Dill

Dill is a garden superstar, bringing a fresh, feathery touch and a distinctive flavour to your kitchen. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a complete beginner, growing dill is incredibly rewarding and easy. This hardy annual herb is perfect for containers, raised beds, or right in the ground, and it's surprisingly low-maintenance. Let’s dive into how to grow your own!

TL;DR: Growing Dill

Dill is an easy-to-grow annual herb that thrives in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Sow dill seeds directly outdoors from March to August, or start them indoors earlier. Harvest fresh dill leaves as needed, and make regular sowings for a continuous supply. Dill flowers and seeds can also be harvested. It’s a versatile herb that’s great fresh or dried, and it's perfect for a variety of dishes. Consider dill companion planting to deter pests and attract beneficial insects.

Getting Started with Dill

Dill (Anethum graveolens) is a fantastic addition to any herb garden, whether you’ve got a sprawling vegetable patch or just a sunny windowsill. Its feathery foliage adds visual interest, and the flavour is a delight in everything from dill recipes to classic dishes. This quick-growing annual is one of the easy to grow herbs, perfect for beginner and experienced gardeners alike. Dill can grow well growing herbs outdoors or even growing herbs indoors with enough light.

When to Plant Dill

The great thing about planting dill is that you have a wide window for sowing. You can start dill seeds indoors from February onwards, or sow directly outdoors from March to August. For a continuous supply of fresh leaves, it's best to make regular sowings every few weeks, as dill tends to bolt (go to seed) quickly, especially in hot weather.

How to Sow Dill Seeds

Growing dill from seed is straightforward. You have two main options: sowing directly in the garden or starting them indoors.

Sowing Direct: Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Remove any weeds and stones, and rake the soil to a fine tilth. Make shallow drills about 1cm deep, sow the dill seeds thinly along the drill, cover with soil, and water well. Space rows about 30cm apart.

Sowing Indoors: If you want to get a head start, sow the seeds in small pots of seed compost. Cover lightly with compost and water. Keep the pots in a warm place (15-20°C), such as a propagator or under a clear plastic bag. Once seedlings are big enough, transplant them into individual pots. Before planting dill out in the garden, harden them off by gradually exposing them to outside conditions. Plant outdoors after the last frosts.

Caring for Your Dill

Dill care is pretty minimal. Once established, dill doesn't need much attention. Just water during dry spells, particularly if you are growing in pots. That’s really it!

Harvesting Dill

You can start harvesting dill leaves as needed. Simply snip them off with scissors. Young leaves have the best flavour. If you want to use the flowers, harvest them when fully open, and for seeds, wait until the seed heads are fully dried on the plant. To collect the dill seeds, cut off the flowerheads and place them upside down in a paper bag. Shake the bag to release the seeds. Let the seeds dry completely before storing them in an airtight container.

Using Your Dill

Fresh dill adds a beautiful, delicate flavour to all sorts of dishes. It's a classic pairing with fish, and it's great in salads, dips, and pickles. Dried dill is also great for when you’ve got a bounty, and can be used in the same way as fresh dill.

Dill Problems

Dill is usually trouble-free. However, it can be susceptible to aphids. If you spot them, you can either squash them by hand or spray them off with soapy water. If your plants bolt quickly, just make successive sowings to keep fresh leaves available.

Dill Benefits

Not only is dill delicious, but it’s also packed with goodness! It's a good source of vitamins and antioxidants. The dill herb is fantastic for digestive health, and it can even help to freshen your breath!

So, there you have it! Growing dill is easy, fun, and very rewarding. Give it a go and enjoy the fresh flavour of homegrown dill in your kitchen. Happy gardening!