How to Grow Dill: Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Tips
Dill is one of my favorite cool-season herbs to grow in the low desert. When it’s happy, it grows quickly, fills empty spaces in the garden, attracts beneficial insects, and gives you that fresh, bright flavor you just can’t get from dried dill.
The trick is timing. Dill is easy to grow, but in hot climates, it can bolt fast if you plant too late or the weather heats up earlier than expected. In this guide, I’ll show you how to grow dill from seed, when to plant it, how to keep it productive longer, and what to do when it starts to bolt. Learn more about edible perennials for hot climates, and other plants to add to your garden.
Key Takeaways for Growing Dill
- Dill is a cool-season herb that thrives in low desert climates; plant it indoors from August to November and outdoors from October to January.
- To maximize your harvest, plant dill in multiple areas and succession plant every few weeks to extend the harvest window.
- Dill bolts quickly in high temperatures, so monitor the weather and harvest outer fronds to delay bolting.
- Use fresh dill in dishes like fish, salads, and pickles, and preserve it by freezing or freeze-drying for the best flavor retention.
- Dill attracts beneficial insects and serves as a host plant for swallowtails, making it great for pollinator-friendly gardens.
Article Index:
- Dill Growing Quick Reference
- How I Grow Dill in My Arizona Garden
- When to Plant Dill
- Best Dill Varieties to Grow
- How to Plant Dill
- Caring for Dill
- Understanding Bolting in Dill
- Harvesting Dill
- How to Use and Preserve Dill
- Dill Attracts Beneficial Insects and Swallowtails
- Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Dill
Dill Growing Quick Reference
| Dill Growing Need | What to Know |
|---|---|
| Best season | Cool season |
| Best planting time in the low desert | Start seeds indoors from August through November. Plant seeds or young transplants outside from October through January. |
| Seed depth | Plant seeds about ¼ inch deep |
| Germination | Usually 7 to 14 days, but it may take longer in cool soil |
| Sun | Full sun during cool weather. Afternoon shade can help late plantings as temperatures rise. |
| Spacing | Space full-size dill plants about 12 inches apart, especially if you want flowers and seed heads. For leafy harvests or containers, you can plant closer and harvest often. |
| Container size | Use a container at least 10 to 12 inches deep because dill has a taproot |
| Best way to plant | Direct sowing is best, but small young transplants can work if you disturb the roots as little as possible |
| Harvest | Harvest outer fronds often once plants are established |
| Bolting | Dill is an annual herb that naturally flowers and sets seed as part of its life cycle. In hot climates, heat and stress can make it bolt much sooner, sometimes before you’ve had much time to harvest. |
| Best hot-climate strategy | Plant dill several times in several places so one bolting plant doesn’t end your harvest |
| Uses | Fresh cooking, pickling, flowers for beneficial insects, and seeds for seasoning |
How I Grow Dill in My Arizona Garden
In my Mesa garden, dill is one of those herbs I tuck in anywhere I have an empty spot. I don’t usually plant one dill plant and hope it lasts all season. I planted dill in several places throughout the garden. This gives me fresh dill to harvest for longer, and if one plant bolts, it’s not the end of my harvest.
I plant dill seeds or young transplants outside from October to January. Direct sowing works best, but if I find healthy young transplants for sale, I’ll use those too. I try to disturb the roots as little as possible. Because dill has a taproot and doesn’t love being transplanted, it helps to understand how to plant transplants carefully.
Dill is an annual herb, so flowering and setting seed are part of its natural life cycle. The problem in a hot climate isn’t that dill bolts eventually. The problem is that heat can make it bolt much sooner than expected. If dill is planted too late, or if spring temperatures jump quickly, the plant may send up a flower stalk before you’ve had a long harvest. For example, in the spring of 2026, we hit 108°F in March, and that made most of my dill bolt fast. It’s frustrating, but I don’t consider bolting dill a complete failure.
When I see dill starting to bolt, I often come in and harvest the outer fronds first. Then I let the central stalk keep growing and enjoy all the wildlife and beneficial insects the flowers attract.
I also don’t mind letting some dill go to seed. The plants that bolt earlier in the season often give me better seeds because seed formation struggles once it gets too hot. If the heat comes on too quickly, the seeds may not fully form.
When to Plant Dill
Dill is a cool-season herb that prefers mild temperatures. It bolts quickly if it gets too hot, meaning it flowers and sets seed sooner than expected. Plant at the right time for your climate to get the longest harvest window.
Best Time to Plant Dill by Climate
Cold Climates (Frosty Winters, Mild Summers)
- Plant outdoors: 2-4 weeks before your last spring frost when soil temperatures reach 50-70°F (10-21°C).
- Succession plant every three weeks for a continuous harvest into early summer. Learn more about succession planting in this guide.
- Fall planting: Possible in early fall, but hard frost will kill it.
Mild Climates (Temperate, No Harsh Winters)
- Spring planting: A few weeks before your last frost and continue through early summer.
- Fall planting: Plant in late summer or early fall for a winter harvest.
- Dill may overwinter in mild regions with protection from frost.
Hot Climates (Mild Winters, Hot Summers – Like Arizona & the South)
- Plant in fall and winter when temperatures cool down.
- In the low desert (e.g., Phoenix, AZ):
- Start seeds indoors: August–November
- Plant seeds or transplants outside: October–January.
- Succession plant every three weeks for a steady supply.
- Bolts quickly in late spring, so plant early to extend the season.
If you’re unsure when to plant, look up your last frost date and plant 2-4 weeks before it in spring or once temperatures drop below 80°F (27°C) in fall.
Plant Dill More Than Once
The best way to grow dill in a hot climate isn’t to expect one plant to last forever. Dill is a cool-season herb, and once the weather heats up, it will eventually bolt.
Instead, plant dill in waves. I like to plant it several times from fall through winter so I always have some plants ready to harvest and others coming along. In the low desert, I start seeds indoors from August through November and plant seeds or young transplants outside from October through January.
Planting more than once also makes bolting less frustrating. If one plant flowers early, I can harvest what I can from that plant and let it bloom while I continue harvesting from younger plants elsewhere in the garden.
Best Dill Varieties to Grow
Different dill varieties offer unique benefits, whether you’re growing for leaves, seeds, or an extended harvest season.
- Bouquet dill has large blooms and seed heads. Excellent for pickling. (My top choice)
- Dukat dill is darker green with large seed heads. Excellent for pickling.
- Fernleaf dill is slow to bolt and suitable for growing indoors and in containers.
- Tetra dill is a bushy, late-flowering variety and somewhat more heat-tolerant.
How to Plant Dill
Direct Sow Dill When Possible
Dill grows best when it’s planted directly from seed because it has a taproot and doesn’t love having its roots disturbed. Direct sow seeds outdoors once the weather has cooled, or start seeds indoors so you can transplant them while they’re still young.
I do use young dill transplants when I find healthy ones for sale, but I look for small plants, not large rootbound ones. When planting transplants, disturb the roots as little as possible and water them in well. If the plant is stressed or planted too late in the season, it may bolt more quickly.
How to Grow Dill Outdoors
- Choose a location with rich, loose soil and full sun. Dill can tolerate partial shade but may need support in lower light conditions.
- Prepare the soil by loosening it and adding compost for nutrients.
- Sow seeds 1/8–1/4 inch (2–6 mm) deep directly into the garden.
- Keep the soil moist until seeds germinate (typically in 7-14 days).
- Thin seedlings to 12 inches (30 cm) apart once they reach several inches tall.
- Apply mulch around the plants to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
Give Dill Enough Room to Grow
For full-size dill plants, space plants about 12 inches apart. This gives the plants enough room to grow tall, branch out, flower, and form seed heads.
If you’re growing dill mainly for the leaves, especially in a container, you can plant it closer together and harvest often. Just know that crowded plants may stay smaller and may not produce large seed heads. For the longest harvest, thin crowded seedlings as they grow and use the thinnings in the kitchen.
Can You Grow Dill Indoors?
Dill can grow indoors, but it’s usually more productive outside during cool weather. If you want to try growing it indoors, give it a deep container, bright light, and consistent moisture. A sunny windowsill may not be enough, so a grow light can help.
For most gardeners, especially in hot climates, I think dill is more useful as a cool-season outdoor herb. Plant it in fall and winter, harvest often, and succession plant so you have fresh dill for as long as possible before the heat returns.
Planting Dill in Containers
Dill also grows well in containers—use a pot at least 12 inches (30 cm) deep to accommodate its long taproot. See how to grow dill successfully in pots and learn about other vegetables that grow well in containers in this guide.
Caring for Dill
Dill is low-maintenance, but keeping up with basic care ensures a healthy, productive plant.
- Watering: Keep soil consistently moist but not soggy. Mulch helps retain moisture.
- Sunlight: Dill grows best in full sun but tolerates partial shade.
- Pest Control: Aphids may appear—wait for beneficial insects like ladybugs or rinse off with water. Learn more about how to prevent garden pests organically in this blog post.
- Read my full approach in How to Get Rid of Aphids (and When to Ignore Them).
- Disease Prevention: Powdery mildew can occur—ensure good air circulation and space plants properly. Learn how to prevent & treat powdery mildew in this guide.
Understanding Bolting in Dill
Bolting is when a plant shifts from leafy growth to flowering and seed production earlier than expected. Once dill bolts, the leaves become less flavorful, and the plant puts all its energy into producing flowers and seeds.
Why Does Dill Bolt?
Dill naturally bolts as part of its life cycle, but certain conditions can cause it to bolt faster than usual:
- High Temperatures – Dill is a cool-season herb and bolts quickly when temperatures rise above 80°F (27°C).
- Day Length – Longer daylight hours signal the plant to flower and set seed.
- Transplant Shock – Dill has a long taproot and does best when direct-seeded. Transplanting can stress the plant and trigger bolting.
- Lack of Harvesting – Regularly harvesting the top leaves can delay bolting and encourage bushier growth.
Like carrots, dill can bolt early in response to weather. Learn more in Why Carrots Bolt in Their First Year (And What You Can Do About It).
How to Prevent Premature Bolting
While all dill plants will eventually bolt, you can slow the process by:
- Planting at the Right Time – Grow dill in the cooler months of spring or fall, depending on your climate.
- Providing Light Shade – In warm regions, growing dill in partial shade can help extend the season.
- Succession Planting – Sowing seeds every three weeks ensures a steady supply of fresh leaves.
- Harvesting Frequently – Regularly snipping off the top leaves delays bolting and encourages leafy growth.
Once your dill bolts, don’t remove it immediately! The flowers attract pollinators and beneficial insects, and the seeds can be harvested for cooking or replanting next season.
Gardening has a language of its own, but it doesn’t have to be confusing. Find practical gardening terms and definitions with the Gardening Glossary to quickly look up unfamiliar words (like bolting).
Harvesting Dill
Dill is grown for two main reasons: its feathery leaves (dill weed) and its seeds.
Harvesting Leaves:
- Begin harvesting once the plant has 4-5 sets of leaves.
- Snip from the top instead of the outer leaves to encourage bushy growth and delay bolting.
- Use fresh for the best flavor—dill doesn’t dry well but can be frozen or freeze-dried.
Harvesting Seeds:
Dill seeds are ready to harvest after 85-115 days. Seeds have the best flavor if harvested just as they turn from green to brown. Harvest seeds by cutting the stalks at the base and storing them upside down in a paper sack. Seeds will fall into the bottom of the sack.
To avoid dill reseeding in your garden, harvest the seed heads before the seeds dry and begin falling off. You can save seeds for culinary use from just one plant, but if you want to save seeds, it’s best to have at least five plants to ensure a wide gene pool. Learn more about how to save seeds in this blog post.
- Cut the seed heads before they fully dry.
- Place seed heads in a paper bag to catch falling seeds.
How to Use and Preserve Dill
Fresh dill is my favorite way to use it. The flavor is best fresh, so when it’s growing well, I find as many ways to use it as I can. I add it to dressings, salads, roasted vegetables, fish, potatoes, eggs, and anything that needs that fresh dill flavor.
How to Preserve Dill
When I have extra, I freeze-dry it. That gives me the best flavor retention after fresh dill. Dehydrating also works, but more of the delicate flavor is lost.
- Saving Seeds: Store dried dill seeds in an airtight container for pickling, seasoning, or replanting next season.
- Freezing: Chop fresh dill and freeze it in ice cube trays with a little water or oil.
- Freeze Drying: Retains the most flavor for long-term storage.
- Drying: Dill can be dehydrated, but it loses much of its flavor.
Learn more about the best way to preserve herbs – freeze drying!
Dill Attracts Beneficial Insects and Swallowtails
Grow Dill as a Companion Plant
Dill is one of those plants I grow for more than the harvest. Once it flowers, it becomes a magnet for pollinators and beneficial insects in the garden.
- Ladybugs, parasitic wasps, hoverflies, lacewings, and tachinid flies all help control garden pests.
Dill attracts beneficial insects that protect cucumbers from aphids and other pests. Find out how to effectively enhance plant growth and repel pests using herbs like dill in this post on cucumber companion planting. Learn more about attracting ladybugs to your garden in this guide.
Dill is also a host plant for black swallowtail caterpillars. If you see caterpillars on your dill, they may be eating the leaves, but they’re also part of a healthy garden ecosystem. I like to plant extra dill so there’s enough for me to harvest and enough to share.
- Adult butterflies, including swallowtails, may visit dill flowers for nectar, but the caterpillar host plant matters too. Dill is a good host plant for black swallowtails, while other swallowtail species use different host plants.
If you’re wondering how to attract butterflies to your garden, pair dill with native milkweeds and seasonal nectar plants to attract and support several species of butterflies.
For a pollinator-friendly garden, let some dill plants flower and go to seed. The nectar-rich blooms provide food for beneficial insects, and the seeds support local bird populations. Learn more about my favorite cool-season companion plants and warm-season companion plants in these guides.
Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Dill
The best way to keep dill from bolting too quickly in a hot climate is to plant it during cool weather and plant it more than once. In the low desert, I start dill seeds indoors from August through November and plant seeds or young transplants outside from October through January.
I also plant dill in several places throughout the garden instead of relying on a single planting. If one plant bolts, I still have others coming along. Planting every few weeks gives you a longer harvest window and makes early heat less frustrating.
Once temperatures rise, dill will eventually bolt. Harvest the outer fronds often while the plant is leafy. When it starts to send up a central flower stalk, harvest what you can, then consider letting the plant flower. Bolting dill attracts pollinators and beneficial insects, and if the weather doesn’t get too hot too fast, you may be able to harvest dill seeds, too.
In the low desert of Arizona, start dill seeds indoors from August through November. Plant seeds or young transplants outside from October through January. Earlier fall plantings usually give you the longest harvest before spring heat causes the plants to bolt.
Dill usually grows best from seed because it has a taproot and doesn’t like having its roots disturbed. Young transplants can work if they’re small and planted carefully, but large or rootbound transplants may bolt more quickly.
Harvest the outer fronds first, leaving the center of the plant intact. Pick often once the plant is established. Regular harvesting encourages more leafy growth, but once dill sends up a central flower stalk, leaf production slows.
Yes, dill grows well in containers if the pot is deep enough. Use a container at least 10 to 12 inches deep because dill has a taproot. Keep the soil evenly moist, harvest often, and choose a compact variety like Fernleaf if space is limited.
Read this post for more information about growing herbs in the low desert of Arizona.
Dill is one of my favorite cool-season herbs for a reason—it’s easy to grow, delicious in the kitchen, and a magnet for pollinators. By planting at the right time for your climate and succession planting every few weeks, you’ll enjoy a steady harvest of fresh dill all season long.
If you enjoyed this post about growing dill, please share it.
I love your blog. You’ve helped me so much in my gardening journey in AZ as a newbie. When searching “growing dill in containers” some say to put one seed in the container while others say to “sprinkle seeds all over”. Not sure if I should just plant one seed or many? I’m buying the fernleaf dill you suggested in the article. Thank you!!
Sprinkle seeds and then thin them to about 4 inches apart. Wait to plant dill until it cools off in the fall for the best results. Our summers are too hot for dill.