DILL

Moderate Care

Black sun icon with rays on a white background

Full Sunlight

Keep Soil Moist

Annual

Pet Safe

View Herb Recipe

Fresh Dill Sauce

Ingredients

Perfect for fish, as a chip dip, or veggie dressing.

¼ cup plain whole milk yogurt
¼ cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp chopped fresh dill
1 tbsp chopped fresh chive (or ½ tsp onion powder)
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

Mix the base: In a small bowl, whisk together the yogurt and mayonnaise until smooth.

Add the flavor: Stir in the lemon juice, minced garlic, dill, and chive (or onion powder).

Season: Add salt and pepper to taste. Give it one more good stir.

Adjust consistency: Too runny? Add another tablespoon of mayonnaise and stir until you reach your desired thickness.

Serve & enjoy: Serve immediately or refrigerate for 30 minutes to let the flavors come together. Keeps in the fridge for up to one week.

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USDA Hardiness Zone
Dill grows best as an annual in zones 2 to 11.

Tap to Find Your Zone
A USDA hardiness zone map shows you the average annual extreme minimum temperature in your area. This helps you know which plants can survive there.

FULL SUNLIGHT

More sun = more flavor

In super hot climates, or on days of harsher sun, consider placing dill somewhere it can get afternoon shade. Extreme heat can cause dill to bolt.

6+ HOURS OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT DAILY

Too little light may cause your dill to get pale, leggy, and weak.

Cartoon sun character holding a flower and a potted plant with a cloud in the background.

FIND YOUR LIGHT

Take a moment to note which direction the windows face in your space. Then tap around the room below to see how the light hits throughout the day.

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SOUTH-FACING WINDOW

⊹ Highest amount of sunlight ⊹
⊹ Consistent light all day ⊹
⊹ Perfect for "full sun" plants ⊹

EAST-FACING WINDOW

⊹ Soft morning sunlight ⊹
⊹ Avoids harsh afternoon rays ⊹
⊹ Perfect for low to indirect light plants ⊹
⚠︎ May not be bright enough for "full sun" plants

WEST-FACING WINDOW

⊹ Brightest in the afternoon ⊹
⊹ Warm, golden hour glow ⊹
⊹ Great for indirect-sun lovers ⊹

⚠︎ Can overheat sensitive plants

NORTH-FACING WINDOW

⊹ No direct sunlight ⊹
⊹ Avoids harsh afternoon rays ⊹
⊹ Perfect for shade-tolerant plants ⊹

⚠︎ Can be too dim for most houseplants. If this is your only light source, consider using a grow light for your sun-loving plants!

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KEEP SOIL MOIST

Let the top inch of soil dry out slightly before you water. In cooler temperatures or shadier spots, you can water less often. In hotter weather, check the soil daily since dill’s soil can dry out fast!

If you notice the fronds drooping, a thorough watering should help perk it up again.

LOW HUMIDITY

It isn’t very picky, so indoor humidity is fine.

Technically, it prefers drier air. Try to keep it away from extra humidity spot to avoid fungal issues.

Cartoon water droplet character with a watering can and flowers on a white background

SOIL

Dill needs soil that drains well but stays lightly moist.

The best store-bought option is a standard indoor potting mix since it is already formulated for herbs like dill.

If you'd like to add something to help with drainage, mix in a bit of perlite.

Looks like tiny white popcorn bits mixed into the soil. Improves drainage and prevents waterlogging.

Small white pot filled with soil and small white stones on a wooden surface

Cartoon pot with face holding a trowel, surrounded by plants and flowers on a white background

HARVESTING

ALWAYS USE CLEAN SCISSORS OR HANDS

You can start harvesting when the plant is at least 6 to 8 inches tall. Dill tends to grow quickly, so feel free to harvest once you see well-developed fronds!

Try to harvest every 1 to 2 weeks or as needed to maintain shape and encourage growth.

IDENTIFY THE PRUNING SPOT

Focus on harvesting the mature growth first. For whole stems, snip just above the soil line. Be careful to not remove more than half of the stems at one time to avoid shocking it.

REMOVE FLOWER BUDS

If the dill is budding with flowers, frequent snips can help delay further bolting. However, many people choose to keep the flowers blooming to attract pollinators and to allow dill to reseed itself.

Dill Seeds: If you want dill seed for pickling, seasoning, or to grow more dill, let a few plants flower. You can harvest seeds from the flowers once they start to turn brown.

COMMON ISSUES

YELLOWING

A sign of overwatering or poor drainage of the pot. Although dill prefers moist conditions, soil that remains soggy can lead to root rot.

Remove affected leaves. Dry out soil completely (1-5 days). Adjust your watering schedule for this plant.

If problem persists and/or you suspect root rot: remove from pot, trim away dead mushy roots, and repot in fresh soil.

WILTING / DROOPING

Buckle up! This could mean anything.

⊹ SOIL CHECK ⊹
Soggy: Likely overwatered or poor drainage. Ensure your pot has drainage holes. Allow soil to dry out a bit.

Bone dry: Needs a drink. Water thoroughly until water drains from bottom.

⊹ STRESS ⊹
Temperature changes or repotting can also cause “droopy leaf” stress. Keep its conditions stable and give it time to adjust. Remember to give dill some shade in cases of extreme heat.

FLOWERING (BOLTING)

Hot weather or long daylight hours can cause dill to bolt.

Pinch off flower buds as they appear to keep dill fresh and flavorful, or embrace them for pollinator attraction and reseeding.