by Judith C Evans

Created on: February 23, 2010

Among culinary herbs, the flavor of dill (Anethum graveolens) is quite recognizable and popular.  Cooks use the feathery green leaves and seeds of this annual to season foods ranging from pickles to fish.  Herbalists know of dill’s antispasmodic, calmative, and stomachic properties.  Native to Asia Minor and the Mediterranean region, dill now grows wild in North and South America and Europe.  Dill cultivars can reach heights of 1 ½ to 5 feet, with widths of 6 to 8 inches.  Its small yellowish flowers grow in umbels (umbrella-shaped clusters) at the top of the stalks.  Any type of dill can be grown in a container; however, the shorter dwarf cultivars are less likely to need staking at their maximum height.  

Container

The container can be made of any material, but porous unglazed clay is the best choice.  Whatever the material, the pot must have a drainage hole at the bottom to prevent the soil from becoming waterlogged.   The risk of root rot is much higher in poorly drained soil. 

You will need small peat pots for sowing the seeds, and larger pots as the plants grow. When grown in a garden, dill plants require a 10 to 12 inch space between plants; therefore, your container-grown plant will eventually need a 12 inch pot.   

Soil

Choose a rich, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH level of 5.8 to 6.8.  Most herbs require very little fertilizer, and dill is no exception: every 4 to 6 weeks, apply a 5-10-5 liquid fertilizer at half the recommended strength.  Avoid high levels of nitrogen.

Planting and Care

Dill will grow in both outdoor and indoor containers.  If you plan to grow your dill outdoors, sow the seeds in peat pots 5 weeks before the last threat of frost.  Once the seedlings have grown to 2 inches, thin and transplant into larger pots.  As stated above, mature dill plants require 12 inch containers.  Dill prefers full sun; outdoor containers should be placed in an area where the dill can receive 6 to 8 hours of sunlight.   Indoor plants should receive 5 to 6 hours of direct sunlight or 12 hours of fluorescent light.  Indoor plants tend to become “leggy”, and will probably need the support of stakes placed in the container.

The soil should be kept moist but not soaked. Water thoroughly as soon as the top 1 inch layer of the soil feels dry.  Slowly add water until it drips from the drainage hole. 

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