HerbDill
Dukat Dill
Leafy Dill
Dukat Dill stands as Denmark's crowning achievement in dill breeding, earning its nickname 'The Bouquet Dill of Scandinavia' through decades of careful selection for superior flavor and abundant foliage. This premium heirloom produces exceptionally large, deep green leaves with high essential oil content that delivers the sweetest, most concentrated dill flavor on the market. Ready to harvest in 40-60 days, though some sources suggest up to 70, this slow-bolting variety thrives in full sun and reaches 18-36 inches tall with reliable performance in both gardens and containers.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam
Preferred Temp65-75°F
Growth Stats
36 in
Height
—
Width
12 in
Spacing
40–60
Days to Harvest
PeriodAnnual
TypeBush
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
?-?
Size
36in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
What sets Dukat apart is its remarkable combination of sweet, concentrated flavor and lush, feathery foliage that outproduces any other dill variety. The Danish breeding program specifically selected this cultivar for its slower bolting habit, allowing extended leaf harvests throughout the season. Those extra-large, dark green leaves contain exceptionally high levels of essential oils, making every pinch more flavorful than ordinary dill varieties. Perfect for both fresh culinary use and pickling, Dukat delivers the rich, sweet taste that made Scandinavian cuisine famous.
Common Uses
Dukat excels in both fresh culinary applications and pickling projects, where its sweet, concentrated flavor shines brightest. The large, feathery leaves add distinctive taste to salads, soups, and seafood dishes, while pairing exceptionally well with potatoes, cucumbers, and creamy sauces. Many gardeners specifically choose Dukat for sweet and spicy pickles, where its superior flavor and high essential oil content create more flavorful preserves. Both the fresh foliage and the mature seed umbels find their way into kitchens for seasoning and preservation work.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Early Summer
First Harvest
Early Summer
Last Harvest
Late Summer
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Sow seeds directly in the garden once soil temperature reaches 60°F, planting about 1/4 inch deep with 10-12 inches between plants and 12-18 inches between rows
Harvesting
Begin harvesting leaves once plants reach about 8 inches tall, snipping foliage as needed throughout the growing season. For peak flavor, harvest in the morning after dew has dried but before the day becomes hot. Cut flower umbels when seeds turn brown and dry, allowing them to detach easily from the umbels for culinary or pickling use.
Pruning
Pinch young flower heads to extend leaf harvest and prevent early bolting, taking advantage of Dukat's naturally slower bolting tendency for prolonged fresh herb production.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Deer ResistantEdible
Scientific Classification
Anethum L.
Family
Apiaceae
Genus
Anethum
Duration
Annual
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)HI (I)PR (I)VI (I)CAN (I)
History & Origin
“Dukat Dill emerged from Denmark's meticulous plant breeding programs, where horticulturists dedicated years to selecting the finest dill specimens for superior culinary qualities. Danish breeders focused on developing a variety that would produce larger leaves, slower bolting, and most importantly, that distinctive sweet flavor that would set it apart from common dill. Through careful selection over multiple generations, they created what many consider the ultimate culinary dill, earning it the affectionate title 'The Bouquet Dill of Scandinavia' for its especially rich flavor and abundant, feathery foliage.”