GrowSabzHow to grow dill in pots
Also called soya, shabat, aneth, dill weed · Anethum graveolens
سویا
- ☀️ Sunlight
- 6–8hours daily
- 💧 Water
- 0.4 Levery 2 days, 5 L pot
- 🌡️ Ideal temp
- 15–25°C
- 🪴 Min pot
- 5 L15 cm deep
- 🧺 Harvest
- 40–90days from sowing
- ⚖️ Yield
- 0.2 kgper 20 L pot
Dill keeps producing once it starts. First picking comes around day 40, and the plant then crops for roughly 60 more days — but only if you keep picking. Letting it run to flower is what ends the supply.
Short answer
Grow dill in a 5 litre container at least 15 cm deep, watering about 600 ml per 10 litres of soil every 2 days, and keep temperatures between 15 and 25 °C. First harvest comes 40–90 days after sowing.
Where to plant it
What size pot does dill need?
5 litres and 15 cm deep is the realistic minimum for a single plant. Pick a container below to see what changes.
| Container | Minimum size | Depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pot | 5 L | 15 cm | Dill prefers deeper pots for its taproot, ensure good drainage. |
| Grow bag | 5 L | 15 cm | Fabric bags provide good aeration and drainage. |
| Open ground | — | 20 cm | Plant directly in the ground to avoid transplant shock. |
| Raised bed | 10 L | 20 cm | Excellent for dill, provides good drainage and soil depth. |
Watering
How often should you water dill?
Every 2 days through the growing season, at about 600 ml per 10 litres of soil — daily in hot weather, every 3 days when it turns cool. Water in the early morning. Bottom watering or gentle top watering works best.
Too little water
- wilting
- yellowing leaves
- stunted growth
Too much water
- yellow lower leaves
- stunted growth
- root rot
Avoid: waterlogging; letting soil dry out completely.
Climate
Can you grow dill where you live?
No hardiness zone needed — compare your actual temperatures against the plant's own limits.
| Ideal range | 15 – 25 °C |
|---|---|
| Survives | 0 – 30 °C |
| Germinates above | 10 °C — best at 18 °C, about 10 days |
| Flowers drop | above 28 °C, or below 5 °C |
| Sunlight | 6–10 hrs/day, best 8 |
| Frost | Medium sensitivity |
The flower-drop thresholds matter more than the survival ones. A plant can be perfectly alive at 30 °C and still give you nothing.
How cold is too cold for dill? Check your temperaturesEnter your night low and day high — see if it survives, and if it will cropTimeline
Dill growing stages, day by day
Click any stage to see what's happening. Durations shift with temperature — a warm season runs roughly a quarter faster than a cool one.
Feeding
Fertiliser schedule for dill
Feed on the interval below, changing what you give as the plant shifts from making leaves to making fruit.
| Stage | What to use | Per 10 L | Every |
|---|
How to prepare each feed
Common mistakes
Why dill fails, and how to avoid it
- A container that is too small
Below 5 litres the root run is too shallow. The plant grows, flowers late, and drops whatever it sets because it cannot support the crop.
- Watering too lightly
A daily splash wets the top few centimetres and nothing else. Dill wants about 600 ml per 10 litres of soil — one deep soak beats three shallow ones.
- Ignoring the flower-drop threshold
Above 28 °C, or below 5 °C, flowers fall before setting. The plant can look perfectly healthy and still give you nothing — shade it through the hottest hours.
- Planting it beside Carrot
Dill and carrots are both in the Apiaceae family and can cross-pollinate, leading to undesirable hybrids and affecting seed quality. Dill can also attract spider mites which may spread to carrots.
Companions
What to plant with dill
Good neighbours
Dill attracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps and hoverflies, which prey on common cabbage pests like cabbage loopers and aphids.
Similar to cabbage, dill helps deter pests and attracts beneficial insects, improving the health and yield of broccoli.
Dill can improve the growth and flavor of lettuce, and its tall stature can provide some shade in hot climates.
Dill attracts beneficial insects that can help control pests on corn, such as aphids and corn earworms.
Dill is believed to improve the health and vigor of cucumber plants, potentially enhancing their flavor.
Keep apart from
Dill and carrots are both in the Apiaceae family and can cross-pollinate, leading to undesirable hybrids and affecting seed quality. Dill can also attract spider mites which may spread to carrots.
Dill can stunt the growth of tomato plants. It's generally best to keep them separated.
Both dill and caraway are in the Apiaceae family and can cross-pollinate, which can negatively impact the flavor and quality of their seeds.
Fennel is known to inhibit the growth of many plants, including dill, due to chemicals released from its roots.
Problems
Dill pests and diseases
Each lists the weather that brings it on, so you know when to start checking rather than reacting once it's established.
Aphids humidity any · temp 15-25
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth and the undersides of leaves, sucking sap and causing distorted leaves. Can secrete sticky honeydew.
Spider Mites humidity <50% · temp >27
Tiny pests that cause leaves to look stippled, pale, and eventually turn yellow and drop. Fine webbing may be visible on the undersides of leaves.
Powdery Mildew humidity >70% · temp 18-26
White, powdery fungal spots appear mainly on the upper surface of leaves and stems. Can stunt growth and reduce vigor, especially in humid conditions with poor air circulation.
Damping Off humidity >80% · temp 18-24
A fungal disease causing young seedlings to collapse at the soil line and die. Often due to overwatering, poor drainage, or unsterilized soil/pots.
Root Rot humidity any · temp any
Caused by consistently waterlogged soil, leading to wilting, yellowing leaves, stunted growth, and eventual plant death. Ensure good drainage and avoid overwatering.
Bolting Premature Flowering humidity any · temp >28
Plant prematurely sends up a flower stalk and goes to seed, often due to heat stress, inconsistent watering, or overcrowding. Leaves become bitter and less flavorful.
Swallowtail Caterpillars humidity any · temp >20
Large green caterpillars with black and yellow stripes. They feed on dill leaves. Many gardeners tolerate them as they transform into beautiful swallowtail butterflies, but heavy infestations can defoliate plants.
Harvest
When to harvest dill
First picking falls between day 40 and day 90, and the plant then keeps producing for about 60 days. Pick often — what you leave on the plant signals it to stop making more.
How to tell it's ready
- Leaves are bright green and tender, 6-8 inches tall.
- For seeds, seed heads turn light brown and seeds are firm and dry.
How much to expect
Storing it: Fresh leaves: Refrigerate in a damp paper towel or freeze chopped leaves in ice cube trays with water/oil. Seeds: Dry seed heads thoroughly, then store seeds in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.
Questions
Dill: common questions
How long does dill take to grow?
About 50 days from sowing to the first harvest, with picking usually starting between day 40 and day 90. It then keeps producing for roughly 60 more days. Warm weather pulls that forward; cool weather pushes it back.
What size pot does dill need?
At least 5 litres and 15 cm deep for one plant. A raised bed wants 10 litres of soil and 20 cm of depth.
How often should I water dill?
About 600 ml per 10 litres of soil, every 2 days in normal weather — daily when it is hot and every 3 days when cool. Water in the early morning.
What temperature does dill need?
It does best between 15 °C and 25 °C and survives from 0 °C to 30 °C. Seed needs soil above 10 °C to germinate, ideally around 18 °C.
Can I grow dill in winter?
It tolerates cold better than most, down to about 0 °C, so a sheltered spot or a cold frame will often carry it through.
How do I know when dill is ready to harvest?
Leaves are bright green and tender, 6-8 inches tall.; For seeds, seed heads turn light brown and seeds are firm and dry.. Once picked: fresh leaves: refrigerate in a damp paper towel or freeze chopped leaves in ice cube trays with water/oil. seeds: dry seed heads thoroughly, then store seeds in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.
How much does one dill plant produce?
Roughly 0.2 kg from a 20 litre container, or about 0.5 kg in open ground. Larger containers give proportionally more, up to a point.