Dill Germination

Soil

• Dill germinates best in well-drained, loose soils. Plant the seeds directly in raked garden bed in spring or start the seeds indoors in pots. If using pots, fill them with a soil-less potting mixture. Soil-less mixtures are sterile, so they don't spread diseases to the dill seeds or seedlings. They also provide the right balance of drainage and moisture retention to ensure best germination rates. Adding compost to a garden bed before planting the dill seeds provides the same drainage and moisture capabilities to the bedding soil outdoors.

Moisture

• Seeds require moisture to germinate, but too much moisture causes the dill seeds to rot. Water the soil or potting medium thoroughly before you plant so the top 4 inches of the bed or the entire soil depth in a pot is evenly moist but not soggy. Beds may require daily misting to keep the soil moist until germination, but avoid sharp sprays of water that can wash away the small seeds. Covering pots with a plastic bag retains the moisture in the soil so the dill doesn't require further watering until after the seeds sprout.

Temperature and Light

• Dill grows in the warm summer months and doesn't tolerate frost. Sow seeds outdoors after spring frost danger passes. The seeds germinate quickest at soil temperatures higher than 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Depending on the soil temperature, it takes between seven and 21 days for the seeds to sprout. Dill doesn't require light for germination, but the seedlings require full sunlight once they emerge. Plant dill seeds outdoors in a full sun bed. Provide indoor-grown seeds with the necessary light after they germinate.

Sowing Method

• Sow the dill seeds at the proper depth. Setting the seeds too deeply may inhibit germination because the new sprouts can't penetrate to the surface and receive the necessary light. In garden beds, sow the seeds on the soil surface and cover them with a ¼-inch layer of soil. Plant potted dill in ¼-inch-deep holes and cover lightly. Dill seeds are small and difficult to sow thinly, so thin the seedlings after they germinate so the dill is spaced 10 inches apart in a bed or so there is only one plant per pot.