How to grow dill
Anethum graveolens · Apiaceae · Herb
When to plant dill: the short answer
Sow outdoors around the last frost date; for a fall crop, sow about 8 weeks before your first fall frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 50 to 75°F, fastest near 65°F.
Cold winters (zone 5): sow Apr 25 – May 14, or sow Jul 31 – Aug 17 for a fall crop. Mild winters (zone 9): sow Sep 25 – Oct 12 for fall and winter harvests; the spring window (Feb 15 – Mar 6) closes before the summer heat. Skip the hottest months for dill. See every zone.
Dill is a cool-season herb in the Apiaceae family, almost always sown straight into the ground where it will grow. It wants full sun (six or more hours of direct light) and steady, even moisture. From sowing to first pick is about 40–60 days. It shrugs off a light frost but a hard freeze will damage it.
Grower’s note: Taprooted - sow where it will grow. Self-seeds happily once established. Keep well away from carrots (they cross and both suffer) and from mature tomatoes.
Sowing
Sow about 0.25″ deep, into soil between 50–75°F — germination is quickest near 65°F. It is slow and often erratic to germinate (10–21 days). It does not transplant well, so sow it in its final position rather than starting it in pots.
Spacing & layout
Give each plant about 8″ along the row with roughly 18″ between rows. On a square-foot grid that is 4 per square foot. Allow at least 12″ of loose, workable soil for the roots. It grows well in containers at least 12″ deep.
Fitting it to your season
As a cool-season crop, dill does its best growing in the mild weather of spring and fall and tends to bolt or turn bitter in summer heat. A second sowing in late summer, timed to mature as the weather cools, is usually the better crop of the year — though a hard freeze will end it.
Quick facts
Growth stages: how long dill takes to grow
From sowing to first harvest takes roughly 40-60 days (6-9 weeks), with seedlings appearing after 10-21 days in soil around 65°F.
When to plant dill
When to plant dill by USDA zone
Dates worked out from each zone’s typical frost dates for 2026. Find your zone on the zone map, or pick your state below for dates from its own frost dates. Zones 11 and above are frost-free, so timing there depends on heat and rain instead.
| Zone | Last / first frost | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Fall or second sowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 15 / Sep 15 | - | May 10 – May 29 | Jul 11 – Jul 28 |
| Zone 4 | May 10 / Sep 25 | - | May 5 – May 24 | Jul 21 – Aug 7 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 / Oct 5 | - | Apr 25 – May 14 | Jul 31 – Aug 17 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 / Oct 15 | - | Apr 10 – Apr 29 | Aug 10 – Aug 27 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 / Oct 25 | - | Mar 31 – Apr 19 | Aug 20 – Sep 6 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 / Nov 5 | - | Mar 15 – Apr 3 | Aug 31 – Sep 17 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 / Nov 30 | - | Feb 15 – Mar 6 | Sep 25 – Oct 12 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 / Dec 15 | - | Jan 25 – Feb 13 | Oct 10 – Oct 27 |
Compare with the other herbs: when to plant herbs, by zone.
Companions
Cabbage, Broccoli, Kale, Onion, Lettuce, Cucumber
Carrot, Tomato
Common problems
Pests: black swallowtail caterpillar, aphids.
Diseases & disorders: powdery mildew, cercospora leaf spot, damping off.
Same family (Apiaceae)
Rotate these so they don’t follow each other in the same bed year to year.
Questions gardeners ask
When should I plant dill?
Sow outdoors around the last frost date; for a fall crop, sow about 8 weeks before your first fall frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 50 to 75°F. The table on this page gives dates for each USDA zone, and the planting calendar gives dates for your own state or ZIP code.
How long does dill take to grow?
About 40-60 days from sowing to the first harvest. Seeds germinate in 10-21 days, fastest in soil around 65°F.
How much sun does dill need?
It needs at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day.
What soil pH does dill need?
A soil pH between 5.5 and 6.5. It tolerates fairly acidic soil better than most vegetables. Test before adding lime or sulfur - see the soil pH and testing guide.
How far apart should I plant dill?
Space plants about 8 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart, or 4 per square foot in a square-foot bed. Sow seeds about ¼ inch deep.
Can I grow dill in a container?
Yes. Use a container at least 12 inches deep with drainage holes and a good potting mix, and water more often than you would in the ground.
Figures are typical home-garden ranges from Cooperative Extension planting guides, cross-checked against multiple state sources. Your variety and conditions will vary.