The best companion plants for dill are leafy greens (lettuce, kale, etc.) and members of the cabbage family, including broccoli and cauliflower. However, dill is so good at hosting ladybugs and other pest killers that it pairs well with many other plants. Cucumbers, asparagus, squash, tomatoes, and several other vegetables benefit when dill is growing nearby. The pest-eating insects that live in dill will kill harmful bugs before they attack your veggies. You can even plant dill alongside root vegetables such as onions and garlic.
Is Dill A Good Companion Plant?
Dill is an excellent companion plant for many garden greens, vegetables, and even some root veggies. So, you don’t have to plan to grow dill in isolation. Once you understand the benefits of dill, what plants it grows well alongside, and which plants should never be planted near dill, you can plan an amazing garden.
What are the Benefits of Dill as a Companion Plant?
The biggest benefit of companion planting with dill is that it attracts helpful insects that eat pests. Ladybugs, praying mantises, and lacewings are drawn to dill. These predatory insects then feed on aphids, worms, mites, and a variety of other destructive bugs. In some cases, dill can be planted around other plants so pests are drawn to the dill instead of your juicy vegetables.
10 Amazing Dill Companion Plants
Dill plants play nicely with several other garden favorites, but they provide more benefit to some than others. First we’ll cover the best plants to pair with dill. Then, we’ll discuss what you should avoid planting near dill in your garden.
Leafy Greens
Lettuce, kale, and swiss chard all benefit when you grow dill nearby. Almost any pest that attacks these greens will be prey for the beneficial insects that are drawn to dill. Ladybugs love dill, and they will feast on cabbage worms that go your for kale and chard.
The Cabbage Family
It is traditional to grow dill alongside cabbage-family plants (brassicas) because the predatory insects that live in dill kill cabbage loopers and other common pests. In addition to cabbage itself, the cabbage family includes broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and kohlrabi. So, there is almost certainly a plant in your garden that could benefit from companion dill.
Cucumbers
First, dill attracts beneficial insects to kill cucumber beetles and other pests that destroy your cukes. Then, you can harvest your dill to make incredible pickles from your excess cucumbers. When I’m growing cucumbers, I always plant dill nearby for this exact reason.
Tomatoes
Plant dill around your tomatoes to act as decoy plants. Tomato hornworms and other pests will go for the dill first, which will spare your tomatoes from catastrophic damage. You may lose some dill plants to pests, but the predatory insects living in your dill will shield your tomato plants.
Asparagus
Asparagus plants are aphid magnets. These little critters can destroy your raised asparagus bed in a single growing season. So, it’s a great idea to plant dill seeds in the same bed once your asparagus crowns begin to sprout. The ladybugs and juvenile lacewings will eat the aphids so you get an excellent asparagus crop.
Onions
It may seem unlikely that dill works as a companion plant for root vegetables, but it pairs very well with onions. Onion leaves and the exposed neck of the onion plant are often terrorized by bugs. The beneficial insects that dill hosts will help the aboveground portions of your onions thrive so you can grow delicious onion bulbs.
Corn
Companion planting dill with corn helps prevent corn earworms and other pests from attacking your plants. Because corn grows much taller than dill, you will need to plant dill alongside your corn, on a side that receives plenty of sun. This way, as the corn grows, the dill will still be able to flourish.
Basil
Basil is the perfect herb garden companion for dill. Both have similar sun and water needs, so they can be planted in the same area. If you’d like to companion plant dill and basil indoors, use the Click and Grow indoor garden. It will provide ideal water and light for both plants, so you can grow both herbs at once.
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Squash
Zucchini and yellow squash both benefit from companion planting with dill. Dill serves as a trap crop that attracts pests that would otherwise attack your squash. It’s okay if a dill plant is killed by pests during this process. Since dill grows to maturity in as little as six weeks, you can plant more to shield your slower-growing squash.
Garlic
In addition to our other tips for growing the largest garlic bulbs, consider companion planting with dill. You’ll protect your garlic plants from Japanese beetles and other pests. Plus, you’ll get delicious dill leaves that pair excellently with garlic.
What Not to Plant Next to Dill? 6 Worst Companion Plants
Although dill pairs very well with a wide variety of plants, there are certain plants you should keep far away from dill in your herb and vegetable garden. They are:
- Carrots: Dill planted near carrots will stunt your carrots’ growth.
- Peppers: Dill can damage the health of almost all types of peppers, including bell peppers and chili peppers.
- Potatoes: Dill can prevent proper potato growth.
- Fennel: It is possible for dill to cross-pollinate with fennel, which results in bitter fennel.
- Eggplant: The health of your eggplants can suffer if dill is growing nearby.
- Lavender: It is common for dill to grow so fast that it shades lavender and kills it.
In order to prevent dill from harming these plants, position them at least 20 feet apart (6 meters) in your garden. It’s even better to plant dill and these plants in separate beds or on different sides of your home. Keep dill and its good companions in one area. Then, grow incompatible plants in another garden bed.
What Can Dill be Planted Next To?
In order to drive off and kill harmful insects, plant dill near these other plants:
- Lettuce
- Kale
- Chard
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Cabbage
- Brussels sprouts
- Cucumbers
- Tomatoes
- Asparagus
- Onions
- Corn
- Basil
- Squash
- Garlic
Avoid planting dill next to potatoes, peppers, carrots, lavender, eggplant, and fennel. Although dill is beneficial to most plants, it can harm these specific varieties.
