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More Information |
Dill (Anethum graveolens) is a delightful herb with
many culinary uses. It’s
valued both for its flavorful foliage and for its pungent
seeds.
Fresh or dried, dill leaves add a distinctive flavor to
salads, fish, vegetable
casseroles and soups. Used whole or ground, dill seeds add zest
to breads, cheeses and
salad dressings.
The seeds are dark brown, narrow, ribbed and flattened. About
one-sixth of an inch
long, their pungent flavor is similar to caraway seeds, which
are
cousins.
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| Dill is best known as a pickling herb for cucumbers and other vegetables. But its leaves and seeds have many culinary uses. |
The seeds are the best way to use dill in dishes that require
cooking over a long time.
Of course, dill is best known as a pickling herb for cucumbers
as
well as green beans,
carrots and beets.
Grows Well in
Gardens
Dill plants are annuals. They die each year, but their seeds
can overwinter in the soil
to pop up the following year. Dill grows well in gardens
throughout the United States and
southern Canada (zones 3-10).
Properly sited and planted, dill grows so fast that some of
its foliage is mature
enough to be harvested in only eight weeks.
Plan to sow several crops in succession, three weeks apart,
to
assure a supply over the
growing season. Dill does best in full sun, with a bit of
afternoon shade in Georgia.
It’s fairly tolerant of poor soil. Still, it prefers a sandy
or loamy soil that drains
well. It’s a light feeder, so you don’t need extra fertilizer in
a reasonably fertile
soil.
Plant Seeds
Shallow
To sow seeds directly into the garden in rows, make a line in
the soil one-fourth to
one-half inch deep. Then dribble the tiny seeds into the
indented
rows. Firm the soil over
the rows of seeds and water softly. Expect to see sprouts in 10
to 14 days.
To plant homegrown or commercial seedlings, choose an
overcast
day or wait until late
afternoon. Shield new transplants from bright sun the first day
or two while they cope
with the shock of transplanting.
Space the plants 8 to 10 inches apart if you’ll harvest
leaves, or 10 to 12 inches
apart if harvesting seed. Take great pains to avoid disturbing
the taproot.
Depending on the variety, these fast-growing dill plants will
grow to maturity and set
seed in about 60 days.
Mulch
Important
In thin, poor and unmulched soil, dill needs watering a
couple
of times a week when it
doesn’t rain. Drip or porous-hose watering is better for dill
than overhead sprinklers.
Spread a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch around the plants when
they’re about 6 inches
tall. This will discourage weeds and help keep the soil moist.
Add more mulch as it
decomposes in the summer heat.
Dill is typically a disappearing target for pests. Its fast
growth and quick harvest
allow little time for aphids and others to establish a
presence.
Occasionally, parsleyworms or tomato hornworms attack its
foliage. Handpick parsleyworm
and transfer it to another favorite, Queen Anne’s lace, so it
can
survive to become a
butterfly.
Handpick hornworms and drop them into a plastic bag to
discard
in the trash.
