Important notes
sap on skin + sun: Dill is an umbellifer containing furanocoumarins; skin contact with sap may cause irritation in sunlight. Prolonged contact with its essential oils can cause contact dermatitis. ↗
heat / drought: In hot, dry weather dill bolts quickly into flower — leaf production drops and flavour changes. Water evenly and make successive sowings. ↗
Light
Full sun, at least 6 hours daily. Indoors, a very bright south-facing window or a grow light.
Watering
Keep evenly moist but never waterlogged. Drought triggers bolting — water containers regularly.
Temperature
Optimal 15–24 °C (59–75 °F). No frost tolerance; high heat encourages bolting.
Humidity
Normal room or outdoor humidity (50–65%) is fine; good airflow prevents mildew.
Target values by method & stage
| Stage | pH | EC (mS/cm) | Water °C | Air °C | Humidity % | Light h | Duration (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germination | 6–7 | — | — | 15–21 | 60–70 | 14 | 12 |
| Vegetative | 6–7 | — | — | 15–24 | 50–65 | 14 | 45 |
| Flowering | 6–7 | — | — | 15–24 | 50–60 | 14 | 25 |
| Stage | pH | EC (mS/cm) | Water °C | Air °C | Humidity % | Light h | Duration (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vegetative | 5.8–6.5 | 1–1.6 | 18–22 | 18–24 | 50–65 | 14 | 45 |
| Stage | pH | EC (mS/cm) | Water °C | Air °C | Humidity % | Light h | Duration (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vegetative | 5.8–6.5 | 1–1.6 | 18–22 | 18–24 | — | 14 | 45 |
Common problems
Premature bolting in heat/drought, aphids on shoot tips, slugs on seedlings, damping-off if sown too wet.
Space & Size
- Final height
- 90 cm
- Final width
- 30 cm
- Spacing
- 20 cm
- Root depth
- 35 cm
- Min. container (Soil)
- ≥ 5 L
- Min. container (DWC)
- ≥ 4 L
- Min. container (Kratky)
- ≥ 4 L
Pests & diseases
| Pest / Disease | Symptom | Organic treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Aphids | sticky, curled shoot tips | rinse off, ladybirds/lacewings, neem |
| Slugs & snails | chewed seedlings and leaves | hand-pick, iron-phosphate slug pellets |
| Swallowtail caterpillars | stripped feathery foliage | hand-pick and relocate — they become pollinators, often tolerate |
| Damping-off | seedlings collapse and rot at base | avoid overwatering, good airflow, sterile medium |
| Powdery mildew | white powdery coating on leaves | improve airflow, remove affected parts |
| Cercospora leaf blight | brown spots, dying foliage | remove affected leaves, rotate crops |
Edible parts
- Leaves · edible from Vegetative — dill weed — main fresh harvest
- Flowers · edible from Flowering — flower umbels used for pickling
- Seeds · edible from Fruiting — ripe seeds as a spice
Yield techniques
Harvest the top shoot tips regularly to encourage bushier regrowth. Successive sowings every 3–4 weeks keep fresh dill weed coming.
Propagation & pollination
- Method
- seed
- Germination time
- 12 days
- Germination temp
- 15-21 °C
- Sowing depth
- 0.5 cm
- Pollination
- cross
- Hand pollination needed
- no
Direct-sow — dill forms a taproot and transplants poorly; seeds need some light to germinate.
Companion planting
🟢 Good neighbours: Lettuce
Not yet linked: Cucumis sativus, Allium cepa, Brassica oleracea var. capitata, Foeniculum vulgare, Daucus carota
Flavor
fresh, slightly sweet, reminiscent of anise and cucumber
Storage
Fresh in the fridge in a damp cloth or stems in a glass of water; freezes well.
History
Dill is native to the Mediterranean and West Asia and has been used as a spice and medicinal herb since antiquity. Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all valued it; its name comes from the Old Norse 'dilla' (to soothe), as dill water was given for stomach aches.
Nutrition
Rich in vitamin C, manganese and vitamin A, with small amounts of folate and iron. Its essential oils aid digestion.
Sources
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