This culinary, fragrant and decorative herb will flourish with good care. Dill needs a lot of sunlight, although afternoon shade is okay during the hottest times of the year. Use loose soil and do not let it dry out fully between waterings — but don’t thoroughly soak it, either. Dill does best in slightly acidic soil but is not picky about this. The same goes for temperature; 70 degrees is ideal, but dill can handle temperatures down to 25 degrees.

Dill has almost no pest or disease issues, and attracts good insects like syrphid flies and lacewings. That said, the larvae of these insects can lure in aphids. Some caterpillars are known to eat dill, but they don’t stay long.

Dill often doesn’t do well transplanting because of its long taproots, so we recommend direct in-ground planting. If you want to try extending the growing season by starting indoors, do so 4-6 weeks before the final spring frost. Sow seeds a quarter-inch deep in a seed-starting mix or all-purpose potting soil. Use well-draining containers and provide lots of sunlight; grow lights are also acceptable. Transplant the seedlings when they are 3-4 inches tall and have multiple sets of true leaves.

Plant seeds and seedlings in the spring after the final frost or in the early fall. For a continuous harvest, succession-plant new seeds every 10-14 days. Space the plants and rows 12-15 inches apart, with seedlings about one inch deep. Another option is to plant seeds a couple of inches apart, then thin them when the seedlings reach transplanting height.

Even if you don’t have a garden, you can grow dill in pots on a patio, balcony or windowsill. You’ll need well-draining, deep containers (at least 12 inches) to accommodate the root system. Use potting mix and provide supplemental grow lights if they can’t get enough natural light.

If you already have rich garden soil, fertilizer won’t be necessary, and slightly lean soil means a stronger aroma. For situations where you need fertilizer (testing will determine this), incorporate compost or manure when planting, then apply a light side dressing of balanced fertilizer about four weeks later. For container dill, apply liquid fertilizer diluted to half-strength every 4-6 weeks.

As an annual plant, dill will not survive cold winters, and it can only grow indoors if you provide full sun or grow lights. The best winterization is to harvest any seeds before the first fall frost, then dry and store them to plant for the next growing season. Dill will self-seed if you let it, and you can have a winter crop in higher grow zones.

Since dill is a "cut and come again" plant, regular pruning will spur more growth. This also maintains a bushy appearance. Extend the harvesting season by removing the flower stalks and long shoots before flowers can form. Once they do, the plant goes to seed.

Start harvesting dill leaves when the plant is six inches tall. Cut or pinch leaves off at the base; they will be most flavorful right before the flowers bloom. If you want to harvest seeds for kitchen use or replanting, do so after the flower heads start turning brown.