Dill
Anethum graveolens
Also known as
Anet, Dill-Oil Plant, East Indian Dill, Meeting-Seed, Sabbath Day Posy, Dill-Weed, Garden Dill, Common Dill, Dill weed, Mammoth dill, Florists dill
Dill (Anethum graveolens) by Burkhard Mücke (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Full Sun
Moderate care
Light watering
Frost Hardy
H4
RHS hardiness
-10°C
Minimum temperature
Expected size
Height | Spread | |
|---|---|---|
1.5m | Max | 60cm |
30cm | Min | 30cm |
Flowering
-
spring
-
summer
-
autumn
-
winter
This plant has a mild fragrance
More images of Dill
Dill Overview
Anethum graveolens is better known as Dill. It is a tall, aromatic, annual herb plant from the Apiaceae family. Commonly grown for the culinary attributes of its leaves and seeds and used to flavour various foods and dishes. Dill produces fine blue-green leaves and produces airy umbrellas of yellow flowers in summer. It's also grown as ornamental, as its distinctive foliage texture, flower colour and form make this plant a nice companion in a mixed border. Dill is not only used in the culinary and ornamental applications but also has various traditional medicinal uses. This beautiful and useful herb is a must-have for most temperate gardens and is an easy herb for beginner gardeners to grow.
Common problems with Dill
Dill Companion Plants
How to harvest Dill
The leaves ready to pick within 8-10 weeks of sowing. Cut back leaves often to prevent the plant from flowering and going to seed. The optimum time for harvesting is in the early morning. Dill weed is best harvested before the plant is fully mature and before the flower buds have opened. Dill seed is harvested at the end of the plant’s life cycle.
How to propagate Dill
Seed
Sow seed in Spring and Summer. Sow 6-8 mm deep; Germination time about 7-14 days.
Special features of Dill
Attracts useful insects
Attracts insects lacewings and hoverflies
Repels harmful insects
Some compounds of dill (d-carvone is mentioned as one of them), when added to insecticides, have greatly increased the effectiveness of the insecticides.
Pot plant
Suitable for planting in large containers (deep roots of dill need deep containers), given loose rich soil and enough sunlight.
Indoor plant
Can be grown inside, given enough sunlight.
Drought resistant
Relatively drought tolerant due to taproot system.
Attracts bees
Attracts butterflies
Other uses of Dill
Fragrance, culinary, foliage, cut flowers, dried arrangements. The earliest record of use for this plant is from 3000 BC in Ancient Egypt where the plant was described as a 'soothing medicine'. The plant is commonly used for flavouring pickled foods and the leaves are used in fish and vegetable dishes. Dill also attracts lots of beneficial insects to the garden, including bees, wasps, lacewings and ladybirds.
Medicinal
Used in many traditional medicines, including those against jaundice, headache, boils, lack of appetite, stomach problems, nausea and liver problems.
Edible
Fresh & dried dill leaves (sometimes called "dill weed" to distinguish it from dill seed) are widely used as herbs in Europe & central Asia. The plant are used to flavor many foods & dishes.
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Edibles to Sow Under Cover in November
Grow these on a sunny windowsill or heated propagator for winter picking.
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