Dill

When should I plant
Dill grows best sown directly into the garden in the early spring 1-2 weeks before the last frost. To ensure a continuous harvest, plant dill seeds every 10 days up until the early summer. Plant seeds ¼ inch deep and 18 inches apart. Dill also can be planted in containers, like most herbs, but a deep pot should be used to accommodate the herb’s deep roots.

Site consideration
Choose a sheltered planting site in full sun with well-drained soil. No soil preparation is generally needed before planting. However, if your soil is particularly poor, mix some well-rotted organic matter, such as garden compost, into the soil you remove from the planting holes and use this to backfill after planting. This minimizes soil disturbance and will help your plants get off to a strong start.

Water
Water gently after sowing to keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy for germination. Then transition to deep, moderate watering, allowing soil to dry slightly between sessions to prevent root rot. Mature dill prefers consistent moisture but can tolerate drier conditions, receiving about 1 inch of water weekly, more during hot weather.

Sunlight
Dill is a warm-weather crop that loves sunshine. So choose a location that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. While it loves sun, in very hot climates (like Florida), some afternoon shade prevents wilting, and remember dill needs consistent moisture but hates soggy roots, focusing on flavor development as it flowers for those precious seeds.

Seed Germination
Dill seeds germinate best when sown directly in well-draining soil after frost. They take 7-21 days to sprout at 60-70°F, require full sun and consistent moisture, and can be sown in succession every few weeks for a continuous harvest. For faster results or indoors, pre-soaking seeds or using paper towel germination can speed things up, but dill dislikes root disturbance, making direct sowing best.

Transplant
Transplant is not recommended, as dill has a delicate taproot and dislikes being moved. If you must transplant seedlings started indoors (after hardening off), do so gently after the last frost, when they have a few true leaves, ensuring they get full sun and well-drained soil to avoid transplant shock.

Other Elements
Fertilization
Similar to most herbs dill does not require fertilizing to grow. In the late spring, a light feeding of a 5-10-5 fertilizer will encourage the dill to grow without being overbearing. Use 3 ounces of fertilizer per 10 feet of dill if planted in a row. If dill is grown in a container, use a liquid fertilizer but only use half of the label’s recommended strength. Fertilize container dill every four to six weeks.

Pruning
Start harvesting when the plant is 6-8 inches tall, snipping leaves from the top down. Never take more than one-third of the plant at once, which encourage bushier growth and delay flowering. Pinch off any flower buds that form to focus energy on leaf production.

Weed control
Control weeds primarily with non-chemical methods like mulching (newspaper, cardboard, straw) and consistent hand-weeding when plants are small to avoid disturbing delicate roots, ensuring good drainage and sunlight, as chemical options risk contamination. Proper spacing helps plants support each other, and pinching flowers delays seeding, giving you more leaves and preventing unwanted self-seeding, while attracting beneficial insects.

Harvest
Snip the outer, tender leaves and stems in the morning, just before flowers appear for peak flavor, taking no more than one-third of the plant at a time to encourage regrowth; water well the day before harvesting for best taste and recovery.

Seed Storage
The seeds will maintain a high germination percentage if stored under proper conditions. How long your seeds remain viable will depend on the temperature and moisture levels the seeds are exposed to. Seeds which are improperly stored will quickly deteriorate if unprotected against high humidity and dramatic temperature fluctuations day after day.

For best results, keep the seed in our moisture-proof ziplock sealing bags, which provide a better moisture prevention effect. Glass jar or plastic containers with snap-on lids works well too, add a packet of desiccant before sealing into the seed, such as silica gel to remove any moisture remains in the storage container. Seed stored under these conditions will remain viable for as long as years.

Factors Which commonly Cause Poor Results
  1. Improper drainage soil
  2. Sowing depth more than one inch
  3. Covering the seed too deep beneath the soil surface
  4. Cover a large area with a small amount of seed.
  5. Plant at a wrong time of a year
  6. Lack of sunlight
  7. Inadequate rainfall after seed germination. The area should not be allowed to become completely dry. Supplemental watering may be required to sustain plant life.
  8. Extreme weather conditions: hail, drought, excessive rainfall, floods, unseasonably cold temperatures.

 

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