Dill (Anethum graveolens) is one of the types of herbs whose aroma can best be used to refine various recipes when freshly processed. Therefore, cultivation in your own garden or in a pot on the sunny balcony is a good idea.

What location needs does the dill have?

Although the dill feels very comfortable in full sun and warm locations, its roots should never dry out completely. Therefore, sowing in a raised bed or in a high pot is advantageous. Enriching the soil at the planned site with some well-seasoned compost before sowing eliminates the need for any fertilizing of the plants during the growing season.

When is the best time to grow dill?

Since the dill usually does not survive transplant attempts very well, the dill seeds should be sown directly on the spot from around the end of April when there is no frost. If you want to harvest ripe dill seeds from the flower umbels yourself, you should have sown the dill by June at the latest. By fall you can harvest the whole dill plants and process them for storage as dill is an annual plant.

Is the dill susceptible to diseases and pests?

Basically, the dill is not very susceptible to diseases and pests, apart from an occasional infestation with aphids. These can be washed off with a strong jet of water from the garden hose. However, overhead irrigation should be avoided if possible in order not to increase the likelihood of diseases such as cone smut, which is manifested by brown discoloration. Dill planted between cabbage and other vegetables has a shielding effect on cabbage whites and other vegetable pests.

What can dill be used for?

The delicately spicy taste of the dill can be used for many kitchen recipes, such as:

  • Dill oil with fish dishes and cucumber salad
  • Dill vinegar for salads
  • Dill potatoes
  • Sauces and marinades for meat dishes
  • pickling salmon with whole sprigs of dill

tips and tricks

From your home-grown dill, only ever harvest the amount that is actually required at the moment, since freshly cut dill has a very short shelf life unprocessed.

WK

Category:

Vegetable garden