Growing Dill in Australia: The Complete Guide
Dill is an easy annual herb to grow, needing full sun with regular watering.
We get asked about dill often enough that it's worth setting out the full picture here, beyond what fits on our printable card.
A tall, self-seeding annual
Dill grows quite tall and often self-seeds readily once established — leaving a few flower heads to set seed each year can keep a patch going almost indefinitely.
Planting Dill
Method — direct sow; dislikes transplanting. Soil — rich, well-drained. Timing — sow in spring through summer.
Day-to-Day Care
A few things matter most here:
- Stake in windy spots — tall growth can topple.
- Water regularly, especially in hot weather.
- Harvest leaves before flowering for the best flavour.
- Let some plants flower and self-seed for next season.
Problems to Watch For
The key things to get right:
- Aphids — hose off.
- Bolting — heat stress; keep well watered.
- Powdery mildew — humid, crowded conditions.
- Swallowtail caterpillars — can defoliate quickly but are otherwise harmless; tolerate or relocate.
Picking and Keeping Your Harvest
Signs — leaves reach usable size, before flowering for the best flavour. Method — snip fronds as needed. Curing — air-dry, or freeze for longer storage. Storage — fresh, fridge a few days; dried or frozen, several months.
That's the full picture behind dill. The printable A4 version of this guide — with the quick-reference gauges and diagram in one page — is available on the main guide page below.