and the size of the plant.
Most dill plants yield 4-20 leaves per plant.
Can Dill Be Ingested?
The entire dill plant is edible, including its leaves, stalks, flowers, seeds, and roots.
Dill leaves and seeds have anti-inflammatory and carminative properties. They can be used in herbal preparations. The most common preparations are tea and tinctures. An herb:solvent weight ratio of 1:3 at 60% alcohol is suggested for a dill leaf or seed tincture.
There are no known safety concerns associated with ingesting dill leaves, stalks, flowers, seeds, or roots.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
When you have a bumper crop of dill rolling in, you may not have enough time for long, complicated recipes or many-step preservation procedures. Check out my article on quick, simple uses for dill here!
Dill is featured in these Plant to Plate articles: