A cluster of ripe dill seeds on a bolted dill plant, ready for harvesting and replanting

Dill is an easy herb to grow. In fact, though dill is technically a biennial it is often grown as an annual, left to its own devices dill will reseed itself and present you will volunteer plants, sometimes for several years. But you can also plant seedlings you started yourself or purchased from the garden store, or propagate dill plants from cuttings.

Seed Planting Process

You can collect seeds from a dill plant and dry them, or purchase seed packets. Sow seeds directly into the soil after the last frost. Sow seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch below the soil. Seeds should germinate in about nine to 14 days; thin successful seedlings to 8 to 12 inches apart. Keep in mind dill will self-sow, so choose a location where the plants can grow for several years.
You can sow successive crops of dill every three to four weeks to ensure a continuous fresh harvest.

Growing Seedlings

Dill seedlings growing in a windowsill containe

Start seedlings indoors in potting soil four to six weeks before the last frost. Dill develops a single, long taproot, so you want to be ready to transplant seedlings into the garden as soon as it’s safe. Once dill forms a taproot, it doesn’t transplant easily. Likewise, if you purchase dill plants from a garden center, plant them in the ground as soon as the threat of frost has passed.

Growing from Cuttings

If you already have dill plants and you’d like to have more, you can take a cutting from the healthy new growth of an existing plant. Trim about a 7-inch section of branch that has at least 3 inches of stem. Remove any bottom leaves, leaving about three leaves at the top. Place the cuttings in a clean glass of water. Roots will form quickly, and you can transplant to the garden or a container in two to three weeks.

Have you tried growing dill from seeds, seedlings, or cuttings? Which method do you prefer—and why? Please share your experiences with us.