How to Grow Gourmet Gold Dill
Anethum graveolens 'Gourmet Gold'
Gourmet Gold Dill is a versatile herb prized for its bright yellow flowers and fresh flavor in salads, soups, and pickles. Gardeners grow this easy-to-care-for annual to attract pollinators while harvesting culinary greens that thrive in cool conditions.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Gourmet Gold Dill: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Gourmet Gold Dill is not usually started indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors rather than starting indoors, as dill has a weak root system that struggles when transplanted.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5 for optimal growth. Sow seeds directly outdoors 2 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost date, as dill is a cool-season crop tolerating light frost. Press seeds gently into the soil surface without covering them deeply, then keep moist until germination occurs within 7 to 21 days.
Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart to ensure good air circulation and bushy growth. While dill often stands alone, taller varieties may benefit from light staking if wind is strong. Water about one inch per week, ensuring the soil stays consistently moist during establishment but allowing it to dry slightly once mature.
Watch for aphids, spider mites, and parsley worms; encourage beneficial insects or spray with insecticidal soap if infestations appear. Rare diseases like downy mildew are usually prevented by good airflow. Harvest leaves when they reach a usable size, typically within 40 to 50 days of sowing, snipping stems just above the leaf nodes.
When to Plant Gourmet Gold Dill
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 2 | April – May | — | August – September |
| Zone 3 | April – May | — | July – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | — | July – October |
| Zone 5 | March – April | — | June – October |
| Zone 6 | March – April | — | June – November |
| Zone 7 | February – March | — | June – November |
| Zone 8 | February – March | — | May – December |
| Zone 9 | January – February | — | April – December |
| Zone 10 | January | — | April – December |
| Zone 11 | January | — | March – December |
Companion Plants for Gourmet Gold Dill
✓ Good companions
Repels cabbage moths and imported cabbage worms that damage brassicas
Repels cabbage worms, cabbage loopers, and other brassica pests
Dill attracts beneficial insects that prey on carrot fly and other root pests
Dill attracts beneficial wasps that control corn borers and other corn pests
Dill attracts beneficial insects that control cucumber beetles and improves growth
Provides light shade for lettuce while repelling aphids and attracting beneficial insects
Both plants repel each other's pests and dill attracts predatory insects
Dill repels tomato hornworms and aphids while improving tomato flavor
✗ Keep away from
Competes for similar nutrients and space, both bolt quickly in heat
Inhibits dill growth through allelopathy and cross-pollinates affecting seed quality
Requires different soil pH and moisture levels, can stunt dill growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
