(Anethum graveolens ‘Dukat')
Dukat Dill is an annual herb that is native to the Mediterranean and Asia but can be commonly found growing throughout the Midwest, northeastern, and west coast of the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches a height of 3-5' and features stiff hollow stems, sweet-scented, bluish-green, feathery foliage, and compound 10” umbrella-shaped umbels that are topped by yellow aromatic flowers. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts bees, butterflies, hoverflies, lacewings, ladybugs, predatory wasps, and tachinid flies, repels aphids, spider mites, and squash bugs, is rabbit safe, tolerates deer, its leaves are used as an insect repellent, tolerates drought and light frost, is used to flavor soaps, is used to make insecticides, is both edible and medicinal and self-sows!
- Non-GMO
- Heirloom
- Open Pollinated
General Information
Genus: Anethum
Species: graveolens.
Variety: Dukat Dill
Also Known As: Tetra
Ease of Growing: Moderate
Grown as: Annual
Maturity (Blooms): August to September
Hardiness: Hardy. Dill is quite hardy and can withstand temperatures as low as 24 degrees F.
Crops: Spring Transplant, Spring
Growing Season: Short, Long
Growing Conditions: Cold, Cool, Warm. Dill will tolerate poor growing conditions as long as it's sunny. It does well in poor soils, and doesn't require much water, but needs sunlight and a little protection from the wind.
Outdoor Growing Temp: 50°F - 80°F
Min Outdoor Soil Temp: 50°F. Dill is a fairly hardy plant and can be planted outdoors 2 to 4 weeks before the last frost date. It is sometimes sown in the fall to provide a spring crop.
Start Indoors: No
Start Outdoors: Yes
Light: Full Sun. Min. 6 hours daily (Cold, Cool, Warm). Dill needs a warm sunny spot for best production (it tolerates very light shade). It should also be protected from strong winds.
Water: Medium. Dill produces a deep taproot which makes it quite drought tolerant, but for maximum productivity, the soil should be kept moist.
Feeder: Light. Dill isn't a very hungry plant.
Suitability: Drought tolerant, Tolerates light frost, Needs summer shade
Small Gardens?: Yes
Containers?: Yes. Dill is an excellent candidate for container growing. Dill has long roots, so choose a container with a depth of 1 to 3'. Make sure your container has drainage holes. Line the bottom with gravel and then cover it with nutrient-rich potting soil. Dill grows best in well-drained soil, so be careful not to overly water your plants. Keep the soil moist but not soaked, and place your dill in an area with access to 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day.
Attracts Beneficial Insects?: Yes. Aphid Midges, Hoverflies, Green Lacewings, Ladybugs, Mealybug Destroyer, Predatory Wasps, Preying Mantis, Swallowtail Butterfly Caterpillars, and Tachinid Flies.
Forage: Rabbits.
Plant Height: 24-36"
Plant Diameter: 6-18"
Sowing Depth: 1/4"
Spacing: 12-15"
Produces: stiff hollow stems, sweet-scented, bluish-green, feathery foliage, and compound 10” umbrella-shaped umbels that are topped by yellow aromatic flowers.
USDA Grow Zone: 2-11
Garden Uses: Commonly grown in herb gardens, vegetable gardens, or flower borders. Also may be grown in containers. Dill leaves add a subtle but distinctive flavor to a variety of dishes including fish, vegetables, soups, salads, sauces, bread, and herb butter. Dill seed is more pungent than the leaves and is the primary flavoring in dill pickles. Dill seed is also used in vinegar, sauerkraut, and for flavoring root vegetables. Dill seed can be used to make an excellent tea. Flower heads are excellent in dried arrangements.