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Herbs, Flowers & Specialty CropsDill Planting Calendar
Dill grows fast, resents transplanting and flowers when summer heat arrives. Planting it in a series, rather than once, is the simplest way to have fresh fronds and seed heads when you want them.
Key points
- Direct seed dill because the taproot resents transplanting.
- Repeat small sowings every two to three weeks.
- Reserve one block for flower heads and seed, and leave it uncut.
- Use tested preservation recipes only, from NCHFP or extension.
When should you plant dill?
Dill is a cool to mild-season annual that is sown directly in the garden. Sow it in spring once the soil can be worked and the worst frosts have passed, and keep sowing through the season. Because a single planting matures quickly and then bolts, timing relies on repeating small sowings.
Pick your starting point from your local frost information, available from the National Weather Service or your county extension office. Late-summer sowings can give a second round of tender growth as temperatures ease.
Dill seed germinates best in mild soil, and very cold, wet ground slows it. If a spring sowing stalls, wait for warmer weather and try again rather than packing the bed with extra seed.
Why direct seed dill instead of transplanting?
Dill develops a taproot early, and moving seedlings often sets them back or sends them straight into flower. Scatter or drill seed where plants will grow and thin to the spacing on the packet.
Seed needs only a light covering. Keep the seedbed moist until sprouts appear, and consider a bit of afternoon shade in the hottest part of the season to slow bolting.
Dill's hollow stems can topple in wind. Planting in blocks rather than a single thin row lets plants support each other, and a bit of shelter helps in exposed spots.
How does succession planting work for dill?
Sow a short row every two to three weeks. Each row gives a few weeks of leaf harvest before it flowers. Space the rows so that when one starts to bolt, the next is just reaching cutting size.
For example, if you want fronds through a stretch of warm weather, you might sow four rows, each two to three weeks apart, then stop when the days get too hot or too short for good growth in your area. Adjust the pattern to your climate.
Leaves are best cut when plants are young and before flower buds form. Once a plant bolts, shift your attention to the heads, which are what many recipes call for.
How do you grow dill for pickling heads and seed?
Set aside a block that you will not cut for leaf. Let it bloom, and harvest flower heads when they are mature according to your recipe. Seed is ready when it turns brown and dry on the plant, and you can cut stalks and finish drying them indoors.
If you plan to pickle, use only tested recipes from the National Center for Home Food Preservation or your extension office. Do not guess at ingredients or processing, because safety depends on tested procedures.
Cut seed heads in the morning, handle them gently, and dry them in a paper bag so the seed collects at the bottom. Label and store dry seed away from heat and moisture.
What pests and growing problems affect dill?
Dill is a host plant for swallowtail caterpillars, so some feeding is normal and worth tolerating. Aphids can cluster on stems and flower heads, and a firm spray of water often knocks them back. Crowded or wet plantings invite disease.
If you consider any pesticide, the label must be followed, pre-harvest intervals apply, and applicator rules vary by state. Flowering dill draws pollinators and beneficial insects, so protect them.
Healthy soil with steady moisture and some air movement prevents most trouble. Remove badly affected plants instead of crowding the survivors.
What should your dill calendar include?
Write your average last frost, mark a first sowing, then add repeat sowings at two to three week intervals. Add a late-season sowing if your fall is long and mild, and a seed block planted early enough to mature before frost.
Note when each planting bolted, and next year shift the spacing or add shade. Your notes beat any general chart.
Where should dill go in the garden?
Choose full sun and well-drained soil. Dill is a member of the carrot family, so rotating it away from carrots, parsley and other relatives from year to year helps reduce disease buildup. A soil test and local recommendations guide any amendments, and nutrient management rules vary by state.
Dill also self-seeds readily. If you want volunteers, leave a few heads to drop seed. If you do not, cut heads before the seed matures.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 2026. Educational information, ranges only. Confirm timing with your county extension office.