When to Plant Dill in Brisbane, Subtropical Guide

Sow March to May and July to September. Right now in September you can sow.

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 Subtropical zone, which takes in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs 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 Subtropical

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

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

Want a nudge when it is Dill sowing time in Brisbane?

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 20.4°C (optimal range: 10–20°C) ✗ Outside optimal range

That figure is read off my own weather station here at Dayboro in South East Queensland at 18:55 yesterday, not a model. The radar, the rain gauge and the forecasts behind it sit on Dayboro.au.

How to Grow Dill in Subtropical Australia

When to Plant

Sow Feb-May and Aug-Oct. Best sown in autumn for winter/spring harvest.

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

Subtropical Growing Tips for Dill

Recommended Varieties

  • Dukat
  • Bouquet
  • Common dill

Key Challenges

  • Summer bolting
  • Caterpillar damage in spring

Pro Tips

  • Autumn sowing most reliable
  • Self-sows well, let some plants set seed for next season
  • Plant extra for swallowtail butterflies

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.

Common Dill Pests in Subtropical Zones

Aphids and Powdery Mildew, risk: MODERATE (score: 56/100)

Organic prevention: Plant enough dill for both you and the butterflies. Swallowtail caterpillars are a sign of a healthy garden ecosystem.

View all pest alerts →

Where to next

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

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

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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 Brisbane?

No. In the Subtropical zone the planting months are Mar to May, Jul to Sep. 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 Subtropical zone, Brisbane is its reference city.