Home and Garden

Dill is a common herb found in most home canning and victory gardens. Dill is often used in making homemade pickles, and pickling other vegetables like dilly beans. When you want to make the most of your herb garden growing dill is a great option. Dills deep taproot makes it a great filler for garden beds with onions. Learning how to grow dill is easy and well worth the time. How to grow dill When the last threat of frost has passed and the soil temperature is between 60 and 70 degrees, do not hesitate to plant dill right in the garden. There is a tap root similar to a carrot on this plant so it is difficult to transplant. A well-tilled soil with any rocks that could interfere with growth will yield great results. In hotter climates, dill can benefit from afternoon shade to keep the plants from going to seed longer. In order to keep a fresh supply of dill, you should sow seeds every few weeks since it has such a short life span. In order to germinate and break the surface of the plant, dill takes ten to fourteen days. The soil should be moist during this period. Keeping dill well-watered is important for its health. In the summer, mulch can help to keep the roots cool by retaining moisture at their base. After you plant the plant, you can mulch around it to help hold moisture. When you see odd buds appearing on your dill, pinch them and use them immediately instead of letting them go to seed. When the flowers bloom, the dill flavor changes, and the bitter taste makes it unsuitable for cooking. It is important to plant dill somewhere that will not be too exposed to strong winds as it is easily knocked over. Onions and cabbage make good companions for dill, but carrots and other taproot vegetables should not be grown together. How to grow dill from seeds Knowing how to grow dill from seeds is important because dill does NOT transplant well. You can start by planting dill seeds in well-draining soil after the danger of the last frost has passed. Play your dill 8-12 inches apart for the most growth. When growing in a square foot garden you can plant up to 4 dill plants in a square but will get smaller plants. In order to germinate and break the surface of the plant, dill takes ten to fourteen days. The soil should be moist during this period. Keeping dill well-watered is important for its health. In the summer, mulch can help to keep the roots cool by retaining moisture at their base. After you plant the plant, you can mulch around it to help hold moisture. How to grow dill from cuttings One of the herbs that you can grow in a container is dill. It can be grown indoors or outdoors and you can even grow it right in your own kitchen. Dill can easily be grown from cuttings in your own home, provided you have the necessary lighting conditions, such as an LED grow light. Plants grow rapidly, and after six to eight weeks, they can be harvested. For this tall plant, a deep container would be necessary to accommodate its roots. Give your dill cutting plenty of time to establish before you attempt to harvest. Many people assume that you can't grow dill from cuttings since it doesn't like being transplanted. It's actually quite easy to accomplish. Planting dill directly is easier than transplanting these temperamental plants a common problem for plants with taproots. In a few weeks, dill cuttings will grow roots in water and can be planted into planting containers. Choose healthy new plants to achieve the best results. A rooted dill stem grows into a single plant. How to grow dill in a pot Whenever you are growing dill in a container, consider how deep your container should be. For your pot to be able to accommodate dill's long taproot, you must plant in containers that are shallower than 12 inches. Due to dill's annual nature, it doesn't require a large area of ground to grow roots. The perfect container is one that is tall and thin. You can sow dill seeds directly into your container. Before adding a soilless potting mix containing some compost, be sure it has drainage holes on the bottom. Plants of this genus can grow in a variety of soils but prefer well-draining, slightly acidic soil. Afterward, a light layer of potting mix should be applied. Sprinkle seeds over the surface and cover them with a light layer of potting mix. The seeds of dill need 6 to 8 hours of sunlight each day, as well as temperatures over 60 degrees. If all danger of frost has passed, potted dill plants can be kept outdoors, but if it's not yet spring, you shouldn't leave them outside. You'll want to store them indoors, underneath a grow light or in a window that gets plenty of light. Moisture can be maintained in the soil by misting often. Once they are several inches tall, thin the seedlings to one or two per pot, and then care for them normally as you would outdoors. How to harvest dill Pink off dill at the base of a spring with clean hands or use clean shears to harvest your dill. Dill wilts quickly making it best used dried or fresh off the plant. You can store in an air-tight container with a little added moisture for 3-4 days at most in the refrigerator. harvesting it for use fresh from the garden is best. If you are harvesting at the end of the plant's life before it bolts you can preserve it through drying or freezing. Harvesting can happen any time after your plant has produced 4 to 5 sets of true leaves. For the best results follow the 1/3 rule of harvesting. If you would like your plants to self-sow you should allow your plant to bolt before it dies off.