How to Grow Dill in a Pot
Dill reaches heights of 3 feet or more in a garden bed, but lower growing varieties that grow only 2 feet work best for a potted herb garden. Dill seeds provide the signature flavor to dill pickles, and the leaves complement pickles, breads, soups, dips and cooked dishes. The plant produces large umbels of tiny yellow flowers later in the growing season. The flowers are an attractive addition to potted herb gardens, and once they fade the plant produces its flavorful seeds.
Fill a 12-inch-deep, 8- to 12-inch-diameter pot with moist potting soil. Dill grows tall and requires a deep pot so it doesn't become top heavy and fall over.
Sprinkle four dill seeds on the soil surface. Cover the seeds with a ΒΌ-inch layer of soil.
Set the pot where it receives six hours of daily sunlight. Choose an area protected from high winds if you place the pot outdoors, such as on a patio.
Water as necessary to keep the soil moist during the germination period. Seeds sprout in approximately seven days.
Thin the pot to one plant once the dill seedlings are 4 to 6 inches tall. Leave the strongest seedling to grow on.
Water the soil in the pot when the top inch feels dry. Indoor pots require watering once to twice weekly, but outdoor pots may require daily irrigation.
Fertilize dill every four weeks with a balanced soluble fertilizer. Apply the fertilizer diluted to half the rate recommendation from the label, as heavy fertilization damages dill and may compromise its flavor.
Tip
Harvest the leaves as needed throughout the early part of the growing season. The leaves loose their flavor once the plant flowers. Harvest the seeds after the flowers finish blooming, but before the seeds turn completely tan in color.
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Writer Bio
Jenny Harrington has been a freelance writer since 2006. Her published articles have appeared in various print and online publications. Previously, she owned her own business, selling handmade items online, wholesale and at crafts fairs. Harrington's specialties include small business information, crafting, decorating and gardening.
