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| Volunteer dill plants in the garden |
Dill is an annual herb that is native to the Mediterranean and southern Russia. It is in the carrot family and its leaves have a taste similar to carrot leaves. It grows as a weed in southern Europe. It has been used medicinally since ancient Egyptian times. It is even mentioned in the Bible. Dill comes from the Norwegian word "dill" which means to sooth. Puritans and Quakers gave the seeds to children as an appetite suppressor during church services. Today, it is credited as an antibacterial, breath freshener and to help alleviate colic.
Dill is easy to grow and is not picky about soil type or climate. You can start directly in the garden in late spring when soil temperatures have reached 60-70 degrees F. You can also start indoors on a heat mat and transplant outside in early summer. Cover with 1/4" of soil. Dill germinates in 7-10 days.
Dill can be harvested as soon as it has 4 or more leaves on it. Do prolong the harvest, be sure to keep the flower clusters pinched off. You can harvest from one plant several times in the season. If you allow the flowers to open and set seed, you can save the seed for seasoning or let them fall in the garden. I let them go to seed last year and now have many volunteer dill plants.
Dill is most flavorful when used fresh. It can be dried. Just cut and hang to dry in a warm area with good air circulation. Don't dry where it is hot as that will destroy most of the flavor. I like to cut and place loosely in a paper bag that I hang up in a warm dark place to dry. Harvesting and drying herbs
Dill has a long history of seasoning soup, fish, potatoes and pickles. I like to make my own pickle seasoning. Cucumbers are super easy to make into pickles. Make your own pickles without a store bought seasoning mix
Dill can be harvested as soon as it has 4 or more leaves on it. Do prolong the harvest, be sure to keep the flower clusters pinched off. You can harvest from one plant several times in the season. If you allow the flowers to open and set seed, you can save the seed for seasoning or let them fall in the garden. I let them go to seed last year and now have many volunteer dill plants.
Dill is most flavorful when used fresh. It can be dried. Just cut and hang to dry in a warm area with good air circulation. Don't dry where it is hot as that will destroy most of the flavor. I like to cut and place loosely in a paper bag that I hang up in a warm dark place to dry. Harvesting and drying herbs
Dill has a long history of seasoning soup, fish, potatoes and pickles. I like to make my own pickle seasoning. Cucumbers are super easy to make into pickles. Make your own pickles without a store bought seasoning mix
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