 Dill is an annual, aromatic herb that seasons soups, fish, vinegar, butter, cakes, bread and pickles. Learn how to grow and use dill...
 Growing and
Harvesting Dill by Jackie Carroll
Dill is one of the easiest herbs to grow and would make a great first herb for someone who has never grown herbs before. You'll find lots of uses for both the fronds and the seeds in the kitchen. A sprig of dill will perk up almost any soup, salad, or main dish. You can buy transplants at your local garden center, but there is no need because dill is easy to grow from seeds. You won't even have to start them indoors - just plant your dill seeds right in the garden where you want them to grow.
When to Plant
Dill likes to be planted in cool weather. In warm winter areas that don't experience a hard frost, you can plant dill in fall or winter. In cooler areas, plant dill a week or two before your last hard frost. After the first sowing, plant again every 10 days or so for a continuous crop.
When growing in containers, use a deep container to accommodate the long roots, and remember that you will eventually have a plant that is three feet tall. Plants grown in containers may require staking.
Cultivation
Here are a few suggestions to start you on your way to a healthy crop of dill:
Dill, like most herbs, loves to bask in the sun, but will tolerate afternoon shade.
Dill grows up to 3 feet tall, so plant it in the back of your flower, vegetable or herb garden.
Sow seeds close together. This will allow the plants, which blow over easily to support each other.
Cover the seeds lightly, and allow a week or two for them to germinate.
For a continuous crop, sow repeatedly from mid spring to early summer.
Don't plant near caraway, fennel or angelica.
Caterpillars are fond of dill, and can be handpicked if they become a nuisance.
Harvesting and Preserving
The best way to use dill is fresh from the garden, so during the growing season, cut your dill to use fresh as you need it. If not kept cut, your dill will go to seed, so cut often until you are ready to switch to seed production.
If you find that you have cut more than you can use, dry the excess in the microwave. Spread the dill in a single layer on a paper towel and microwave on high for 3 minutes. The result is beautiful and tasty - much better than dried dill you buy in the grocery store. After microwaving, remove and discard the hard stems, crumble the leaves, and store in an airtight container protected from light.
Once seedheads begin to form, it's time to stop cutting dill for fresh use. Allow the seedheads to develop and dry completely, then cut them. You'll be able to remove the seeds easily with your fingers.
Medicinal Uses:
To brew a stomach-soothing tea, use two teaspoons of mashed seeds per cup of boiling water. Steep for ten minutes. Drink up to three cups a day. In a tincture, take 1/2 to 1 teaspoon up to three times a day. To treat colic or gas in children under two, give small amounts of a weak tea. Many herbalists recommend combining dill and fennel to ease colic in infants.
Culinary Uses
The taste of dill leaves resembles that of caraway, while the seeds are pungent and aromatic. Freshly cut, chopped leaves enhance the flavor of dips, herb butter, soups, salads, fish dishes, and salads. The seeds are used in pickling and can also improve the taste of roasts, stews and vegetables. Try grinding the seeds to use as a salt substitute. Both the flowering heads and seeds are used in flavored vinegars and oils.
Shopping Resource:
Dill Seeds [1]
About the Author:
Jackie Carroll is the editor of GardenGuides.com, a leading internet destination for gardening information and ideas.
Visit GardenGuides [2]
Visit GardenGuides Seed Shop [3]
| Cooking with Dill
- Dill Recipes
Dilled Potato Salad
1 lb. of red or new potatoes
3/4 cup light or regular sour cream
2 Tbsp light or regular mayonnaise
1 Tbsp chopped fresh dill or 1 tsp dried dill seed
salt and pepper to taste
1 small chopped apple
1 small chopped onion
Cook potatoes in a saucepan of boiling water until just tender.
Drain potatoes and rinse under cold water to stop cooking. Peel and cut potatoes into bite sized cubes.
At the bottom of a large bowl, stir together sour cream, mayo, dill, salt and pepper. Add chopped potatoes, apple and onion; toss to coat potato salad with the dill dressing.
Low Fat Vegetable Dill Dip
1/2 cup low fat mayonaise
1/2 cup low fat sour cream
1 tbsp. dried parsley
1 tsp. garlic salt
1 tbsp. dried dill seed
1 tbsp. dried onion flakes
salt and pepper to taste
Stir all ingredients together and refrigerate overnight. Serve as a dip with carrots, celery, apple slices, broccolli or cauliflower.
Buy Dill Seeds from Nature Hills Nursery
 Bouquet Dill [4] - $1.79
The Dill Bouquet, 'Anethum graveolens', is the most widely grown dill. Bouquet Dill produces early, large seed heads that make this plant excellent for pickling. The Bouquet foliage is also superior sprinkled on new potatoes, tomatoes, grilled salmon, spinach, green beans, cucumbers, squash, and lamb chops. The 30 to 36 inch tall plant is very aromatic. Successive plantings every 2 to 3 weeks will assure a continual fresh supply of foliage. Dill prefers fertile well drained soil with lots of organic matter.
Herb Books:
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