Grow Healthier, Happier Dill Plants With Help From These 12 Companion Plants (2024)

Gardening

Herbs

Kate Van Pelt

Kate Van Pelt is a contributing writer for The Spruce, based in the PNW. Kate has been a full-time digital content creator for nearly a decade, covering everything from home decor to personal finance.

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Updated on 03/28/24

Benefits of Companion Planting

Companion planting is a tried-and-true gardening technique that can boost the health of certain crops when planted together. Some plants can attract pollinators like wasps and repel pests like cabbage worms and moths. Additionally, while most plants absorb nutrients from the soil, some do the opposite. Bush beans, for instance, send nitrogen back into the earth to benefit neighboring plants, and chamomile can release chemicals that boost growth and even flavor in nearby plants.

Dill is a great companion plant for numerous herbs and vegetables primarily for its relationship with good and bad insects. Dill plants can attract pollinators like honeybees and ladybugs to your garden, as well as deter harmful insects like aphids and spider mites. Additionally, dill has shallow roots and narrow stems that can easily fit between larger plants like Brussels sprouts to help you save space in your garden.

01 of 12
Corn

Insects like cutworms and earworms can threaten mature corn. Dill has an intense fragrance that attracts various insects like ladybugs and hoverflies. These beneficial bugs happen to prey on corn's harmful pests, making flowering dill plants an excellent companion for established corn. Experts recommend growing dill on the ends of corn rows, roughly one foot away from the nearest corn stalk.
- Name: Corn (Zea mays)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Loamy, well-drained, acidic, neutral
02 of 12
Asparagus

For many crops, aphids are always on the prowl, looking to gobble up your plants before you have the chance. Asparagus is among these vulnerable veggies. Fortunately, dill seeds attract both lacewings and ladybugs, which enjoy snacking on aphids. Additionally, companion planting with asparagus and dill is a great way to maximize growing space and ensure an even distribution of nutrients.
- Name: Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-9
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Sandy, loamy, neutral acidic
03 of 12
Basil

Dill and basil are great companion plants, because of their many similarities. Not only do they benefit from similar soil components, but they also attract many of the same beneficial insects and deter destructive pests. If you're building an herb garden, be sure to plant these nearby.
- Name: Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 10-11
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Moist, rich, well-draining, acidic to alkaline
- Deer Resistant: Yes
Tip
Other herbs like coriander, parsley, and chervil also make great dill companion plants.
04 of 12
Broccoli

Brassica vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, turnips, and more, many of which make great dill companion plants. Dill can help deter destructive insects like cabbage moths, cabbage loopers, and cabbage worms, all of which enjoy munching on brassica vegetables like broccoli.
- Name: Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Moist, loamy, well-drained, acidic, neutral
Continue to 5 of 12 below
05 of 12
Marigold

Dill can help repel a variety of pesky insects, but it is not immune to damage from certain bugs like caterpillars and slugs. Fortunately, there are certain plants that can ward off these critters, including marigolds. Marigolds are considered one of the best companion plants, pairing perfectly with onions, squash, cucumber, and more.
- Name: Marigold (Tagetes spp.)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Evenly moist, well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral
06 of 12
Lettuce

Some sources argue that leafy vegetables like lettuce are the best dill companion plant of all. Not only is lettuce a primary target of many garden pests, but it has a short growing cycle, so you can harvest and replant your lettuce, spinach, and Swiss chard as the dill grows.
- Name: Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11
- Light: Full sun to partial sun
- Soil: Loamy, rich, well-drained, acidic, neutral
07 of 12
Onion

Aphids tend to avoid the intense fragrance that accompanies dill, but that doesn't mean dill is protected from the threat of this common garden pest. Many avid gardeners recommend planting onions and dill together because the combination of these strong aromas offers an even better barrier against bugs like aphids.
- Name: Onion (Allim cepa)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Loamy, well-drained, neutral
08 of 12
Beans

Like dill, beans are a great companion plant, because of the benefits they offer neighboring plants. Specifically, the roots of bean plants attract nitrogen, which benefits the surrounding plants. In exchange, dill keeps away common garden pests that threaten to destroy growing bean plants.
- Name: Common bean, green bean, etc. (Phaseolus vulgaris)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Loamy, moist, well-drained, acidic
Continue to 9 of 12 below
09 of 12
Nasturtium

Like marigolds, nasturtiums can be an excellent dill companion plant and benefit a number of other popular garden herbs and veggies. Just as onions and dill work together to repel aphids, nasturtium can protect garden crops by doubling dill's efforts. This popular companion plant attracts pollinators as well as predatory insects, making it a great addition to most garden beds.
- Name: Nasturtium (Tropaeolum spp.)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Moist but well-drained, acidic, neutral, alkaline
10 of 12
Chives

Like onions, chives have an intense fragrance that can deter aphids, making dill and chives a great pest-fighting team. Chives will not only help dill deter this destructive garden critter, but it also repels other garden pests like spider mites. Together, chives and dill attract pollinators to foster health for neighboring plants.
- Name: Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8
- Light: Full sun to light shade
- Soil: Loamy, sandy, slightly acidic to neutral
Tip
Some sources say planting dill near alliums like garlic, chives, onions, and leeks can help enhance their flavor.
11 of 12
Zucchini

Zucchini and other squash plants tend to grow big and bushy, so not every popular companion plant pairs well with these leafy giants. Fortunately, dill is thin and frond-like, so it won't clash with the squash plant's leaves or block sunshine. Additionally, zucchini and squash are particularly susceptible to pests like squash beetles and flea beetles, but dill plants offer an effective line of defense by attracting predatory insects.
- Name: Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-11
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Rich, loamy, moist
12 of 12
Cucumber

Dill and cucumber are another great pair in both the kitchen as well as the garden. Cucumber beetles are a major threat to cucumbers, but fortunately, dill can help. Dill plants attract ladybugs, parasitic wasps, and green lacewings, all of which love to feast on cucumber beetles.
- Name: Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-11
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Rich, well-draining, acidic to neutral

Plants You Shouldn't Grow With Dill

Although dill can be a beneficial companion plant for a wide variety of vegetables, herbs, and even flowers, not every plant will interact well with dill plants. Here are a few plants you should avoid growing near dill:

Carrots: Avoid planting dill and carrots together, as the pair are members of the same plant family and can cross-pollinate. This is also true of celery, cilantro, caraway, and more.
Peppers: Peppers, and other nightshades like eggplant and even tomatoes, are not the best companion plant for dill, because they consume the same type of nutrients, which may stunt your plants' growth.
Lavender: Lavender and dill are not great companion plants, since both have different soil requirements. Dill prefers moist soil, while lavender likes its soil to dry between watering.
Potatoes: Dill grows quickly and sometimes blocks light from reaching other growing plants like potatoes, which can stunt their growth.

FAQ

Where does dill like to be planted?

Dill prefers to grow in locations that provide full sun and in moist, well-drained soil (USDA Hardiness Zones 2-11). Avoid growing dill in locations with high wind, as it can easily topple their thin stems.
How close together can you plant dill?

When planting dill from seed, arrange seeds in rows. Plant them 1/4 inch to 1 inch apart, with the rows growing approximately 6 to 12 inches apart. When the plants are a few inches tall, thin the cluster to leave only the strongest stems.

Companion Planting Chart and Guide for Vegetable Gardens

Grow Healthier, Happier Dill Plants With Help From These 12 Companion Plants (2024)

Benefits of Companion Planting

Corn

Asparagus

Basil

Tip

Broccoli

Marigold

Lettuce

Onion

Beans

Nasturtium

Chives

Tip

Zucchini

Cucumber

Plants You Shouldn't Grow With Dill