- The right place for the dill on the balcony
- The demands of the dill on the substrate and the irrigation
- Caring for and harvesting the dill properly
- tips and tricks
Dill (Anethum graveolens) is a very versatile kitchen spice with positive effects on human health. You can grow dill not only in the garden, but also in a pot on the balcony, observing some factors.
The right place for the dill on the balcony
Basically, sowing dill on the balcony meets the needs of the plant. After all, the dill prefers locations where its roots are more or less in the shade and the flower umbels can be stretched out in the warming rays of the sun. So you're doing the dill a favor by placing it halfway up behind a balcony railing. This also protects the filigree dill tips from strong side winds. Since the dill develops relatively deep roots, you should sow it in a pot that is as deep as possible for healthy growth on the balcony.
The demands of the dill on the substrate and the irrigation
In relation to the soil and its nutrient content, the dill is rather undemanding. However, it should be reasonably nutrient-rich soil so that it does not have to be fertilized later. Also avoid using soil that is too loamy, as this can lead to waterlogging and rotting of the dill roots with possible brown discoloration of the dill herb. Excess water should be able to drain out of the pot through a drainage layer and bottom holes. Due to the greater exposure to wind and sun, you should water the dill more often than when planting dill outdoors. Always keep the roots of the dill as evenly moist as possible to avoid drying damage.
Caring for and harvesting the dill properly
Apart from regular watering and the right substrate in a sufficiently deep pot, dill does not actually require much care in terms of care. You can decide whether you prefer to regularly harvest dill tips and herbs from the dill on the balcony or whether you prefer to wait for the seeds to ripen on the dill flowers. You can use these for the following purposes:
- for pickling cucumbers
- for flavoring marinades
- to prepare calming tea from dill seeds
tips and tricks
If you discover aphids on your dill plants, you can rinse them off with water. If possible, do not overwater the flower umbels, as this could promote diseases such as umbel smut.
WK