What to Plant With Dill: Dill Companion Plants (and Why Not Carrots)

Dill is a fast, feathery annual herb grown for its leaves (dill weed), its flower heads and its seeds. Its flat clusters of small yellow flowers attract bees, other pollinators and beneficial insects, which is the main reason gardeners plant it near vegetables. It is also a larval host for the black swallowtail butterfly. Here is what extension sources say about dill's neighbors, the carrot rule, the cabbage debate, and how to keep a steady supply of leaves. For more flowers like it, see flowers that attract beneficial insects.

Good companion plants for dill

Lettuce

Penn State Extension notes that dill draws aphid predators to greens. Aphids are a common lettuce pest, so a few dill plants at the end of a lettuce bed can bring in lady beetles, lacewings and hoverflies. Dill and lettuce also share a timeline: both are sown in cool spring weather and both are re-sown every couple of weeks. See what to plant with lettuce. Cilantro is listed for the same job; see what to plant with cilantro.

Beneficial insects for the whole garden

Even where our sources do not list a specific pairing, dill in flower is a magnet for beneficial insects and pollinators, which is a bonus near most vegetables. Our checker only shows pairs that extension sources list, so it will not flag dill as a companion or a conflict with crops outside this guide. If you grow dill for pickles, our cucumber guide covers the pickle bed.

What not to plant with dill

Virginia Extension lists dill as incompatible with carrots, and Penn State's dill fact sheet also says dill does not grow well with carrots. Dill and carrots are in the same plant family, and a dill plant left to flower can grow tall and shade a carrot row. Keep dill at the far end of the garden from your carrots; our carrot guide lists better carrot neighbors, and every pair to separate is in the keep-apart chart. Fennel, dill's look-alike, has a longer keep-apart list; see what to plant with fennel.

Dill and the cabbage family: sources disagree

Penn State Extension notes that dill can discourage cabbageworms from laying eggs on cabbage-family plants, while Virginia Extension lists dill as incompatible with the group. If you want to try it, plant dill at the end of the broccoli or cabbage row rather than in among the plants, so its flowers are nearby without crowding the brassicas. Our broccoli guide covers the same debate.

When to plant dill

Dill is easy to grow from seed and is best sown directly where it will grow. Penn State Extension recommends sowing outdoors in early spring once night temperatures stay above about 45°F, and UW–Madison Extension suggests sowing a week or two before the last hard frost. Seeds germinate in about 10 to 14 days. For a steady supply of leaves, sow again every 10 to 14 days while the weather is cool; UW–Madison also suggests late-summer sowings for a fall harvest, since dill tolerates light frost.

Planting and spacing

• Sun and soil: full sun and well-drained soil that is moist but not constantly wet.
• Depth: barely cover the seed, about ⅛ to ¼ inch deep; Penn State notes the seeds need light to germinate.
• Don't transplant: dill has a long taproot, and seedlings started indoors are difficult to transplant. Sow it in place.
• Thinning: UW–Madison suggests thinning seedlings to 3 to 6 inches apart when they are three to four weeks old.
• Support: tall varieties have hollow stems that wind and hail can damage, so a stake helps, especially in containers.
• Weeding: dill is not very competitive, so keep the area weeded.

Keeping dill leafy

Hot weather and dry spells cause dill to bolt, and Penn State notes plants decline soon after they flower. Cutting the foliage often helps delay blooming, and repeated sowings keep fresh plants coming. If you want seeds or flower heads for pickling, let some plants bloom and set seed. Deadhead the rest if you do not want dill to self-sow all over the bed.

Black swallowtail caterpillars

Green, black and yellow striped caterpillars on dill are usually black swallowtail larvae. UW–Madison Extension notes they can eat a lot of foliage, often in groups, and while they can be picked off, many gardeners prefer to let them grow into butterflies. Planting a little extra dill gives you enough for both. Other than these, dill has few pest problems besides occasional aphids or powdery mildew. The same caterpillars feed on parsley; see what to plant with parsley.

A simple salad bed with dill

1. Lettuce in short rows.

   Sown every two weeks in cool weather.

2. A clump of dill at one end.

   A listed lettuce companion that draws aphid predators.

3. Spinach or radishes in the gaps.

   Quick cool-season crops with no listed conflict with dill.

4. Carrots in a different bed.

   Listed as incompatible with dill.

Our raised bed layouts show how to map a 4×8 bed by the square foot.

Harvest

Snip dill leaves as soon as the plants have enough foliage to spare, taking a little from each plant so it keeps growing. For seed, wait until the seeds turn golden brown and the stems start drying, then cut the heads and finish drying them in a paper bag.

Dill in containers

Dill grows in containers if the pot is deep enough for its long taproot. Compact, slow-bolting varieties suit pots best, and taller types may need a stake. Water when the top of the mix starts to dry, but avoid keeping it soggy.

Frequently asked questions

What grows well with dill?

Extension-listed companions for dill in our checker are lettuce. The table on this page explains why each pairing works.

What should you not plant with dill?

Our sources list carrots as a poor neighbor for dill. Sources disagree on cabbage-family crops.