Dill is sometimes called dill weed and is an essential ingredient in dill pickles. You can also use it as a seasoning in egg salad and some fish dishes. Dill’s flavor can be described as a combination of anise or licorice and lemon. Dill can be an excellent companion plant because of its ability to attract beneficial insects and deter pests. Companion planting is the practice of pairing plants for the benefit of one or both of the plants. The beneficial insects that it attracts include ones that prey on pests and some that help with pollination. Let’s cover some of the best dill companion plants.
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Onions
Some of the pests that feed on onions will be repelled by dill and vice versa, onion will deter some of the dill plant’s pests.
Asparagus
Dill can greatly benefit asparagus, which is prone to damage by aphids. The dill will attract lacewings and ladybugs that will prey on the aphids. Dill also repels spider mites that may also feed on asparagus plants. Additionally, birds attracted by dill will eat other asparagus pests.
Cucumbers
Just as they pair well in dill pickles, dill, and cucumbers can pair well in your garden as the dill will attract insects that eat cucumber beetles.
Members of the Brassicaceae family
Planting dill alongside brassicas can be highly beneficial. The brassica family encompasses cabbages and all their relatives like kale, Brussels sprouts and radishes. Dill may help to protect these plants from pests like the cabbage worm.
Dill and Brassicas both do well in similar conditions. Both like sunlight but also grow best in cool conditions with regular watering. Cabbages and their relatives may not offer many benefits to dill, though they might provide some support and protection from the wind. Because dill plants have hollow stems, they are susceptible to being blown over.
Fennel
Fennel is notoriously tough on other herbs growing in its vicinity, but dill is one of the few that can thrive beside it. Dill is sometimes planted alongside fennel to attract the pests that could otherwise destroy fennel. When the pests attack the dill, you should burn the dill to kill the pests, their eggs, and their larvae. Note: these two herbs can cross-pollinate, causing undesirable flavors in the next generation grown from seed.
Tomatoes
Dill and tomatoes are compatible but will have to be separated when the dill matures. Dill can help protect tomato plants from one of their most aggressive pests — the hornworm. Dill will attract the hornworms since they prefer it to the tomatoes. The downside is that mature dill may stunt the growth of your tomato plants, so you will have to get rid of it.
Basil
Both basil and dill like to be watered regularly, though neither can tolerate wet soil. They also like lots of sun in temperate climates but will need some shade when planted in hot regions. They should thrive when you plant them next to each other, both in the garden and in containers.
Chervil
Like dill, chervil attracts insect predators that will feed on some of your garden’s pests. The two together can offer significant protective benefits.
Which plants should not be planted with dill?
You shouldn’t plant carrots and dill together. Carrots and dill belong to the same family, which is why dill can cross-pollinate with carrots if you allow it to flower. The resulting hybrid will have an unpleasant taste.