Growing dill in your garden is a great way to attract butterflies, add visual interest and grow an item that can be dried and used in your kitchen throughout the year. Dill is easy to grow, even for the novice gardener.
How to Grow Dill: Grow From Seed
One of the easiest, and least expensive, ways to grow dill is from seed. Broadcast dill seeds in a sunny area, water, then watch and wait. Dill can be continuously seeded from spring through fall for ongoing growth and blooms. For best results and a continuous crop, sow seeds every two weeks. Dill grows quickly and you will see seedling plants sprout and grow in a short time. Dill will self-sow, dropping seeds that will grow the next year.
How to Grow Dill: Transplant Established Plants
Dill plants are widely available in local garden centers. They can be easily transplanted if you don't like to wait on seeds to sprout. Be sure to water the plant thoroughly before transplantation.
How to Grow Dill: Preferred Conditions and Location
Dill prefers and thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Each plant can grow two to three feet in height, so keep that in mind when choosing a location to plant dill. In addition, be sure you're happy with the location you choose because the self-sowing will bring another harvest of dill the following year.
Dill is a great companion plant when planted with lettuce, cabbage and onions.
How to Grow Dill: Culinary Use
For culinary use, save the seeds, stems and leaves. They can be picked fresh from the garden for immediate use or harvested for drying or freezing for later use. The seeds provide the strongest flavor and fresh leaves are often used for garnishes in a number of dishes.
How to Grow Dill: Harvesting
When harvesting dill, it is best to cut plants early in the morning, during the cooler part of the day. After the plants have blossomed, watch for the flower heads to begin to go to seed then pick the flower heads.
How to Grow Dill: Drying, Freezing, Storing
Put the flower heads in a paper and store it in a cool, dry place until the seeds ripen. Flower heads and stems can also be dried by hanging upside down in a dark, cool place while the seeds ripen. Leaves can be dried by spreading thinly on a non-metal surface and left in a warm, dark place for a few days.
After drying seeds, stems or leaves, store them in an airtight container for later use.
Since leaves and stems lose flavor quickly after picking and storing in the refrigerator, a good choice for storage is freezing. Leaves and stems can be frozen for up to six months. Break off pieces for use as you need them.