How to Grow Dill: Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Tips

By: Angela Judd | February 14, 2025

If I had to pick a favorite cool-season herb, dill would be it. The fresh, feathery leaves smell amazing, taste even better, and are a magnet for pollinators in my garden. Whether I’m using it in the kitchen, letting it flower for beneficial insects, or harvesting seeds for next season, dill is a must-have herb. The best part? It’s easy to grow!

Dill thrives in cooler weather, making it perfect for fall and winter gardens in hot climates. If you want a continuous supply of fresh dill, follow these tips to plant, grow, and harvest it at the right time for your climate.

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.
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):
- Best planting window: October through January.
- Succession plant every three weeks for a steady supply. Learn more about succession planting in this guide.
- 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.

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.
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

Dill has a long taproot, so growing from seeds rather than transplants is best. If you use transplants, choose young seedlings and carefully handle the roots to prevent bolting.

Planting 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.

Dill also grows well in containers—use a pot at least 12 inches (30 cm) deep to accommodate its long taproot. Learn about other crops that grow well in containers in this guide.

How to Grow Dill Indoors

Dill can be grown indoors with the right conditions:

Use an unglazed terra-cotta pot at least 12 inches (30 cm) deep for good drainage.
Water only when the top inch (2.5 cm) of soil is dry. Avoid overwatering.
Provide supplemental lighting for 10-11 hours daily. Position grow lights 6 inches (15 cm) above the plant.
Keep indoor temperatures between 60-80°F (16-27°C).
Dill does not require supplemental feeding—it grows well in nutrient-rich soil.

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.
Disease Prevention: Powdery mildew can occur—ensure good air circulation and space plants properly. Get tips for treating powdery mildew in this guide.

How to Grow Dill_ Planting, Care, and Harvesting Tips (2)

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.

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.

Harvesting Dill Seeds — Wait to harvest seeds until they begin to turn brown

How to Use and Preserve Dill

Dill is incredibly versatile in the kitchen. Here’s how to use it:

Cooking with Dill

Fresh dill pairs well with fish, potatoes, eggs, and vegetables.
Add it to salad dressings, dips, and yogurt sauces.
A key ingredient in pickles and fermented vegetables.
Chop fresh dill over roasted vegetables or grain bowls for a burst of flavor.

How to Preserve Dill

Because we can’t grow dill year-round, I appreciate it more and harvest often during the growing season. It’s best fresh from the garden! You can preserve it by freezing or freeze drying. Drying or dehydrating doesn’t have the flavor of fresh.

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.

Don't let your herbs go to waste. Instead freeze-dry herbs to preserve the flavor and quality. Learn how to freeze-dry herbs with these tips.

Learn more about the best way to preserve herbs – freeze drying!

Grow Dill as a Companion Plant

Dill isn’t just for the kitchen—it’s also a pollinator powerhouse!

Dill flowers attract:

Ladybugs, parasitic wasps, hoverflies, lacewings, and tachinid flies — all of which help control garden pests. Learn more about attracting ladybugs to your garden in this guide.
Butterflies! Dill is a host plant for swallowtail butterfly larvae, including Arizona’s state butterfly, the two-tailed swallowtail.
Birds love dill seeds! Goldfinches frequently feast on dried dill seed heads.

Dill attracts beneficial insects that protect cucumbers from aphids and other pests. Find out how to use herbs like dill effectively in this post on cucumber companion planting.

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 and warm-season companion plants in these guides.

Arizona Herb Planting Guide_ A Visual Planting Guide for Low Desert Herbs

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.