skip to main content

Herbs Vegetable Gardening

I have a Dill and Fennel problem....

last year

I have never ever been able to grow dill or (leaf) fennel for the years and years that I have tried. This time I put the various seeds between moist paper towels in a warm area and as soon as I saw one sprout I put it on seedling mix in a little cup, one see to each cup. I started the seeds to germinate on 3/10/23 and today 4/1/23 the plants are so big already. (I had never gotten beyond the two leaf stage before this.) What do I do now? Not showing it here but the roots are girdling at the bottom of the cups. When is the earliest one can plant dill outside? Does it have to be after the last frost date or can it be one or two weeks before? My last frost date is April 27th, soooo far away. I suppose I could pot up each of those plants into tall and narrow cups but OMG that is a lot of work and a lot of space. I did not think or know that dill grows that fast. What is the best path for me now to grow these plants this season ? I hope I dont have to lose all these plants.

And why do some plants flop so badly?

Thanks so much my friends!

Comments (6)

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
Fennel develops a tap root pretty fast so I would not bother starting indoors at all. However, since you've done it, I would harden them off and plant outside asap. Likewise the dill. A light frost won't bother either if they're hardened off. I would sow both straight into the ground outside in future. Fennel is a perennial which also self sows, so you shouldn't need to sow it again. One plant would probably provide all your fennel needs for leaf and seed, unless you are addicted to the stuff. Disclaimer .... you don't say where you are located. Fennel may not be winter hardy if you are in a cold area.
katyajini thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
katyajini
Original Author
last year
Thank you @floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK. I will start hardening them off from today. It will take 7 - 10 days and by then the weather will be warmer. Good to know dill and fennel can take slight cold. I do like fresh herbs.....but I am growing these to bring in pollinators an especially the swallowtail butterflies. I see other gardeners grow Bronze Fennel as a perennial, at least for a few years. I am trying that.
Related Discussions
WANTED: Cilantro, dill and fennel
Q
Comments (2)
I sent you an email,if you do not receive it please email me! Angie
...See More
WS vs DS for fennel, dill, and parsley for butterflies?
Q
Comments (7)
Last year WS Dill, Bronze Fennel, and flat-leaf Parsley. Zillions of sprouts with Dill and parsley, only 4 sprouts with Bronze fennel (which grew into beautiful plants that are perennial so 4 is sufficient). This year WS Fernleaf Dill and both Curly and flatleaf Parsley. The Bronze fennel over-wintered fine and is up growing. The regular Dill reseeded like crazy, there are zillions out there. The parsley did not over-winter, but is starting to sprout in cups, no problem with germinating these. Dill is an early summer bloomer and dies back after going to seed, the Fennel was a very late bloomer. You might want to try successive sowings with the Dill, it could work. Last year there were over a dozen Black Swallowtail caterpillars on the Bronze Fennel, 1 on the Dill and none on the parsley (that I observed).
...See More
1st time planting Fennel & Dill for foodsource Tips Needed
Q
Comments (2)
Hi Tree, I'm in zone 5, and I have dill all over; I let it volunteer. The BSTs seem to prefer parsley for me; don't know if you're considering that one too. They've also used fennel too, but I find more cats in my parsley bed. I think your plan sounds great. Don't know about the retaining wall idea because it might take a while for the Dill to reach the size needed to show up behind the wall. Plant lots of whatever you put in; once they find your plants, you'll get egged. I'm in zone 5, and the plants all seem to do well in full sun with amended soil, which you probably have since you're planting into a flower bed. Have fun! It's addicting...I started with planting for monarchs, then BSTS, now I'm going all out for some other differnt kinds of cats (Question Marks, Buckeyes, Red-Spotted Purples, Viceroys, and trying to get some nettle for Milbert's Tortoiseshell!).
...See More
Parsley, Dill and Fennel for butterflies
Q
Comments (6)
This group of plants is the same group that includes carrots and all of them make a pretty long tap root. Because of this root they hate being transplanted (unless they have been maintained in a large pot, in which case you can plant them anytime. Moving them from one spot in the yard to another is what is difficult.) Ideally you would have planted seeds in the fall and let them overwinter and come up when the weather is perfect for them (often not perfect for us). We are due some pretty severe low temps this next week so I am gonna hold off til that mess passes before I sow any more - not that the plants seem to care, it is just too cold for me to be out there digging in the dirt. I believe they like temps below 70 to do their best growing so early spring or late winter is the time to sow - and most of them need sunshine to speed germination so don't bury them in soil. Many people wait too late in the spring to sow this group of plants and the seedlings really struggle with the warm weather we get from June onward. So, get ready now because waiting til May will be too late. Some of these guys are slow to sprout so be patient. I also never sow all the seeds at one time in case we get really bad weather (too wet, or too cold). Asheville is a bit cooler than Raleigh so you might wait another month, but still, now is the time to prep and plan.
...See More
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
last year
Are those bronze fennel seedlings? Usually the colour is visible from their babyhood. Maybe it's not showing in the photos?
kevin9408
last year
Ha ha. been there before (and now) and continuously plant my seeds later then the last year. I've become tired of big plants needing to up pot them but did it again with brussel sprouts this year taking up to much space under the lights.

Your dill is hardy down to 25 degrees so a couple weeks of hardening off and you'll be fine to plant. The Fennel is hardy to even lower temps and could go into the ground in a week with your last frost date on April 27th. I wouldn't up pot either and could do more damage to the roots than could regrow before sticking into the ground.

I started my sprouts in mid February in 16 oz cups just so I wouldn't need to up pot them, and plan to plant them about 6 weeks before my last frost but the snow needs to melt first.
HighColdDesert
last year
I find dill and fennel grow just fine direct sown outdoors, and as mentioned already, you only have to plant them once because they will self seed and/or you collect seed. Most of the plants in that umbellifer family (carrots, parsley, dill, coriander, fennel, etc) tend to do best direct seeded.

I live in a place with a cold winter climate (eg 2 months of pond hockey in the neighborhood) and fennel does overwinter. It gets huge and shades out nearby plants so I wouldn't want more than one.

For dill, I have found sometimes it doesn't start in great numbers from seed. Maybe some varieties prefer to go through some cold damp time in the ground before the weather warms up and they sprout. Anyway once they do grow, I let them self seed around the garden. Dill doesn't get huge, and dies after setting seed.
CA Kate z9
last year
I planted several pots with several dill seeds each - quite awhile ago. I discovered that one - 1 - seed actually spouted. I guess I'd better treasure it.

Sign Up to Comment

Related Stories

EDIBLE GARDENS Herb Garden Essentials: Grow Your Own Tasty, Frilly Dill

By Marianne Lipanovich

Flavor your food and attract butterflies with easy-care (and pretty) dill in the garden

INSPIRING GARDENS A Scented Garden Designed to Lift the Spirit

By Susannah Hutchison

From savory fennel to chocolaty mint, the unexpected scents in this feel-good landscape can evoke happy memories

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Be a Butterfly Savior — Garden for the Monarchs

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Keep hope, beauty and kindness alive in the landscape by providing a refuge for these threatened enchanters

GARDENING GUIDES Evocative Plants to Awaken All the Senses

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Slip into a garden wonderland that brings more than mere visual delight, by including these grasses, flowers and herbs

PLANTING IDEAS Great Garden Combo: Tropical Beauties for a Sun-Drenched Border

These standouts hold up in drought, heat and humidity — and their good looks hold up to scrutiny

KITCHEN STORAGE 16 Ways to Store Your Herbs and Spices

By Becky Harris

From super neat and organized to surprisingly artistic, there’s a seasoning-stashing solution for everyone

GARDENING GUIDES Top 12 Summer-Blooming Perennials for Deer-Resistant Drama

Can you have garden color, fragrance and exciting foliage with hungry deer afoot? These beauties say yes

COLOR 11 Terrific Paint Color Matches for Wood Details

By Charmean Neithart Interiors

Pair your wood trim and cabinets with the right shade of wall paint to bring out the beauty in both

EDIBLE GARDENS 7 Edible, Pretty Wonders of the Plant World

By CYAN Horticulture

It's OK to like them just for their looks, but these flowers, trees and greens have a tasty side too

CONTAINER GARDENS 7 Deer-Resistant Flowers for Your Summer Containers

Grow these as protection for edibles or just for their colorful beauty — deer might not like them, but everyone else will

Sponsored

Wannemacher Interiors

26 Reviews

Customized Award-Winning Interior Design Solutions in Columbus, OH

More Discussions

list the problems with my pineapple sage

6

Mystery herb / plant

14

Cistus Incanus and Hormones

0

Herb Marigold 'Dropshot', a nice texture in the landscape.

21

Perennial Rosemary in zone 7a?

10