🥕
Tending the crop…
🌿 Herb
How to Grow Dill
Anethum graveolens
Self-seeds readily. Attracts beneficial insects.
Harvest
40-60 Days
Sunlight
full
Watering
moderate
Medium
in-ground or container
Spacing
1 sq ft
Heritage & Origins
Native Region
The Mediterranean / Black Sea region
Historical Context
“Used by the Vikings to calm crying babies and soothe stomach aches—the name comes from the Old Norse 'dilla', meaning 'to lull'. In the Middle Ages, it was believed that wearing a sprig of dill could protect you from witchcraft and the 'evil eye'.”
Ancestral Meaning
A symbol of protection and domestic tranquility. Dill represents the harmony of the home and the cleansing power of simple, honest herbs.
💡
Did you know? The entire dill plant is edible—the seeds, the feathery leaves (fronds), and even the small yellow flowers. It is the primary flavor component of a traditional Eastern European pickle.
-50%
Return on Investment
One dill plant produces roughly 0.5 lbs. Worth $0.99 vs a $1.99 seed cost.
Practical Maintenance
- Light: Full Sun (6+ hrs/day)
- Water: Moderate — water 1-2x per week
- Spacing: 1 sq ft per plant.
Champion Varieties
Lineages for your homestead goals
Mammoth Long Island
The massive homestead standard; grows up to 5 feet tall with huge seed heads perfect for pickling.
Bouquet
The most popular garden variety; produces a high volume of aromatic foliage and seeds with early maturity.
Fernleaf
A compact, bush-type variety that stays short (18 inches); ideal for container gardens and kitchen pots.
Dukat
A specialty variety from Scandinavia; exceptionally high oil content and stays green and leafy longer than others.
Guilds & Companions
Complete Care Guide
Soil · Water · First 30 days · Monthly care · Troubleshooting · Harvest
Soil
Loose, well-draining soil with a light texture. pH 6.0–7.5. Dill resents rich soil — heavy compost makes it lanky and leafy with weak flavor. Sandy loam grown for seed heads, slightly richer soil if you're growing fronds.
Watering
1 inch per week, at the base, consistently. Dill bolts to seed the moment it dries out and hits heat, so don't let the top 2 inches go crunchy. Soaker hoses or drip line beat overhead watering.
🗓️ The First 30 Days
- Days 1–3Direct sow 1/4 inch deep, 2–3 seeds per spot, 8–12 inches apart. Dill is taprooted — it hates transplanting, so sow where it will grow. Soil at 60–70°F germinates fastest.
- Days 4–7Thin to one strong seedling per spot at 2 inches. Snip extras at soil level rather than pulling.
- Days 8–10Side-dress with nothing — dill wants lean soil. If your bed was recently manured, expect softer fronds and more aphid interest.
- Days 11–21Pinch the first flower stalk if you're farming fronds; let it run if you're growing pickling dill seed heads. This single decision shapes your whole season.
- Days 22–30Stake tall varieties (Mammoth reaches 4–5 feet) before wind lays them over. Succession-sow a second patch now for steady fronds into fall.