When to Plant Dill in Sydney, Warm Temperate Guide
Sow August to April. 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 Warm Temperate zone, which takes in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
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 Warm Temperate
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S/T/D | S/T/D | S/T/D | T/D | - | - | - | S | S/T/D | S/T/D | S/T/D | S/T/D |
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
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Current Growing Conditions
Soil temperature: 17.0°C (optimal range: 10–20°C) ✓ Ready to plant
Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Sydney), not a live sensor.
How to Grow Dill in Warm Temperate Australia
When to Plant
Sow Mar-May and Aug-Sep. Spring and autumn windows.
- 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
Warm Temperate Growing Tips for Dill
Recommended Varieties
- Dukat
- Bouquet
- Mammoth
Key Challenges
- Bolting in warm springs
- Wind can flatten tall plants
Pro Tips
- Succession sow for continuous supply
- Group plantings provide wind protection
- Excellent in this zone
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 Warm Temperate Zones
Organic prevention: Plant enough dill for both you and the butterflies. Swallowtail caterpillars are a sign of a healthy garden ecosystem.
Where to next
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Open the planting dashboard Join Garden BuddyCommon 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:
- Tropical (Cairns): May to Jun
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to May, Jul to Sep
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan to Apr, Aug to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan to Apr, Aug to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan to Mar, Aug to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): May to Aug
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan to Apr, Aug to Dec
Does dill grow all year round in Sydney?
No. In the Warm Temperate zone the planting months are Jan to Apr, Aug to Dec. 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 Warm Temperate zone, Sydney is its reference city.