How to Grow Dill from Seed to Harvest: A Complete Garden Guide
Dill is a fragrant, feathery herb that brings a burst of flavor to your kitchen and beauty to your garden. Whether you're adding it to fish dishes, pickles, or salads, dill (Anethum graveolens) is a must-have for any home gardener. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through how to grow dill from seed to harvest with beginner-friendly tips to help you succeed.
Watch the YouTube video version of this guide:
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What is Dill?
Dill is an annual herb in the Apiaceae family, closely related to cilantro, parsley, fennel, and carrots. It grows quickly, produces fine, fern-like foliage, and forms delicate yellow flowers that turn into edible seeds. It thrives in cool seasons like spring and fall, but tends to bolt in hot weather. Both the leaves and seeds are used in cooking, so you can enjoy multiple harvests from the same plant.
Dill has a delicate taproot and doesn't transplant well, which is why I recommend direct sowing. Once you get dill established in your garden, you might even find it re-seeding itself! I love letting mine pop up wherever it wants—if it’s happy, I’m happy.
Best Dill Varieties to Grow
There are several popular dill cultivars to choose from.
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Mammoth Dill: Grows over 6 feet tall and produces lots of flavorful foliage. Great for pickling.
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Fernleaf Dill: A compact variety (around 18 inches tall), perfect for small spaces or container gardens.
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Bouquet Dill: Flowers early and is ideal if you want to harvest seeds for seasoning.
Ideal Growing Conditions for Dill
To grow the healthiest dill possible, be sure to meet the following growing requirements:
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Temperature: Prefers 50–75°F. Best planted in spring or fall.
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Sunlight: Full sun (6–8 hours/day). In hot climates, plant in a spot with bright morning sun and afternoon shade.
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Soil: Dill likes to grow in well-draining, fertile soil rich in organic matter. Mix compost or blood meal into the soil before direct sowing the seeds to support leafy growth.
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Watering: Keep soil evenly moist, but not soggy. Let the top layer dry slightly between watering. Mulch to retain moisture.
How & When to Direct Sow Dill Seeds
Direct sow dill seeds after your last spring frost or in late summer for a fall crop. Here’s how:
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Weed and prep your soil.
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Rake in organic fertilizer or blood meal.
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Scatter seeds loosely; dill can grow close together.
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Lightly rake them into the soil and water gently.
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Keep soil moist for 7–14 days until germination.
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Succession sow every 3 weeks to keep a steady harvest going.
Common Pests When Growing Dill
Dill is relatively pest-resistant, but here are a few issues to watch for:
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Aphids: Knock off with a hose blast or use insecticidal soap if necessary.
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Slugs and Snails: Use diatomaceous earth or beer traps.
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Caterpillars (like hornworms or armyworms): Handpick or treat with spinosad if necessary.
Because dill is a host plant for Black Swallowtail butterflies, I avoid spraying unless absolutely necessary. I always plant extra dill knowing some will be sacrificed to the butterflies.
Common Diseases When Growing Dill
The most common disease issue when growing dill is powdery mildew, a fungal disease. To prevent it:
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Water at the base, not overhead.
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Ensure good air circulation.
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Avoid overcrowding plants.
When and How to Harvest Dill
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Leaves: Harvest when the plant has 4–5 leaves, typically 30–40 days after sowing. Cut stems at the base to encourage more growth.
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Seeds: Allow flowers to dry and turn brown, then cut and store seed heads in a paper bag.
Store fresh dill in the fridge in a glass of water or wrapped in a damp paper towel. Dill can also be frozen for long-term use.
How to Use Dill in the Kitchen
Dill is versatile and flavorful. Use it fresh in salads, dips, tzatziki, ranch dressing, or with fish, potatoes, and eggs. I also love adding dill to my homemade pickles.
Check out my recipe video showing how I make easy no-canning required refrigerator dill pickles HERE.
Growing dill is simple, fast, and so rewarding. Once you experience the flavor of fresh garden-grown dill, you’ll never want to buy store-bought again. I hope this guide inspires you to add dill to your garden this season! Happy gardening!