Growing Dill in Scotland: The Complete Guide

Anethum graveolens

Dill boltsA plant switching early into flowering and seed production, usually triggered by stress, after which leaves, roots or bulbs turn bitter or unusable. Full page → in hot, dry weather or when its roots are disturbed, and wind can flatten it. A cooler summer helps against the first, an exposed site works against it on the second, and a slow-to-bolt variety is worth choosing on that basis alone.

It wants a sunny, sheltered spot in fertile, free-drainingSoil that lets water pass through quickly rather than pooling, so roots aren't sitting in wet ground after rain. Full definition → soil. It is grown fresh from seed each year, so there's no established plant to overwinterKeeping a plant alive and intact through the cold months, whether left outdoors, moved under cover, or stored dormant. Full definition → and no long-term siting decision to get wrong.

Site and soil

Choose a sunny, sheltered spot with fertile, free-draining soil; dill dislikes cold, soggy conditions. Space plants 20cm apart, with 30cm between rows. For containers, use a minimum 30cm wide and deep pot with peat-freeCompost made without peat, which is harvested from a slow-forming, carbon-storing wetland habitat that peat extraction damages. Full definition → multi-purpose compost.

Sowing

Direct-sow outdoors from mid-spring to mid-summer: make a shallow 1cm drillA shallow, straight groove made in prepared soil for sowing seed into, at a set depth so germination and rows are even. Full definition →, water the base, sow thinly, and cover with soil. Thin seedlings to 20cm apart. Succession sowing every few weeks keeps fresh leaf coming through summer. To sow indoors, fill a modular trayA tray divided into small individual cells, each sown with its own seed or seedling, so each plant grows undisturbed roots until it's ready to plant out. Full definition → with peat-free seed compost, sow one seed per module, and keep it somewhere warm and bright. Transplant outdoors about four weeks after sowing, before a tap rootA single, thick, dominant root growing straight down from a plant, storing energy and anchoring it, as opposed to a spreading mass of fine roots. Full definition → forms, handling the roots as little as possible, and harden offGradually getting young plants raised indoors used to outdoor conditions over 7–14 days before planting out, so cold, wind and direct sun don't shock or damage them. Full definition → first. Plants reach about 90cm, and the tallest varieties such as Herkules up to 1.2m, so push in a few canes at sowing time if the site is exposed, since strong wind can flatten them.

Care and preventing bolting

Water consistently, especially during dry spells: container plants bolt particularly easily if they dry out. Keep beds weed-free so dill isn't competing for water and nutrients, and avoid disturbing the roots once plants are in the ground, since root disturbance triggers bolting, as hot, dry weather does. Dill doesn't normally need feeding, though an occasional liquid feed of a balanced fertiliser can give a boost.

Harvesting

Start harvesting leaves about six weeks after sowing, continuing through autumn. Snip only a few from a young plant and leave at least a third of it standing.

Leaves are best used fresh, though sprigs can be dried by hanging them in a dark, well-ventilated place for a few weeks, or frozen. Flowers can go on salads or into pickles, and seeds are ready in late summer or autumn, once they've turned dry and brown. Leave a few plants to flower for pollinators and to drop seed for new plants next year.

Varieties

Dukat is vigorous with good leaf flavour, Diana is compact, and Tetra is bushy and slow to bolt, all without the award. Diana and Domino suit containers.

Also worth considering

Best Dill Varieties for Scotland → compares all named dill varieties head-to-head, with the practical detail that doesn't fit in a summary card.

Common problems

• Bolting is dill's main problem: premature flowering in hot, dry conditions or after root disturbance, which limits leaf growth. Cutting back flower stems keeps leaf coming.
• Aphids can affect vigour and distort growth.
• Slugs and snails can damage young, delicate foliage.

Common questions

Sources