How to Grow Dill Weed

Dill weed is commonly used for flavoring and garnish.

Dill weed, also known by its Latin name, Anethum graveolens, is an herbaceous perennial valued for its attractive flowers, culinary uses and ease of care. The plant blooms during late summer, producing large clumps of yellow and green flowers. The entire dill weed plant is edible and commonly used as a garnish for fish, potatoes and dips. Dill weed is also used to flavor pickles during the pickling process. Native to Europe and Asia, dill weed thrives throughout most of the United States and can often grow with little or no care at all.

Things You'll Need

• Organic compost
• Garden spade
• Plastic sandwich bag
• Paper bag

Instructions

1. Plant dill weed one to two weeks prior to the last frost of spring in a location that receives full sunlight and consists of rich, loose, well-drained soil. Spread a 1- to 2-inch layer of organic compost over the planting site, and use a garden spade to work the material into the soil to increase fertility and drainage to necessary levels.

2. Sow each dill seed ¼-inch deep in rows that are 18 to 24 inches apart. Keep the soil moist until germination occurs. Wait about two weeks for the plants to emerge from the soil, and then wait two more weeks for the plants to mature before thinning to one plant every 12 to 18 inches. To thin plants, remove the weakest specimens by pulling them up from the roots, allowing the strongest plant to remain.

3. Water the dill weed thoroughly once or twice per week to prevent the soil from drying out completely. Do not water during weeks that the dill weed receives more than 2 inches of rainfall. Apply water directly to the soil to minimize the risk of foliar disease.

4. Harvest the dill weed after the seedlings emerge from the soil or anytime thereafter. Cut the stem 2 or 3 inches above ground level when the flowers begin to open for the best flavor. Store dill weed by freezing it in plastic sandwich bags until you ready to use it.

5. Gather the dill seeds immediately after the flowers turn brown. Place a flower upside down in a paper bag, and then crush the dried flower to release the seeds. Sift the seeds out of the bag and dry for about five days. Store in a dark, dry location as long as necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• No supplemental fertilization is required, as dill weed receives its required nutrients from the amendment of organic compost in the soil.

• Prune dill weed once every seven to fourteen days to keep the plant growing in a bushy manner.

References

• National Gardening Association Plant Care Guides: Dill
• Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Dill in the Garden
• "Mid-Atlantic Gardener's Guide"; André Viette, Mark Viette, Jacqueline Hériteau; 2003