Are you curious to know about the best ways for growing dill? If yes, then we will help you out!
Known for its delicate flavors, dill is an essential ingredient for culinary uses. It’s also a must-have in your garden for the potential of attracting beneficial insects, bringing pollinators, and ease of growing.
The herb is known for its medicinal benefits, where it can boost digestion and relieve insomnia and respiratory problems. It is rich in antioxidants and a great source of Vitamin C and calcium.
While there are various reasons to plant dill, you must know how to grow the herb perfectly. Wondering how to do so? Read through:
Things Required to Grow Dill
To grow dill nicely, you must nurture it with the growing conditions it needs. Also, keep all the tools and herb growing accessories handy for the best results.
Sun: Full sun
Water: Moderate
Soil: Draining, loose, moderately fertile soil
Soil temperature: 60-70 degrees Farhanitrate
Soil pH: slightly acidic
Spacing: 18 inches apart
Bloom time: Late summer or early fall
Humidity: No special humidity requirements
Hardiness Zone: 2 to 11 (USDA)
Soil Requirement for Dill
Dill requires rich, well-drained, loamy soil, with a pH between 5.5 to 6.5. As dill is a resilient plant, it can grow in poor soil conditions as well. But, it’s best to choose fast-draining soil.
You can also go for sandy loam soil that is rich in nutrients with a pH between 6 to 6.5. Also, as the dill has a taproot, stay away from compacted soil.
If you are using heavy soil, make sure to amend it with compost and other organic matter. It will help the soil to become well-aerated and support good growth for growing herbs like dill.
How to Grow Dill?
Now that you know about the soil and general requirements for growing dill, let’s learn how you can grow dill through seeds, cutting, or in pots.
Before you start, cross-check if you have all the accessories and follow the below steps:
Growing Dill from Seeds/Cuttings
To grow dill from seeds, start by preparing rich soil and sowing the seeds about ¼ inches deep into the soil. Moreover, make sure that the seeds are about 18 inches apart from each other. Rake the seeds and wait for about 10-14 days. You will soon see the plants appearing on the soil surface!
Next, to grow dills from cuttings, take about 1-2 inches long cutting with 4-8 nodes for a short/long stem. Ensure that the soil mixture is healthy. You can also use any rooting hormone to speed up the rooting process.
Transplant the cuttings to the soil once the soil develops. While transplanting, ensure that the roots are at least 2 inches long. Water the plant so that it grows well.
Growing Dill in Pots
To grow dill in pots, you must choose a high-quality container with 12 inches width and depth. This is because dill has a long taproot, so choosing a small one wouldn’t help.
You can customize the pot sizes as per the herb size you are growing. If you are planting dill of small size, try a container that’s 10 inches long.
Once you have the perfect pot for growing your dill, sow the dill seeds or cut in the soil mix. Make sure to maintain the moisture level until the seed germinates.
Growing Dill Indoors/Outdoors
Growing dill has similar requirements as listed above. Also, you must expose the plant to about 6 hours of direct sunlight and maintain a temperature of 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Similarly, when growing dill outdoors, select a spot that’s protected from high winds. Keep the plant in full sun to partial shade as it can bolt in hot weather conditions.
How to Maintain Dill?
After successfully planting the dill herb, you must care for and maintain it to get the best flavors out of it. Here are some tips to try out:
- Water the dill plant regularly to keep the soil moist, especially during summers.
- Apply general granular plant food while sowing or planting out.
- The plant doesn’t require frequent fertilizer, so you can avoid it.
- Give them shelter during windy days, so they don’t break off.
- Allow some dill to go to seed as it can attract pollinators and ensures self-sowing.
That’s it! We hope this covers everything about growing dill in detail. Make sure to follow these steps for growing dill, and you will have healthy herbs in some time.
