Plant dill after frost, or a week or two before the last hard frost if the soil has begun to warm. Sow the seed where it will stay, and cover it only barely.
Sow after frost, barely covered, where it will stay
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| When | After spring frost, or a week or two before the last hard frost if the soil has begun to warm | Sowing into frozen ground |
| Depth | Barely cover the seed, about a quarter inch; it needs some light to sprout | Burying the seed a half inch down |
| Spacing | Thin seedlings to about 10 to 12 inches apart | A tight knot with no air around the stems |
| Start | Direct sow where the plant will grow | Moving a seedling with a bent taproot |
Wait until the soil has begun to warm, then sow dill in a sunny bed that already drains. [1] Cover the seed only barely, about a quarter inch, because it needs some light to germinate. [2] The taproot does not like a move, so sow it where it will stay. [3] Sun and watering after planting are on How to Grow Dill.
When do I plant dill?
After spring frost, or a week or two before the last hard frost if the soil has begun to warm. Sow it where it will stay.
How to plant dill
Sow after frost, barely covered, keep the seedbed moist until it sprouts, then thin to about 10 to 12 inches.
- Choose a full-sun bed of loam or sand that drains. Mix grit into heavy clay so water does not sit on the roots.
- Sow after frost, or a week or two before the last hard frost if nights are already mild. Barely cover the seed, about a quarter inch. Keep the seedbed moist until it sprouts, usually in 10 to 14 days.
- Thin when seedlings are a couple of inches tall so plants stand about 10 to 12 inches apart.
- For a longer leaf harvest, sow a fresh row every two to three weeks through midsummer. [4]
- Water once to settle. Water through the first weeks so the roots take hold, then follow How to Grow Dill.
How far apart do I plant dill?
Thin to about 10 to 12 inches apart, after frost, in the bed where the plant will stay.
What fails at planting
Moving a seedling with a long taproot is the main reason a transplant sulks. Do not bury the seed too deep, because it needs some light, and do not sow into a hole that holds water after rain.
If you bent the taproot, sow a fresh row after frost, barely covered, and leave it where it is.
FAQ
Should I start dill indoors and transplant?
Usually no. The taproot hates a move. Sow outdoors where the plant will grow. If you start a pot indoors, move it while the seedling is still small and do not bend the root.
Can I grow dill from cuttings?
No. Sow seed. A cutting is not a reliable way to start this herb.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Wisconsin Horticulture -
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/dill-anethum-graveolens/ - [2] University of Minnesota Extension -
https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/growing-dill - [3] Illinois Extension -
https://extension.illinois.edu/herbs/dill - [4] NC State Extension -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/anethum-graveolens/
This note is part of Anethum Guides.
More planting notes by plant are gathered in Planting Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors