When to Plant Dill in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide

Sow May to August. Right now in September it is out of season. The next sowing month is May.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Dill guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Dill

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

A tall, feathery annual herb essential for Scandinavian, Eastern European and Asian cuisines. Both leaves (dill weed) and seeds are used. Like coriander, dill bolts in warm weather, but it's more forgiving. Excellent butterfly attractor. The fernlike foliage adds texture to any garden.

Planting Calendar for Arid / Semi-Arid

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - S S/T/D S/T/D T - - - -

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

Want a nudge when it is Dill sowing time in Alice Springs?

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 22.7°C (optimal range: 10–20°C) ✗ Outside optimal range

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Alice Springs), not a live sensor.

How to Grow Dill in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia

When to Plant

Sow Mar-May and Aug-Sep. Avoid summer extremes.

Soil
Well-drained, average to rich soil. Not fussy about soil quality.
pH Range
5.5-6.5
Sunlight
Full sun. Tolerates light afternoon shade in hot zones.
Spacing
15cm apart, 30cm between rows
Watering
Regular watering. Drought stress accelerates bolting. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.

Companion plants: Cabbage, Broccoli, Lettuce, Onion, Cucumber

Avoid planting near: Fennel (will cross-pollinate), Carrot, Tomato

Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Dill

Recommended Varieties

  • Dukat
  • Common dill

Key Challenges

  • Extreme heat
  • Low humidity desiccates feathery leaves
  • Wind damage

Pro Tips

  • Afternoon shade essential
  • Windbreak protection important
  • Keep well-watered

Harvesting Dill

When ready: Harvest leaves once plants are 20cm+ tall. Harvest before flowering for strongest leaf flavour. Seeds ready when brown and dry on plant.

How to harvest: Snip leaf fronds as needed. Cut no more than 1/3 of plant at once. For seed: cut entire seed heads when brown, dry in paper bag.

Where to next

What dill costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the arid and semi-arid zone this September: Ginger, Chilli Peppers, Lemongrass and Beetroot.

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Common Questions About Dill

When do you plant dill in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does dill grow all year round in Alice Springs?

No. In the Arid / Semi-Arid zone the planting months are May to Aug. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.